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.
The 2012 Chardonnay Whitney's Vineyard is a striking, complete wine. Rich and voluptuous on the palate, the 2012 nevertheless possesses gorgeous aromatic lift, freshness and pure energy. Honey, almonds, apricots and spices meld together in a Chardonnay that is at once generous and also quite mineral.
Lemon sorbet hue in the glass; slightly opaque owing to its unfiltered pedigree. Purity of place is on display with aromas of wet stone, Asian pear and star jasmine. On the palate flavors of honey dew melon, lemon pot de crème with freshly ground nutmeg and a hint of marzipan. This wine is at once rich and clean with racy acidity and bold phenolic structure that will allow graceful cellaring for many years to come. One stellar vintage marking 40 years for these Old Wente clone vines!