Exceptional!
Delicious for any occasion, or perfect for aging. Enjoy with herb-crusted pork ribs, grilled chicken Caesar salad, poached salmon and more.
Vintage: The 2023 Carneros vintage is described as exceptional, with a long, cool growing season leading to high-quality fruit. A wet winter and spring provided ample soil moisture, supporting a healthy bloom and a long, mild summer. This resulted in extended hang time for the grapes, allowing for optimal flavor development and a balance of acidity and sugar. While some vineyards experienced mildew pressure, the loose clusters and consistent weather allowed for good airflow and healthy fruit.
Vineyard: This special single vineyard Chardonnay, sourced from the famous Sangiacomo Vineyard in Carneros, is not to be missed. On the nose, you'll first enjoy the slight oak, with essence of lilac, toasted brioche and sage. Once you swirl the wine on your taste buds, the minerality, soft melted butter, quince and fig flavors will titillate them. Truley a chardonnay lovers Chardonnay.
Winemaking: After whole-cluster pressing and cold settling, the juice was racked into small stainless steel fermenters and inoculated with CY3079 yeast. The juice was transferred to 60 gallon Francois Freres and Marsannay Bur-gundy-shaped barrels, of which 40% were new oak, for the start of barrel fermentation. The wine remained aged sur-lees for a period of 7 months during which it was stirred every 10 days.
Winemaker: Nils Venge, regarded as one of the foremost pioneers in the Napa Valley wine industry who became the first American winemaker to receive a perfect 100-point rating from Robert Parker on his 1985 Reserve Cabernet while at Groth.
Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
Appellation: Sonoma County, Carneros
Vineyard: Sangiacomo Vineyard
Harvest date: September 16th, 2023
Sugar: 23 Brix (average)
Total acid: 6.9 g/L
pH: 3.44
Cooperage: 40% new French oak barrels
Bottling date: April 2024
Release date: September 2024
Alcohol: 14.2% by volume
94 Points
Dark purple in color it opens with explosive aromas of wild blackberry, and a touch of vanilla oak. The palate is bursting with ripe juicy flavors of boysenberry, raspberry and wild cherry, accented by layers of cedar, cacao, cinnamon and briary spice. It’s bold enough to stand up to any BBQ, yet smooth enough to sip on the patio as the sun goes down. Enjoy now and for the next 6-8 years.
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