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Three vineyards from Sonoma Valley and Sonoma Carneros appellations contributed fruit to this 100% barrel fermented Chardonnay. It shows the crisp acidity typical of the vintage.

The wine typically shows are mix of apple, pear, and stone fruit, along with copious amounts of vanilla and creme brulee contributed by our meticulous selection of three-year-old, air-dried Burgundian-coopered barrels. All of these flavors and aromas are underscored by the distinctive minerality of the clayey soil of this vineyard.

This year's Courtyard is a delicious blend of selected Russian River Valley lots combined with a small percentage of grapes from Monterey vineyards, in addition to the lees wine from all of our Overlook Chardonnay barrels.

The wine was bottled unfiltered in February, 2004. While still young and just beginning to develop, it already shows great high-toned aromas of pineapple and has accompanying acidity that typifies this coastal appellation's grwoing conditions.

Well-balanced fruit and long, slow fermentations led to multi-layered flavors in these two wines. However, it was the synergy of this blend that proved winning in our numerous tastings of our favorite lots for inclusion in the Damaris Reserve blend.

Sonoma County is one of California's best regions for the production of Pinot Noir. The four vineyards that comprise this year's Grand Detour are all located in the Sonoma Coast appellation: Kanzler, Keller Estate, Kastania and Armaugh. The result is a wine that exhibits great typicity and elegant balance. The initial aromas of black cherry and cinnamon are underpinned by forest floor and cocoa. Toasty French oak along with good minerality and acidity frame this elegant and well-balanced wine. It will pair well with game, duck and salmon as well as mushroom accented disher.

The 2003 vintage was remarkable for its extremely low production of fruit, less than two tons per acre. The low tonnage was largely due to wet, cool weather conditions in April, which resulted in small berry size and low cluster weights. The wine exhibits black cherry, anise, clove and orange zest flavors, with notes of black tea and leather. The versatility of this wine is great, as the crisp acidity, soft tannins, and smoky spiciness compliment dishes as diverse as salmon, lamb, mushrooms or aged cheeses. It should age gracefully for 4-5 years.

The lush entry of this wine is followed by a streak of bracing acidity and flavors of orange peel, marzipan and pear dominate, along with a fine degree of smoke and toasty aromas from the finest selection of Burgundian barrels, of which only 30% were new. A much greater percentage of cooperage was one year old. These once used barrels provide a greater degree of finesse to the wine, while still allowing the fruit flavors to shine.

The 22 separate vineyards that comprise this year's Overlook include such distinguished growers as Sanganciomo, Bien Nacido, Martinelli and Lorenzo. All the wine in the Overlook bottling is barrel fermented using indigenous yeasts and undergoes full malo-lactic fermentation. The wine is aged sur lie for nine months in Burgundian barrels and racked to tanks for blending. The aromas of toasted almonds, caramel and coconut are followed by crisp green apple and lemon rind flavors that convey certain minerality. The acidity will pair well with seafoods and shellfish, and complement pastas with cream sauces, as well as roast chicken and pork roast with fruit.

The wine exhibits ripe plummy fruit and aromas of violets and leather. Its supple mouth-feel is balanced by good acid/tannin length. The overall structure of the wine should enable to age gracefully, but be very drinkable upon release.