Winemaker Notes
Recognized as one of California’s grand cru-caliber Chardonnay vineyards, Keefer Ranch produced a standout wine in 2021, with mesmerizing aromas of honey, hazelnut, ripe peach, white flowers and Meyer lemon. On the palate, this wine is broad, lengthy and luxurious, with ripe citrus, apple and orchard fruit flavors and a long, zesty finish.
Production
With just 50% of our average rainfall to start the season we took proactive measures in our vineyards, including early suckering and pruning, careful cover crop management and targeted irrigation to ensure healthy vines. Spring and summer brought mild-to-warm temperatures that allowed the grapes to ripen slowly and evenly, resulting in early flavor development at lower Brix with high acidity. To achieve balanced acids with even more flavor development we waited patiently until September 1st to begin our Chardonnay harvest and completed our last Pinot Noir pick on October 2nd. The resulting wines offer ideal ripeness, supple textures and beautifully concentrated flavors.