2022 Taub Martinelli Vineyard-Charles Ranch Chardonnay
The grapes were harvested by hand. Whole clusters were fed directly to press. The following morning the racked juice was moved to François Frères barrels, 25% new, where it underwent and completed native yeast primary fermentation. Weekly bâtonnage was performed through completion of malolactic fermentation in late March. The wine remained on lees for a full year prior to bottling.
Subtle aromas of fresh green pear plus hints of oak spice and brioche give way to light, flinty notes and a whisper of wet stone. On the palate, tart lemon curd and chalky minerality lead the attack and broaden into the mid-palate as the wine’s power builds into a savory, saline finish. This extraordinary texture reflects the vineyard’s proximity to the Pacific, bright and crisp on entry and building to tremendous depth and length (780 bottles produced).