Yamhill-Carlton AVA
Chardonnay
13% abv
Shane Moore
The Gran Moraine vineyard was planted in 2005 to several different Dijon clones. Located five miles west of the town of Carlton, this site is one of the more westerly vineyards in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA. A variety of slopes, aspects, row direction, and plant material offer a wide diversity of blocks to choose from when blending our Yamhill-Carlton Chardonnay.
The Yamhill-Carlton Chardonnay is hand-harvested in the crisp dawn air of early autumn, then quickly brought into the winery for gentle, whole-cluster pressing. This traditional technique allows Gran Moraine to capture the freshest and most pristine juice from our Chardonnay grapes. After a brief period of settling, the juice was transferred to French oak barrels from Burgundy, 8% of which were new wood. There the juice underwent a lengthy natural fermentation that took as long as 13 months to complete. During this time, we utilized weekly bâttonage —stirring of the lees— for 8 months, then monthly for 4 months to develop the wine’s texture and secondary characteristics. After 16.5 months in barrel, the wine was fully racked to an outdoor stainless steel tank and left to mature in the cold Northwest winter. This extended outdoor aging provides natural cold stability to the wine, as well as the opportunity for the chardonnay to evolve and coalesce into its finished state.
Aromas of Apricot, baking spice, crushed rose petals with flavors: Tangerine, Meyer lemon, starfruit. The pallet has rich, mid-level weight from the front to the mid-palate with stunning acidity on the finish.
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