2017 Jamie Slone Wines Aloysius Chardonnay – Sta. Rita Hills
Winemaking and Production
Clones 96 and Wente 4. Whole cluster pressed, settled 48 hours at 36 degrees, fermented with Montrachet yeast, fermented in barrel. Only 40 cases produced.
Aging
Aged 16 months in one year French oak, stainless steel and neutral Francois Freres and Sirugue barrels.
Wine
A wine with nice acidity and balance that is yellow straw in color. Racked only once it shows some nice oak on the nose with aromas of lemon and lime citrus, white pepper. On the palate comes lemon bar, key lime pie, green apple then a long and lingering finish that’s lip smacking!
DONNACHADH VINEYARD
Family owned and organically farmed, Donnachadh Vineyard is located on Santa Rosa Road, in the Sta. Rita Hills AVA of Santa Barbara County. The property is 285 acres with approximately 40 acres under vine.
The climate of the Santa Rita Hills is dominated by the Pacific Ocean, which lies about 9 miles from the vineyard. Morning fog cools the grapes and consistent afternoon ocean breezes keep heat from building up over the course of the day.
The vineyards riverside block sits alongside the Santa Ynez River and is where we source our Chardonnay – The Wente clone. It is sheltered from the wind and the soil is a delicate, well drained sandy loam that sits on top of deep layers of gravel river deposits.
JOHN SEBASTIANO VINEYARD
A steep, dramatic, hillside site on the eastern edge of Santa Rita Hills. Chardonnay grows at the rear of the property in a cool climate on west to north eastern slopes of linne sandy clay loam with limestone in the subsoil. High winds limit growth here and yield small berries, giving wines of intense fruit character.