The Carneros appellation, which straddles the Southern tip of both Napa and Sonoma, has long been known for producing excellent pinot noir and sparkling wine. While it seldom says so on the label, many of these sparkling wines contain a large proportion of chardonnay, which demonstrates that this area is capable of making wonderful chardonnay. Thanks to the cool air and fog coming off of the San Pablo Bay, Chardonnay from this region benefits from a long growing season, and develops flavors without reaching the excessive alcohol levels found in some warmer climate California Chardonnay. Today’s Heist, from Trinitas Cellars, is an excellent example of a chardonnay that is still made in the big, rich California style so many of us love, yet manages to stay balanced and fresh.
The 2009 Trinitas Cellars Reserve Chardonnay is a dark straw color. The nose offers a lovely juxtaposition of chardonnay aromas characteristic of both warmer sites, like lemon and baked apple, and cooler sites such as hay and paraffin. The palate is classic California, with apple, peach, and some toasty, buttery notes from aging in French oak barrels. This is a full-bodied wine perfect for fans looking for rich California Chardonnay at a much more reasonable price point. It will pair beautifully with lobster, pasta with cream sauce, or soft ripe cheese. A perfect white for brisk fall evenings!
Appellation: Carneros, Napa Valley
Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
Alcohol: 14.4%
Aging: 100% barrel fermented; sur lie aged, 100% malolactic fermentation.
95 Points
Entices with aromas of Bing cherry, raspberry, and cedar spice. Indicative of the cool vintage, the wine carries a freshness throughout. The palate offers a harmonious balance between bright red fruit, spice, and nicely woven tannins.
93 Points
Aromas of blackcurrant, dark plum, and cedar unfold alongside soft notes of vanilla and toasted oak. On the palate, structured tannins frame layers of black cherry, baking spice, and a subtle herbal lift from the Merlot blended beneath the Cabernet's backbone. Medium-bodied gem with good concentration finishing long and warm, with lingering impressions of cocoa and dried fig.
96 Points
Aromas of Bing cherry, raspberry liqueur, and purple flowers drive the nose of this energetic Syrah which is co-fermented with a whisper of Viognier. Gracing the palate are dark berries, plum, blackberries, peppercorns, hints of sweet tobacco, and well-positioned oak spice with plush acid and rich tannin peaking through the finish.
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