2008 Varner Chardonnay Spring Ridge Vineyard Home Block

From 28-year old ungrafted vines, the 2008 Chardonnay Home Block is treated essentially the same way as the other wines. It exhibits attractive honeyed nectarine and orange blossom aromas intermixed with citrus, pear, and buttery characteristics. With wonderful minerality, purity, and delineation, this full-bodied, powerful, long, rich Chardonnay should age for a decade. Along with Mt. Eden, these are my favorite Chardonnays from the Santa Cruz Mountain appellation. Following a succession of remarkable wines over recent vintages, the 2008s are a superb success, combining the great complexity one finds in the finest white Burgundies with the ripe, exuberant, showy fruit of California. All possess wonderful minerality and acidity with only subtle differences between the different blocks. All are barrel-fermented with indigenous yeast from the vineyard, are put through full malolactic fermentation, and are aged 8 months in barrel. Tel. (650) 321-4894; Fax (650) 321-4893