92 Points - Wines & Spirits
91 Points - Wine Enthusiast
90 Points - Wine Spectator
The Wine: This limited production, elegant Chardonnay harkens back to an earlier style of Chardonnay, showcasing fresh, bright, juicy flavors of a crisp apple and pear, driven by refreshing acidity. This is the perfect paring with smoked salmon, crispy crab cakes or chicken Dijon.
Vintage: For the third year in a row Napa Valley experienced an exceptional vintage, aided by near drought conditions. Bud break came slight early and the modest temperatures through the growing season helped preserve moisture. July's relatively low temperatures coupled with high relative humidity slowed down sugar accumulation to achieve perfect ripeness with lower alcohol. Harvest started and ended about two weeks earlier than normal, producing superb quality
Vineyard: Chardonnay thrives in our Carneros Vineyard in the southern tip of Napa Valley, near San Pablo Bay, which spills into the San Francisco Bay. The cool maritime breezes and fog allow the grapes to slowly ripen to develop complex flavors while maintaining a pleasing natural acidity that is impossible to achieve in warmer areas. All of our vineyards are certified organic and we farm them naturally, without artificial pesticides or herbicides.
Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
Appelation: Napa Valley Estate
Harvest date: Aug. 29 - Sept. 9, 2014
Sugar: 23.1 degrees Brix
Fermentation: indigenous yeast
Total acid: 6.8 g/L
pH: 3.23
Aging: Fermented French oak, aged 10 months, 70% new, 30% neutral
Bottling date: December 15, 2015
Release date: February 1, 2017
Inky, plush, and cellar-worthy
The nose is an aromatic riot—a decadent mashup of blackberry, black cherry, and plum swirled with whimsical notes of red licorice, vanilla, and cocoa. A savory dust of spice, cedar, and a gentle kiss of oak adds a sophisticated edge to this fruit-forward powerhouse.
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