Voted #1 Chardonnay By The Glass - Wine & Spirits
91 Points - California Grapevine - Aug 2019
90 Points - Wine Enthusiast
Best of Class & Double Gold - West Coast Wine Competition - Feb 2019
Gold Medal - San Francisco Chronicle - Jan 2019
Gold Medal - New World International - Feb 2019
Gold Medal - Sunset Int’l Wine Competition - June 2019
Gold Medal - Critics Challenge - June 2019
Offers a wide array of tropical/citrus notes, and maintains the perfect acidity and freshness. Well-made Chardonnay. Perfect for year round enjoyment.
VINEYARDS
The foundation for the 2018 Carneros Chardonnay is Frank Family’s Lewis Vineyard, located in the heart of Napa-Carneros, near the shores of the San Pablo Bay. It is made up of 78 acres planted on gently rolling hills, with 68 acres planted to Chardonnay and 10 acres planted to Pinot Noir. The predominant maritime influence of the Pacific Ocean creates the cool temperature, fog and wind that make Carneros ideally suited for growing cool climate varietals. The Lewis Vineyard consists primarily of shallow and dense clay loam soils, receiving only 20 inches of rainfall annually. The restricting soils result in extremely low yields, producing grapes with strong character and balanced acidity. Other fruit sources for this wine include Beckstoffer Vineyards and Hudson Vineyards located in Napa-Carneros, and Sangiacomo Vineyards located in Sonoma-Carneros.
COOPERAGE
Barrel fermented in 34% new, 33% once and 33% twice-filled French oak barrels for 9 months. While ageing on the lees, the wine was hand stirred regularly to promote depth and longevity.
Vintage: 2018
Varietal Composition: 100% Chardonnay
Appellation: 100% Carneros
Harvest Date: September 2nd - 26th, 2018
Bottled: July 2019
Acid: 0.61 g/100ml
pH: 3.47
Aging: Barrel fermented in 34% new, 33% once and 33% twice-filled French oak barrels for 9 months. While ageing on the lees, the wine was hand stirred regularly to promote depth and longevity.
Alcohol: 14.4%
Wine Maker: Todd Graff
93 Points, Wine Enthusiast
Polished and elegantly layered Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah offers red plum and black cherry on the nose, with scent of cigar box, forest floor, bay, baking spices and vanilla. Expressive black raspberry, sassafras and smoky pepper flavors that linger with salted dark chocolate, red plum, black raspberry, and cherry on the finish.
93 Points, Wine Enthusiast
Dark fruit aromas of black raspberry, blackberry, black cherry with sage, marjoram and baking spice. The palate full and hearty yet crisp in texture, blending dark cherry with black cardamom, white pepper, currant and dark chocolate, as the acidity and tannins push through to the finish. A gorgeous expressive wine!
93 Points, Vinous
A great example of where Cabernet's structure and depth are balanced by Syrah's jammy fruit-forward flavors. Savory aromas of dark berries, cassis, baking spices and vanilla that intermingle with earthy notes of dried tobacco, cigar box and saddle leather. Notes of dark fruit flavors carry on to the palate, with dark chocolate, vanilla and a hint of black currant.
Bursting with aromas of cherry, spice, hints of cranberry and tobacco. Flavors of cherry pie, pomegranate and cola with a soft elegant mouthfeel. Amazingly easy-drinking...
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