2006 Chardonnay Ritche

Mark Aubert's collection of chardonnays took a quantity hit in 2006, as he no longer has access to fruit from "The Quarry" (Peter Michael cancelled the contract and is now keeping this fruit for its own use), and the Rueling chardonnay suffered from botrytis owing to the wet spring and extended foggy periods during the summer. Happily, though, the pinot noir at this site remained more or less unscathed. According to Aubert, the grape clusters were larger than usual in 2006 but the ultimate yield was about average, with pHs on the low side in the context of his wines (and significantly lower than those of 2004). The chardonnays fermented their sugars until April of '07.