The 2018 vintage is elegant, yet powerful and displays classic Hyde Vineyard traits of delicate white flowers, tangerine zest, and lemon cream. On the palate the wine is citrus-driven with orange and lemon flavors along with hints of toasted almond and vanilla. The wine has great acidity that leaves a white chalk/mineral note on the very long finish. Rich and contoured, this is filled with concentrated Fuji apple, pear tart and quince paste flavors that are well-structured and backed by powerful acidity. Shows intense mineral and sea salt notes on the long finish. Producer Information Patz & Hall is a Sonoma-based wine producer, specializing in the production of small-lot Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from single vineyards around California. The collection is sourced from more than 30 different vineyards in Napa Valley, Carneros, Russian River Valley, Mendocino County, Sonoma Coast and Santa Lucia Highlands. The estate was established in 1988 by James Hall, Anne Moses, and Donald and Heather Patz. Collectively, they established contracts with growers around northern California to create a full portfolio of site specific wines. In the vineyard, grapes are hand-picked to preserve phenolics and prevent excess oxidation. Fermentation takes place in both stainless steel and French oak barrels. Patz & Hall has a unique stave wood program where it dries, seasons, and ages its own Burgundian oak staves for three years before the barrels are coopered, around 18 months longer than normal. The percentage of new oak the winery uses on each wine varies between 50 and 70 percent. In 2016, Patz & Hall was purchased by Chateau Ste. Michelle of which in turn was purchased by Sycamore Partners Managment in 2021. A total of around 20,000 cases of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are produced annually.
