in the cellar : Verdun's ideal terroir and meso-climate, together with mother natures blessing in 1997 of near perfect conditions for Chardonnay - long maturation on the vine, cool ripening and healthy disease free fruit - combined with both traditional and modern wine making techniques resulted in a wine with fine balance and complexity. This wine has two components; the 50% tank fermented portion was racked after primary fermentation and left on it's fine lees for six months. The balance was barrel fermented and left on its gross lees for 28 weeks, battonage was practiced for the first 8 weeks. Half of the oak fermented portion underwent secondary fermentation. New small french oak barrels were used.