Selected from Our Finest vineyards, this Chardonnay is a marriage of the best the Russian River Valley has to offer. In the Chalk Hill sub-appellation the Norris vineyard (clone 809 fruit), lends floral notes preserved by its long, cool fermentation in stainless steel and brings an essence of pure fruit to the blend. From the heart of the Russian River Valley, the barrel-fermented Ritchie and Balletto vineyards contribute richness and balance, while the fruit from the Boriolo, Hawk Hill and Windmill vineyards lend respective power, nerve and elegance. Barrels are hand-selected to craft the final blend a month prior to bottling. The 2007 selection offers a bouquet that incorporates ripe white peach and dried apricot with notes of apple, light citrus rind and threads of toasty hazelnut. On the palate, the richness of sur lie ageing in oak is joined by the racy expressiveness of the stainless steel portion to bring layered complexity, fine acid balance and length to the finish.