Tortoise Creek Chardonnay 2021

Tortoise Creek Chardonnay is extremely elegant and fresh with lovely aromas of pears, apples and white flowers. Its creamy texture is supported by fresh acidity and a long, clean finish.

The Tortoise Creek Chardonnay is sourced from certified sustainably farmed vineyards in the sandy loams and alluvial clay soils of Lodi. The vineyards take advantage of the cool climate gap between the northern and southern coastal ranges surrounding the San Francisco Bay. As the day’s temperature rises, cool breezes drift in from the Delta, keeping the nights cool which is ideal for developing complex long finishing wines. The climate in Lodi is almost identical to Napa with the same mean annual temperatures.

Grapes are picked at night when it is coolest. Whole cluster pressing preserves the natural acid balance present at harvest and also minimizes harsh tannins. The pressed juice is clarified and then undergoes a cool, slow fermentation in stainless steel vats which preserves the fresh varietal character of the Chardonnay grape.

After Fermentation, the wine is stirred on its lees to extract richness and depth and aromas. The wine does NOT go through malolactic fermentation but a percentage does spend a few months in French oak. Both the Viognier and Sauvignon Blanc add a wonderful complexity to the wine.