About Fogarty
Few wine regions on earth can match Santa Cruz Mountains’ climates, soils and vertigo-inspiring views. Set high in the mountains overlooking California’s Silicon Valley, the Thomas Fogarty winery has been making single-vineyard Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet from the SCM appellation since 1981. Fogarty’s two estates are divided into micro-vineyards, ranging from .25 to 5.25 acres, based on soil and topography. All are maritime (12-18 miles to Pacific), cool-climate (Regions I and II), high-elevation (1600-2300 feet), low yielding (1-3 tons per acre) and mountainous. The winery was founded by Dr. Thomas Fogarty, a Stanford cardiovascular surgeon and world-renowned inventor.
Vintage
With some of the lowest yields in recent memory, 2005 will go down as one of our most successful and demanding vintages. Poor weather throughout California in the spring resulted in poor fruit set and consequently lower yields. Low yields and a perfect weather during prime ripening weather allowed us to harvest perfectly ripe fruit that was packed with concentrated flavors, yielding wines with delicious fruit.
Vineyards
Langley Hill is our largest plot of Estate Chardonnay. It occupies a steep hillside and presents numerous exposures and soil types. It is not unheard of for us to make 5 passes though the 5.25 acre vineyard in a year. Langley Hill is often the last of our Chardonnay vineyards picked on the Home Ranch. It’s a decidedly cool site that ripens grapes at a slower pace than its neighboring vineyards. The site’s lack of heat and exposure to the elements yields a Chardonnay that is steely and structured with persistent citrus and mineral flavors.
Winemaking
We pick our vineyards early in the morning and deliver them to the press cold for whole-cluster pressing,
followed by barrel fermentation. Weekly batonage for 16 months in 100% used French oak added flesh and texture to the brilliant spine of acidity and bright mountain fruit. We bottled the wine un-filtered to preserve the magnificent texture and delicate aromatics.
Tasting Notes
White flowers, poached pear and quartz are evident on the fragrant nose. The mouth follows suit with additional flavors of honey, hazelnut and bailed hay. This is pretty rich for Langley Hill, but the vineyard’s cut and cool climate local keep the wine focused and decidedly bright. Aging in 1 year seasoned French Oak has really allowed this wine to come into it’s own early; it should drink extremely well upon release.
TECHNICAL DATA:
Appellation
Santa Cruz Mountains
WINEMAKER
Michael Martella
VINEYARDS
96% Langley Hill Estate Vineyard
COMPOSITION: 100% Chardonnay
Finished alcohol: 14.5% ABV
Acid/pH: .68/3.64
Oak Treatment: 40% New French Oak. 22 Months
Total production: 94 cases
California suggested retail: $45.00
