1997 CHARDONNAY RESERVE

Arroyo Grande Valley / Talley Vineyard

280 cases made

 

Except perhaps for trying to make the best possible wine and always trying to improve on last year's efforts, we have never applied a formula to the wine-making here. And slowly but surely, our chardonnays have been improving. In 1997 we took on our minimalist wine-making style to the extreme, relying almost entirely on our cool cellars to raise the Talley chardonnay as gently as possible. The results are evident, and we believe the `97 Talley Reserve is our strongest effort yet. This wine was fermented entirely with native yeasts, rested its whole life on its lees in 75 percent new barrels, and was stirred gently every week. It proceeded with a natural malolactic fermentation, was unfined and unfiltered and received no SO2 until bottling. The aroma offers rich smoky oak, stones, and minerals. The wine finishes with creamy, lemony fruit. It's complex and rich and very Talley.