89 Points, International Wine Review

Our 2014 Ex Anima Chardonnay comes from the original 35-year old, own rooted Clone 4 vines planted on our estate vineyard.  It is fermented, primary only, and aged for 3 months in stainless steel.  The resulting wine is bright and direct, yet deceptively rich.  Aromas of citron, pineapple, and guava combine to add a subtle tropical note to the nose.  The palate counters with lively stone fruit and citrus, a noticeable but balanced acidity and a full mouthfeel that precededs a crushed-stone mineral finish.

Our Estate San Saba Vineyard is set in a sheltered nook just below the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA. The estate consists of 72 acres of which 67.75 are planted to Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah and Falanghina. This is a cool site with little rainfall and one of the longest growing seasons in the world. Our soils, Arroyo Gravelly Loam and Hanford Gravely Sandy Loam, provide a low-vigor, well-draining, disease- and pest-free medium for our vines. They also impart a subtle mineral quality to our wines. To preserve our local ecosystem, we have worked with viticultural consultant Steve McIntyre to develop a CCVT certified sustainable farming program tailored to our estate. In addition to protecting the local environment, we believe it allows us to produce wines that are more authentic and specific to our terroir.