Introducing our intrepid new man on the bottling line — seen here in early March, riding a high of strawberry yoghurt and cheese sticks, packing our 2014 Russian River Chardonnay. We’ll formally release this Chardonnay mid-summer, sending it to our ‘Summer Whites’ club members.  We’ll also be showing it ‘pre-release’ at the SF Vintner’s Market in April and at SF Pinot Days in June. For fans of our previous vintages of Chardonnay, the 2014 will not disappoint: another cool native ferment in neutral oak, no additions, bottled unfiltered.  This Chardonnay, we think, is a real homage to what Chardonnay from Russian River can be.  It was a warm growing season, and we picked just after Labor Day at 22.4 brix; the alcohol finished a hair higher than in 2013 at 13.2%.   Initial tastes of this wine show fantastic aromas, and perhaps more concentration than 2013.  I attribute this mainly to smaller, more concentrated berries in this vineyard in 2014, as well as better nutrient levels leading to a less stressful wild ferment. Another shot of Dean Wait below packing our 2014 Green Valley Rosé.    Rosé?!  Yes indeed, our first, more on that soon!