Au Bon Climat Los Alamos Chardonnay 2021 750 ML

The Los Alamos Vineyard is roughly 500 planted acres, most of which is on flat bottomland of the Los Alamos Valley that is sandwiched between the warmer Santa Ynez Valley and cooler Santa Maria Valley appellations. The best grapes from this vineyard are found to the north on the gentle slopes of the hills. We source from grapes grown at the top of the wind-swept slopes of the Solomon Hills. On this hilltop the wind and shallower soils keep the yields low and the grapes struggle to ripen. Even though it is a struggle, the small crop ripens early. The fruit is hand harvested, whole cluster pressed, and put to barrel. It was aged 16 months on the lees in 50% new Francois Freres French oak barrels.