2020 Chardonnay, Sonoma County

The challenges in the 2020 vintage were formidable but not impossible. Our white grapes were largely unaffected by fires that swept down the west coast. To be extra cautious, we triaged every load of fruit and employed winemaking protocols honed in the 2008 fire vintage. It was a year of earlier harvest dates, light pressings, and multiple rackings to get juice off skins. The untold story of the 2020 vintage is about the dramatic drought-concentration of the wines. Tiny crop, hot and dry year, tiny clusters, and vigilant winemaking that produced very low juice yields...and remarkably powerful wines. This SoCo is sun-kissed and golden delicious.