Vintage

2023

Skysill Estate Vineyard Chardonnay

Walla Walla Valley

New Release

An exquisitely expressive bouquet of pure citron and generous stone fruit is complemented by delicately laced notes of dolce de leche and chamomile.
 
Bright citrus flavors illuminate a precision-layered mouthwatering baseline with ripe summer melons and lychee. This gustatory experience is set apart by its intricate minerality, nuances of hazelnut, and unique salinity imparted by Skysill Vineyard’s thick layers of quart-rich loess. 
 
For this second release, three estate-grown clones of Chardonnay underwent partial malolactic fermentation, resting for nine months in French oak. The five finest barrels of the vintage were selected for the final blend and allowed additional time in the bottle before release to yield a luscious texture that broadly completes the palate. The resulting wine is every bit as exceptional as the inaugural vintage of this 100% Chardonnay, named a Wine Enthusiast Top 100 Wine of 2024.

The 2023 vintage will be remembered for low yields that resulted in remarkably concentrated, high-quality wines. Spring began with cooler-than-average temperatures, delaying bud break by two to three weeks. However, a sudden May heatwave quickly spurred bloom to jump-start growth—warm and steady weather defined July and August, allowing for even grape maturation. A brief but intense heatwave in late August accelerated ripening, but by mid-September, the region returned to its typical fall pattern of warm days and cool nights. This classic diurnal shift preserved vibrant acidity while fostering complex flavor development, yielding wines with exceptional balance, depth, and elegance.