Our Première Reserve Chardonnay takes a carefully planned journey from vine to barrel to glass. The estate-grown grapes, nurtured with care, originate from two distinct fields. In the larger field—75% of this bottling—the vineyard stitches together five blocks into an elaborate quilt of nature. Two blocks boast the 420A rootstock and three embrace the 3309C rootstock. The 420A, with its deep tap root, interacts with the soil in a different way than the expansive root system of the 3309C. This affects the grape flavors, as each rootstock draws nutrients from different layers of the earth. Two distinctive, French-origin clones were grafted onto these rootstocks. Clone 76, the most prolific of the pair, lends pear-lemon flavors with an aromatic profile reminiscent of lemon blossom. Clone 548 hints at tropical fruits and prefers a slightly warmer fermentation, resulting in wines with an enhanced mouthfeel. To prevent the robust flavors of oak from overshadowing our Chardonnay's natural beauty, we take an extra step. Our tight-grained French oak barrels are air-dried for three years, a year longer than the standard practice, ensuring a subtle oak influence that harmonizes with the fruit.

---