This is the third chardonnay
that we are releasing from the 1999 vintage. Talley is a tad warmer
than either Bien Nacido or Clos Pepe, and because of that the
wine we produce from this vineyard is typically fatter and richer,
with naturally lower acidity. In 1999 the weather was cool all
summer, until the Talley chardonnay was almost ripe. Then, when
we were on edge, wondering if we were going to pick too soon,
a hot spell came and the sugars went from barely ripe to super
ripe in a couple of days. This rapid ripening concentrated both
the already high acidity and the intense flavors of a very small
crop. This produced the most explosive Talley chardonnay to date.
I would have never guessed it, but the richness of the fruit flavors
balance perfectly the very high acidity of this wine. Everyone
who tasted this wine in the barrel was impressed, and, in the
bottle, I think you will be too.