Tasting Notes
The mild fall and late harvest are evident in the refined aromatics, with notes of Meyer lemon curd, orange peel, apricot and jasmine. The wine is vibrant and lifted on the palate, showing flavors of quince, starfruit and lemongrass complimented with a touch of oystershell minerality. Displaying pure fruit, minimal new oak and a lingering electric finish, our 2023 WF2 is a beautifully restrained example of extreme coastal Chardonnay.
Winemaking Notes
The grapes were hand-picked in the cool night hours, then hand-sorted at the winery. The fruit was gently whole-cluster pressed and barrel fermented with native yeast, employing limited battonage during malolactic fermentation. The wine aged sur lie for 10 months in 5% new French oak barrels.
Vintage Notes
Moderate and extended vintages like we experienced in 2023 are ideal for producing balanced, nuanced and complex wines. The 2023 vintage began with a cool and wet spring, delaying budbreak weeks later than usual. A mild May and June extended the bloom period nearly three weeks, further delaying an already late vintage. July and August brought warmth and sunshine with above average temperatures driving berry development and ripening, before transitioning into cooler weather in September. The temperate yet sunny days post-veraison created beautiful flavor and tannin development while retaining freshness, vibrant acidity and complex savory notes in the finished wines. Harvest began on September 25th and carried well into October. A few early fall showers lightly sprinkled the vines, spurring photosynthesis and phenolic development during the cooler days. The team worked diligently to pick each cluster with care through to the last vine on October 16th. The mild fall weather and late harvest in 2023 produced Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays with extended aging potential, truly beautiful and classically styled wines.
- Winemaker:
- Todd Kohn
- Origin:
- Wayfarer Vineyard, Fort Ross-Seaview AVA, Sonoma County
- Harvested:
- September 25 to October 16, 2023
- Bottled:
- August 9, 2024
- Release:
- January 2024
- Alcohol:
- 14.3%
- pH:
- 3.23
- TA:
- 6.8
- Cases Produced:
- 411
