Matchbook Old Head Chardonnay 2018, Dunnigan Hills, California

100% Giguiere Family Dunnigan Hills Chardonnay. This Estate Bottled Chardonnay is a showcase for the Dunnigan Hills terroir, with lush, full, rich tropical characters. The 2018 Matchbook Chardonnay opens up with aromas of honey and floral perfurme framed by a beautiful barrel expression of vanilla and Crème Brûlée. Flavors of sweet fruit, peach pit, and ripe honeydew melon mingle with subtle notes of tropical fruit and butterscotch. The creamy texture is balanced by a bright, crisp finish. Six different clones of chardonnay were used in this wine, all of them picked at night and delivered to the winery before sunrise to ensure that we crushed fresh, cool grapes. Clone 809 (the most exotic clone) was fermented in stainless steel tanks to retain its Muscat character. The other clones received 100% aging in a combination of French, hybrid American and Hungarian oak barrels.