2010 Field of Fire Chardonnay

Straw/gold.

An intriguing nose, insofar as it evokes both ripe – baked apricot, pears in sunshine, marzipan – and very fresh notes: alfalfa flowers, chamomile, fennel blossom. Combines the power and density of very low yields (difficult flowering), with the ease and grace lent by a long cool season.

On the palate, surprising still: richer than is typical for us, but again the cleansing and enlivening effect of that cool pure season. (I’ve always disfavored wines from “great" years – short, sharp, hot, shocked. I’ll take a slow fade from summer, anytime.