We use "Old Heads" - used barrels - to add weight to the wine without masking the beautiful fruit. This lusciously opulent wine has all the richness without the excessive oak and butter that characterize most California Chardonnays. Wonderful aromas of baked apples, pineapple, vanilla bean, cream and cinnamon are prominent with undertones of brown sugar, fig and melon. There is a kiss of orange blossom aroma in the background. Flavors of caramel apples and creme Brule are balanced by hints of stone fruit and a crisp, mineral finish.

Blend: 91% Dunnigan Hills Chardonnay, 6% Russian River Chardonnay; 3% Mendocino Chardonnay
Production: 30,000 cases

2009 was picture perfect for us out here in the Dunnigan Hills AVA. Cooler than normal temperatures and very little wind allowed us to ripen our grapes slowly, allowing maximum flavor and intensity.

Six different clones of chardonnay were used in this wine and all were picked at night and delivered to the winery before sunrise to ensure that fresh cool grapes were crushed. Clone 809 (the most exotic) was cold tank fermented to enhance its Muscat character. The other lots were barrel fermented and periodically lees stirred. Yeast "cocktails" (a mixture of the winemaker's favorite compatible yeasts) were used on all lots to ensure complex fermentation characters would evolve in the wine. Chardonnay from the Matchbook Vineyard was blended with a small percentage of Russian River Valley Chardonnay to balance the acidity and add characters of intense Pippin apples and floral spice.