This wine is 100 percent Chardonnay from the Linda Vista Vineyard just across the creek from the Matthiasson house in the Oak Knoll Area, and these grapes are organically farmed. Leasing the vineyard and farming it themselves gave them the control to feel comfortable making a challenging variety like Chardonnay, where crafting "balance" means walking the razor's edge between under-ripe and over-ripe.
For complexity, completeness, and balance, Matthiasson achieves a diversity of ripeness by using the traditional method of harvesting the fruit a number of different times during the ripening period. The earlier harvests contribute acidity and minerality, and the later harvests contribute flesh and richness. They whole-cluster press all of the grapes, then ferment and age the wine in seasoned French oak barrels, with only native yeast. No battonage (lees stirring) or racking. Matthiasson allows two-fifths of the barrels to go through malo-lactic fermentation.
Zesty Meyer lemon combines with ripe Golden Delicious apples, yellow peaches, musk melon, and honey to deliver a beautifully balanced Chardonnay with a clean finish and haunting minerality.
For complexity, completeness, and balance, Matthiasson achieves a diversity of ripeness by using the traditional method of harvesting the fruit a number of different times during the ripening period. The earlier harvests contribute acidity and minerality, and the later harvests contribute flesh and richness. They whole-cluster press all of the grapes, then ferment and age the wine in seasoned French oak barrels, with only native yeast. No battonage (lees stirring) or racking. Matthiasson allows two-fifths of the barrels to go through malo-lactic fermentation.
Zesty Meyer lemon combines with ripe Golden Delicious apples, yellow peaches, musk melon, and honey to deliver a beautifully balanced Chardonnay with a clean finish and haunting minerality.
