- Wines
2018 Portola Springs Vineyard Chardonnay
Aromas: Fresh lemon, tangerine, quince, honeysuckle, fresh-baked lemon scones
Flavors: Mandarin, lemon meringue pie, zesty lemon bars, scones with lemon icing
Profile: Magnificent balance, polish, and linearity. Like a lemon telegram. Pair with lemon dill crab cakes, shrimp risotto with ramps, or leek, preserved lemon, and Fontina pizza
Tasting notes provided by Laura Ness, wine writer
Vineyard
Portola Springs Vineyard was planted in 1982 on an eastern facing slope of 2.5-acres at 1920 feet in elevation. This vineyard ripens slower than others due to the colder climate and is usually one of the last harvested blocks. This lower sugar content results in a bright, citrusy Chardonnay. The soil consists of Lambert Shale streaked with basalt which results in mineral notes and an overall elegant, linear chardonnay.
Winemaker Notes
2018 was another dry but not particularly warm winter; this changed in early February. A high-pressure system brought daytime temperatures into the 70’s, warming the soil and initiating bud break at some vineyard sites. In March, a cold front settled in and brought nighttime temperatures down to freezing, risking frost damage to the new shoot growth. These ‘false’ springs have become much more common in recent years. Summer was mild, leading to a marginally later harvest. The concentrated wines are poised and complex with depth and structure.
Technical Data
Vintage
2018
Varietal
Chardonnay
Appellation
Santa Cruz Mountains
Vineyard Designation
Portola Springs Vineyard
Acid
7.3
pH
3.3
Alcohol %
12.3
Wine Enthusiast
93
Other Notes
Lightly buttered apricot-brioche aromas are sprayed with freshly sliced lemon on the engaging nose of this bottling. The firm tension that envelops the palate is attention-grabbing, then come blasts of lime zest and grapefruit juice as a toasty macadamia-nut element lingers in the background. — 93 points. Matt Kettmann, Wine Enthusiast