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Wine Description
The Story
All of our ten vineyard designate Chardonnays are marked first and foremost by regional characteristics. Beyond that lies the personality of each of the vineyards from which they hail. All of the sites are planted to the same clone, a California heritage selection that we have been using for close to thirty years. Each wine is produced in the same fashion, with the focus being on the traditional techniques that elicit the earth driven, complex noble sulfides and resulting minerality inherent in the fruit from each site.
Each of our Chardonnay vineyards exhibits characters unique to the site, and hence unique to the wines bottled as vineyard designates. The bottling of wines of site is not a process we take lightly, as it is the main focus of our efforts. We often take years to assess the quality and individual personality of a site prior to deciding to bottle it on its own. We have been working with many of these sites for well over twenty five years.
Vintage 1979
The California 1979 wine vintage received positive reviews from the wine press and critics. It was a year marked by favorable weather conditions in many regions of California, contributing to wines that were generally praised for their quality and appeal. Here are some general observations that the wine press had about the California 1979 vintage:
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High Quality: The general consensus among wine critics was that California 1979 was a high-quality vintage. The favorable weather conditions throughout the growing season, including warm and dry periods, contributed to the overall quality of the wines.
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Ripe Fruit: One of the standout features of the vintage was the ripe and concentrated fruit flavors in the wines. Many California 1979 wines were noted for their luscious and well-developed fruit profiles, with an emphasis on rich, ripe berries and stone fruits.
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Balanced Structure: Critics often praised the wines for their balanced structure. The California 1979 wines typically exhibited good acidity, well-integrated tannins, and harmonious proportions, contributing to their overall appeal.
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Varietal Expression: Different grape varieties thrived during the vintage. For instance, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Zinfandel were frequently highlighted for producing outstanding wines that showcased their varietal characteristics.
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Age-Worthy: While the wines were approachable in their youth, many California 1979 wines were noted for their aging potential. The well-structured reds, in particular, were expected to evolve gracefully over time.
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Notable Producers: Several California wineries and producers received accolades for their wines from the 1979 vintage. These wines were often considered benchmarks for the year.
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Overall Enthusiasm: Critics and the wine press expressed enthusiasm for the vintage, and many wine enthusiasts and collectors sought out California 1979 wines for their cellars.
Overall, the California 1979 vintage was well-received and continues to be remembered as a successful year in California winemaking. It offered a range of wines that appealed to a broad spectrum of wine lovers, from those seeking approachable and fruit-forward options to those looking for age-worthy bottles with depth and complexity.