The 2022 Jaine Conner Lee Chardonnay was crafted from 100% Chardonnay grapes sourced from the Conner Lee vineyard in the Columbia Valley, WA.
During this vintage, a light crop load and meticulous canopy thinning contributed to concentrated flavors. The whole grape clusters were pristine in both appearance and taste. Canopy management and strategic irrigation techniques were employed to accentuate the unique characteristics of the vintage and the vineyard. Although sugars accumulated early, the cool fall temperatures allowed flavors to catch up, resulting in an expressive representation of this remarkable Chardonnay.
Harvest took place during the early mornings of October 18th. At the winery, the fruit underwent whole-cluster pressing before fermentation in new and used 228L oak barrels.
For aging, a small selection 20% new French oak barrels were chosen to create layers of complexity, with most of the wine being cellared in stainless steel. The fermentation process lasted 3-4 weeks, and full malolactic fermentation added weight and a luscious, balanced texture. After aging for 16 months in the cellar, the final blend was cold-stabilized in tanks before bottling, resulting in only 225 cases of this exceptional single-vineyard Chardonnay.