2003 Hangtime Chardonnay

The grapes for this HANGTIME Edna Valley 2003 Chardonnay were on the vine for a whopping 140 days, minimum. What does that mean? About five extra weeks to develop more flavor and concentration. But careful: these grapes could have become over-ripened, dulling the flavors and raising the alcohol of the wine in the process, if not for the ultra-cool climate which slowed down ripening.

This is a lively wine with the distinctive hallmarks of Chardonnay from the Edna Valley. The valley’s unique site consists of layers of clay and volcanic rock over ancient ocean subsoil.

This Chardonnay was barrel fermented, with partial malolactic fermentation to lend just a subtle layer of “winemaking flavors”. The wine was aged on the lees for six months in French oak barrels, with weekly hand-stirring for a richer mouthfeel. The finish is “classic-crisp” with layers of complexity that unfold slowly, another indicator of this wine’s cool climate origins.