Description

ABOUT THE PRODUCER:
Scribe Winery produces vibrant, terroir driven wines from Sonoma, California. The winery was founded in 2007 on a property that helped pioneer pre-prohibition Sonoma Valley wine making and is managed by fourth generation California farmers and brothers, Andrew and Adam Mariani. The Marianis believe that the best wines are the result of a healthy relationship between man and nature, and that a vineyard managed in harmony with the greater ecosystem results in more site specific, terroir driven grapes. When vinified with non-interventionist natural methods, the result is a distinct wine that speaks vividly of its provenance.

THE VINTAGE:
A dry winter with below-average rainfall and a cool start to spring kept the vines dormant late into March. The spring months stayed dry and cool, slowing shoot growth and contributing to low yields and small berries. Once under full canopy later in the season, the fruit developed evenly with concentrated flavours, colour and texture. Harvest began on August 13th with favourable, temperate weather throughout the picking season.

ABOUT THE VINEYARD:
The Chardonnay grapes come from the Sonoma Valley AVA, a subregion with the Sonoma County. Sonoma Valley lies between the Mayacamas Mountains to the east and Sonoma Mountains to the west. The climate is influenced by its sheltered position between the hills, which results in a dry, warm and sunny mesoclimate, gently moderated by its proximity to San Pablo Bay to the south. The estate vines are Robert Young clones which have been grafted onto rootstock 101-14. The vines are planted in the deep, fertile Huichica loam soils of the estate. The vines are VSP trained on a bilateral spur pruned cordon and are sustainably farmed. Generally, leaf coverage is left on the fruiting zone of the vine to minimise any potential sun burn and keep the fruit fresh and with balanced acidity resulting in vibrant wines full of natural freshness. The vines are hand-harvested in the cool of the night.

THE WINEMAKING PROCESS:
The bunches were whole cluster pressed, and following cold settling for a period of 24 hours, the juice was racked off its gross lees. A long, cool fermentation took place with selected yeasts. The wine was aged on its fine lees, without stirring, imparting gentle texture. Maturation took place in stainless steel tanks to retain the purity of fruit and the nuances of the terroir for four to six months and malolactic conversion was prevented to retain the crisp style.

OUR TASTING NOTES:
A fresh, textured and complex Chardonnay with expressive notes of pineapple and orange zest layered with a touch of jicama and sea spray, through to a long, exquisite finish.

GRAPE VARIETY:
Chardonnay 100%.