2015 Chardonnay Ashley's

This is a solid set of new releases from Fess Parker. Winemaker Blair Fox commented that 2015 was the earliest, driest and lowest-yielding vintage in California's history. Over the last few years, Fox has dialed back the wines to a more restrained style that is probably better suited to the inherent personality of the sites Fess Parker works with. In 2015, that is especially evident in the Chardonnays. The Pinots appear to be more marked by the ripeness of the year and specifically the heat spikes that made themselves felt just before harvest and pushed all of the Pinot to essentially ripen at the same time. Yields were down 50% or more across the board, with the Chardonnay taking the biggest hit.