Produced from the first Chardonnay vines planted high on our Mountain Estate, this wine is named for Fred and Juelle's firstborn daughter, Whitney.
First planted in 1973 to Old Wente clone Chardonnay, Whitney's Vineyard grows at 1,000 feet elevation on a gravelly, gently sloping, southwestern facing hillside. Owing to its mountain heritage and low-nutrient soils, this site produces tiny clusters of tightly packed ‘hens and chicks’ (berries of wide ranging size) yielding wines that boast brilliant minerality and classic Chardonnay character. This site was replanted in two phases with greater vine density, establishing new vines in 2013 and 2016, all grafted to original clonal material.
Produced from the first Chardonnay vines planted high on our Mountain Estate, this wine is named for Fred and Juelle's firstborn daughter, Whitney.
Pale yellow-gold. Reticent but pure nose suggests orange zest, spices, minerals and fresh herbs. Subdued and rather delicate on the palate, offering flavors of dusty stone, talc and orchard and soft citrus fruits... Finishes spicy and long, with a lightly saline quality; this melts into the palate like a sake. Initially seemed a bit warm on the back but showed better grip and finishing minerality with aeration.
The 2006 Whitney's Vineyard shows aromas of lemon custard, sliced pineapple and marzipan. The wine begins with a smooth and supple entrance to the palate then opens with flavors of honeydew melon, green apple and pear. A flinty mineral acidity ties the wine together finishing with flavors of fresh Meyer lemon and toasted crème brulèe.