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
Temperature Control Shipping
All Central, Midwest & Eastern orders ship via temp control truck.
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95 Points
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97 Points
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94 Points
Juice explodes out right of the glass with its dark purple in color and bursting aromas of black cherry jam, boysenberry, raspberry and wild cherry interlaced with hints of baking spice, espresso bean, and toasted nut. The palate is ripe and juicy with flavors of dark cherry, huckleberry and raspberry perfectly integrated with notes of spice, dark chocolate, and a kiss of toasty oak.
93 Points
Dark fruit with blueberry fruit aromas and notes of mocha and cassis. The texture is silky, rich and mouth-filling with berry pie, black tea, exotic spice and notes of chocolate fudge on the palate. Fine grain tannins lengthen the finish with dark fruit flavors mingling with just a hint of mint.
Gold Medal
Generously packed with exotic cassis, black cherry, cola and plum flavors knitted together in a creamy, velvety texture with nice layering, finishing with delightful notes of spice. Persistent, well-defined structure, wonderfully balanced.
94 Points
Deep garnet in color from the ripe 2018 vintage, with open aromas of lush fruit – plum, blackberry, and cherry, and notes of cedar, vanilla, and white pepper. Across the palate it's quite seamless and silky, rich and concentrated. The fruit flavors are bold and vibrant. Mouth-filling with smooth tannins, great texture and a long delicious finish.
92 Points
Deep garnet core with aromas of crème de cassis, blackberry, dark chocolate and licorice mingle and swirl on the nose. The palate is equally gorgeous with extremely rich cookie, walnut, plum and cassis with a long smooth creamy vanilla finish. This one is aged to perfection and ready to show off.
90 Points
Deep garnet in color, with enticing aromas of brandied cherry, lavender, and forest floor. The palate is juicy and engaging with blueberries coursing through with depth and keeps you running back for more. Pure and balanced with perfect levels of acidity with notes of salted caramel, and cocoa. It's ripe silky tannins lead to a long supple finish that just keeps on giving.
96 Points
Ruby-plum core with a light purple rim in the glass, with aromas of dark cherry, plum, spicy cola and black tea waft from the glass. The palate delivers all of that and then some, adding layers of fig jam, white peppercorn and baking spice. Firm juicy tannins and balanced acidity round it out.
95 Points
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92 Points
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