The Weeks Vineyard is situated on a narrow ridge between Sebastopol and Occidental in the Sonoma Coast appellation. The 35-year old Wente Clone vines are planted in fluffy Goldridge soil. The old dry farmed vineyard gives up very concentrated flavors while the cool Sonoma Coast climate ensures abundant natural acidity.
Vinification
The cool 2011 growing season and downright cold nights gave us Chardonnay grapes with screaming high acidity. Ripening was slow and ended abruptly with early October rains. The grapes were harvested at 22 brix and 3.1 pH. The wine was pressed to neutral French oak barrels and allowed to ferment with occasional lees stirring. Due to a very high acidity the wine never underwent MLF. It was bottled unfiltered in June 2012.
Tasting Notes
The 2011 Chardonnay is tense and mineral driven, with aromas of preserved lemon and wet slate. The palate shows remarkable concentration and phenolic weight that is pulled tight with screaming electric acidity that rattles the frontal lobe like a pinball machine, in a good way.
