2016 started with a cold and wet winter, which gave the vines a well-deserved dormancy after the fast-paced growing season of 2015. Bud break occurred in mid-March and was followed by a dry and warm spring. This resulted in a healthy and vigorous canopy and ideal pollination. Heavy fog in early August slowed down the maturation process and allowed for optimal phenolic development while retaining the freshness and natural acidity Hyde Vineyard is known for. The 2016 harvest began the second week of August and was completed by the first week of October.
100% Chardonnay (“Old Wente” and Calera selections) grown on the Hyde vineyard on the eastern edge of the Carneros sub-region of the Napa Valley. The Chardonnay site has a south by southeast exposure, with soils of shallow loam over clay pan. Vine age is between 25 and 37 years. The fruit was harvested between 27th August and 12th September. The wine was aged for 14 months in French oak barrels, of which 20% were new. It was bottled unfined and unfiltered.
High-toned aromas of mandarin blossom and lemongrass frame a core of zested meyer lemon and Freestone peach. This wine shows focus and precision, yet surprisingly balanced opulence. Crushed seashell minerality flirts across the palate and accentuates the fresh-picked pear and Braeburn apple flavours. Finishing with warming clove and a hint of gunpowder and flint, this wine impresses from start to finish. Its balanced structure promises enjoyment in its youth but also decades of ageability.