The 2019 growing season began with abundant amounts of rainfall, causing the soils to retain moisture throughout the growing season. The long, warm summer saw very few heat events, with some strong foggy mornings setting the stage for vibrant and expressive balance in fruit development. The relatively mild finish to the white season helped to preserve freshness, strong acidity and created an opportunity for more maturity. Harvest began about two weeks later than in ’18 and lasted for around 10 days, creating great balance in our finished blend, with some vineyards showing strong complexity and freshness while others added richness in the palate.

The 2019 Olema Chardonnay Reserve opens with lovely aromas of white flowers, jasmine vanilla, yellow peach and white apricot. On the palate, it has a round, smooth mouthfeel with notes of brioche, lemon curd and custard with a chewy, juicy finish.