2005 Chardonnay Wyckoff Vineyard

Flinty aromatics with notes of cinnamon and mint. Bright fruit flavors of apple with lemon zest and a clean finish that leaves hints of fine minerals and a touch of oak.

Located in the heart of the Yakima Valley north of Prosser, Wyckoff Vineyard is composed of several vineyard blocks that lie on the southwest facing slopes of the Rattlesnake Hills. The vineyard grows Chardonnay for Columbia Winery. The vines at Wyckoff are trained to bilateral cordon and are only moderately productive. The Chardonnay is a small-clustered clone with small berries, resulting in an excellent ratio of skins to juice, thus intensifying fruit flavors. The soil ~ a fine, sandy loam with calcareous strata, overlaying basalt bedrock ~ is often fairly shallow, sometimes as little as 18 inches deep. The vines have smaller production because of these shallow soils. The vineyard’s “Snipes” block, first planted in 1977, produces Chardonnay grapes that create complex wines rich in citrus and tropical fruit flavors with crisp acidity.

A small crop of high-quality fruit was handharvested and whole-cluster pressed. The 25- year-old vines ripened evenly and encouraged the fruit to ripen with perfect balance, acidity and flavor.

Oak Treatment: 10 months in French Oak Barrels