2021 Bethel Heights Estate Chardonnay

CHARDONNAY AT BETHEL HEIGHTS Chardonnay has been the preeminent white wine at Bethel Heights since the first vines were planted here in 1977. Today we have five different blocks of Chardonnay planted on various benches and slopes around our Estate vineyards. The 2021 vintage gave Bethel Heights a bit of everything, from explosive heat events in the Summer to a quick transition to cool, dry Fall weather arriving at the end of September. They typically pick Chardonnay in a fairly compressed window, but in 2021 nearly two weeks separated their early picks from the last, and with the added hang time, they had a very broad color palette to choose from at the blending table. The result is a wine brimming with citrus and tree fruits while maintaining freshness and vibrancy throughout the palate. Fruit source: Bethel Heights Vineyard, Justice Vineyard, and Hope Well Vineyard Harvest date: September 14 - 29, 2021 Grapes at harvest: Brix 22-23, pH 3.07, TA 8.6 gr/Liter Finished wine: Alcohol 13.3%, pH: 3.23, TA: 7.0 gr/Liter Fermented and aged 12 months in French oak, 30% new barrels Bottled unfined February 13, 2023 Cases produced: 712 cases in 750ml, 100 cases in 375ml VINIFICATION: The grapes were whole cluster pressed at low pressure for four hours then settled at 45 °F for three days. The juice was then racked to 228 L barrels and fermented for 35-40 days with lees stirring from mid fermentation to near dryness. The new wine went through full malolactic fermentation and was aged on the lees undisturbed for 12 months, then was racked from barrel with the fermentation lees to a stainless steel tank for an additional 4 months prior to bottling. WINEMAKER NOTES: The 2021 vintage gave us a bit of everything, from explosive heat events in the Summer to a quick transition to cool, dry Fall weather arriving at the end of September. We typically pick Chardonnay in a fairly compressed window, but in 2021 nearly two weeks separated our early picks from the last, and with the added hang time, we had a very broad color palette to choose from at the blending table. The result is a wine brimming with citrus and tree fruits while maintaining freshness and vibrancy throughout the palate. 94+ WINE ADVOCATE The 2021 Chardonnay Estate features creamy lime panna cotta, green pear and smoky flint tones on the nose at this youthful stage. Light-bodied and silky, the palate is tight and focused yet concentrated, and its long, ethereal finish suggests there's more to come.