This is the fourth vintage in a row we’ve produced a Dutton Ranch Chardonnay from the Jewell Vineyard. This exceptional fruit is the product of meticulously farmed vines that are planted to UCD Clone 108, which is a variation of the Wente clone. This clonal selection thrives in the Goldridge Fine Sandy Loam soils of the vineyard and benefits from diurnal conditions where warm daytime temperatures drop nearly 40 degrees in the evening. Not only does this allow the fruit to ripen slowly and accumulate concentration, it helps the grapes retain more natural acidity, which is essential to creating a complex Chardonnay.

The last couple of vintages have seen a return to classic seasonal patterns where a cold rainy winter prepares the vines for warm temperatures later on. In 2018, precipitation carried on into spring extending the growing period several weeks past the preceding year. There were also fewer heat spikes this season, allowing the fruit to ripen at a nice steady pace to develop more richness and pronounced aromas.