Named for the first lady of Stone Tower, Kristi Huber, this is the seventh vintage of this remarkable Chardonnay and the second crafted by James and his team. A true example of artistry in winemaking, this wine is very special to the Stone Tower family. Prior to the harvest, James hand-harvested four vines into a bucket, crushed them by hand, and placed them under a shady tree. This process, called pied de cuve (“foot of tank”), creates a starter fermentation to inoculate the juice – not unlike creating a sourdough starter. Using native yeast to take the lead in fermentation really highlights the true terroir of our land. When the grapes were pressed, they were cold-settled to clarify the juice. The juice was then divided between the concrete egg, the amphora, and a stainless tank. The pied de cuve was added to initiate fermentation. After fermentation was complete, the stainless steel portion was transferred to neutral barrels for 5 months and then combined with the wine from the egg and the amphora. The final 2025 Kristi Chardonnay was born. The wine has a lovely straw gold color. The nose is rich and savory, with notes of pear, star fruit and tangerine. That beautiful richness extends through the palate with a touch of minerality. The finish accentuates the wine’s savory luxuriousness with a lingering pear note. Enjoy now through 2029.