Red Car Chardonnay

The Chardonnay grapes for Red Car's 2012 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay were hand harvested at low sugars (22.2 brix) and immediately whole cluster pressed. The juice was settled overnight then barreled down into French oak (10% new) to undergo primary and secondary (malolactic) fermentation. The minimalist style (non-interventionist techniques, native yeast, natural acidity, limited racking) yields a wine of great purity, concentration and palate smoothness with a racy acidity and chalky minerality rarely associated with California Chardonnay.