Trail Marker Chardonnay Santa Cruz Mountains 2020

Producer note (DREW HUFFINE: Winemaker/Owner): We source fruit from small, responsibly farmed and passionately cared for vineyards from Mendocino to Santa Ynez and everywhere in between. Our winemaking style allows us to makes wines that are high acid, low alcohol — well balanced expressions of these excellent vineyards. We serve our wines at our table with great pride and think you will too. -- 

This appelation blend is an even mix of Chapel & Quink Vineyards. Quink vineyard is one of the original Charonnay sites in the SCM, seated at approximately 800ft above sea level and in certain corners of the vineyard you can glimpse the waves of the Pacific and was purposely planted to original Mt. Eden clippings, resulting in teeny, tiny clusters and the latest harvest of any site we work with, despite low brix. Just outside of Scott’s Valley, the Chapel vineyard is a dry farmed site that has been well tended by the Bruzzone family for 20 years.

SOIL: The uplift, Nisene soils are comprised of eroded sandstone and shale resembling coarse, white sand.

VINIFICATION: Whole clusters were gently broken and sat on skins for a couple hours before beginning the press cycle directly to tank and allowed to settle for a day before going to a mix of Neutral French barriques and puncheons for native fermentation. Before fermentation, the juice was intentionally oxidized to highlight the structure and elongate ageability.

AGING: 13 months in neutral, French oak

PRODUCTION: 134 cases