Description
Melville's chardonnay is planted predominantly on the west side of the estate, on poor soils and without any shelter from the brunt of brutal ocean-winds. These conditions cause the chardonnay to capture the vibrancy, minerality, and concentrated flavors that are hallmarks of the Santa Rita Hills appellation. Fruit was harvested by hand then gently whole-cluster pressed, cold settled overnight and transferred by gravity to barrel for fermentation in neutral French oak barrels, with zero malolactic and sur lie aging without any lees disturbance.