Vineyard: 100% Chardonnay from Temperance Hill Vineyard, hand-picked 10/9/22.
2019-planted Dijon 76 on 101-14 rootstock. Certified organic farming, non-irrigated. Jory over volcanic basalt. Vines are spaced 3.5×8 between 700’-750’ in a bowl with very gentle slopes facing north.
Vintage: 2022 in a word: miraculous. After a chilly start, the valley experienced a continuous drenching from an atmospheric river throughout the first half of the year. As buds broke in early April, an unseasonable frost between 4/11 and 4/15 caused damage to unfurling buds and tender shoots. Inclement weather persisted through into June, further challenging an already delayed flowering. However, a turn for the better occurred in July and August; the long, warm, dry days became cool nights in both September and October. Harvest commenced in Dundee Hills the morning of 9/23 and concluded in Eola-Amity on 10/15. Yields were better than expected and the quality is especially high from the coolest sites where the impact of the frost was minimal. The vintage has a crystalline, tensile character with wines showcasing distinctiveness of site. These youthful wines are vibrant and chiseled, densely structured with high acidity and extract.
Vinification: Hand-picked 10/9/22 and crushed into the press, the must was browned in cold steel for 24 hours before a 40ppm SO2 addition. The hard press was not sulfured. Ambient yeast fermentation started with pied de cuve in warming steel tanks, then both lots were racked with full solids to 43% second and 43% third fill 350L Damy puncheons, and 14% to a fourth fill Damy half barrel. The must was chaptalized 0.25%. Primary completed in 21 days and malolactic finished in July 2023 with minimal lees stirring. After one year in oak, the entire lot was racked to steel. After six months in steel, the 2022 Temperance Hill Vineyard Chardonnay will be bottled 3/19/24 under 54mm DIAM 10. Unfined/unfiltered.