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For the second year in a row, I purchased grapes from Rancho Santa Rosa Vineyard, owned by Foley Winery. This lot became the core of the 2005 blend, which was balanced with the wine made from Sweeney Canyon Vineyard.

The Rancho Santa Rosa grapes were picked on September 14th, followed by the harvest of Sweeney Canyon grapes on October 10th. These were typical picking dates for these two vineyards, a result of the normal temperatures we experienced during harvest in 2005.

The grapes from both vineyards were fully ripe with excellent acidity. Both lots were barrel fermented in French oak barrels, one third of which were new. After completion of fermentation, the sediment was stirred in each barrel every two weeks for the first three months. This Burgundian practice serves to enrich the body of the wine and also lends it a slightly yeasty character. The wines were then blended, fined, filtered and bottled in late August.

The wine has a medium gold color in the glass. The aromas have a floral quality with a green apple character and hints of butter and oak vanillin. On the palate the wine is medium to full bodied, with green apple flavors and hints of cinnamon and butterscotch in the finish. This vintage has slightly higher acidity than others in the past, as well as a lower alcohol content, which gives this wine excellent balance.

Serve with grilled scallops, roast chicken, and halibut, to name a few dishes.

Rick Longoria, Winemaker
February 2007

Compostion: 100% Chardonnay
Vineyards: Rancho Santa Rosa vineyard - 62%
Sweeney Canyon vineyard - 38%
Production: 144 cases
Alcohol by volume: 14.6%
pH: 3.21
Titratable acidity: .73 g/100 ml.
Cellaring potential: Two to five years
Bottle price: $28
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