2022Solaksen Chardonnay
2022Solaksen Chardonnay
The 2022 Single Barrel Solaksen Chardonnay is a single vineyard wine from the Royal Slope AVA.
The winemaking team worked with our vineyard manager to restrict yields, creating concentrated, expressive berries. Canopy management and irrigation strategies were implemented to highlight the unique aspects of the vintage. Flavor development and sugar accumulation occurred on a mirrored trajectory.
Harvest was in the early mornings of the first week of October. At the winery, the fruit was whole-cluster pressed directly to 100% new French oak.
Barrels of varying format were selected to create layers of complexity. Fermentation was done at a low temperature, lasting several months. Full malolactic fermentation added weight and texture. The wine was racked after one year and barrel aged for 18 months. The final blend was cold-stabilized in tank, and bottled un-fined and unfiltered, producing only 132 cases.
The resulting wine is 100% Chardonnay, Clones 15 and 76, planted in 2015.
This wine displays a radiant gold color. The nose offers concentrated stone fruit, candied lemon peel, spiced pear, hazelnut, and brioche. On the palate, a lean profile emerges, revealing stoney minerals, quince, grapefruit pith, and delicate spice. The mouthfeel is sleek and refreshing, with forward brightness and suggestions of building richness with bottle age. The clean and elegant finish presents peach blossom, toasted almond slivers, and ginger.
