Spring Release Highland Divide Chardonnay
2022

Winemaker’s Notes

Our new 2022 Highland Divide Chardonnay captures the delicate equilibrium we can achieve between intensity, richness and structure in wines grown on the elevated ridge lines of Green Valley. Vineyards situated on the heavier valley soils below, don’t produce grapes with this natural balance. The seamless combination of such elements as - restrictive hillside soils, classic small-berry vine clones, and precise farming without irrigation - are then expressed using classical winemaking and long aging on the fermentation lees. The result is Chardonnay that’s full of oily citrus fruits, deep in texture, with fine acidity to balance and shape this intensity. These hillsides are the reason we focused on Green Valley starting in 1996, and we remain enthralled with them to this day. There's a real sense of effortless quality in these terroirs which makes harvesting the fruit a real privilege.

Deep resonant aromas of oily lemon and lime, thyme and sage, flint and honeysuckle. There’s an edge of cut grass freshness and briny oyster shell. The citrus and green pear fruits are succulent and expansive. Vibrant acidity brings cut to the wine’s natural richness and drives the wine to a savory grapefruit finish. Serve at 55F and drink between late-2024 and 2028.

Andy Smith