Flavor descriptors:
Decadent Meyer lemon crème pie, toasted hazelnut, and baked Asian pear flavors evolve beautifully across the palate in our remarkably rich Reserve Chardonnay. Its creaminess is lifted by both the vibrant purity of the fruit and the wine’s bright acidity; its elegantly rich lemon and pear flavors seem to glide across the palate endlessly in a luxuriously long finish.
Vintage:
2015 started warmer and drier than usual, without a drop of rain in January. The dry conditions continued well into April with some early irrigation in the vineyards. A cooler May reduced fruit set and provided the first signs of a lighter crop for the vintage. The harvest brought in fruit at optimal flavor maturity before a series of heat waves hit the valley. Overall, the 2015 harvest is one of the earliest on record. The grapes for our Chardonnay Reserve were picked between September 1st to September 11th.
Vineyards:
With its cooling marine influences, the southern Carneros region is home to some of Napa Valley’s finest Chardonnays. For the 2015 Reserve, we hand selected fruit from the appellation’s renowned Hyde ranch. The region’s climate, combined with clay loam soils, provides ideal conditions for the development of deeply flavored Chardonnay.
Winemaking:
We hand-harvested our selected Chardonnay grapes into one-half ton bins at daybreak and gently pressed them as whole clusters to retain fruity flavors and delicacy. A slow, cool native-yeast fermentation took place in 100% Burgundian-style barrels for fruit and oak integration, and enhanced mouth feel. One hundred percent of the barrels were French oak, eighty-one percent (81%) new, adding layers of complexity. As the new wine underwent malolactic fermentation, we began stirring each barrel twice a week, re-suspending the yeast lees to gradually build in greater creaminess and further enrich the texture. When the wine reached optimal balance of fruit and oak influence, it was blended and transferred to neutral barrels with the lees to continue aging for a total of eight (8) months. The wine was bottled in October of 2016.
Total acid: 6.5 g/L
Final pH: 3.33
Residual sugar: 1.53 g/L
Alcohol: 14.5% by volume
This taut expression of Chardonnay defines understated elegance, wearing a light oak cloak and wowing on the finish, where the flavors fan out and gain. Drink now through 2024. 1,261 cases made. -JL - Wine Spectator Magazine 93 Points
This is a well-made, powerful wine. Elegant, integrated and effusive in oak, it has pretty apple blossom aromas and boldly layered flavors of green apple, creme brulee and lemon meringue. The finish is lush in a honeycomb tone. This will do well in the cellar; enjoy 2020-2025. - Wine Enthusiast Magazine 93 Points
Mondavi’s 2015 Chardonnay Reserve is beautiful. Soft, textured and nuanced, the 2015 shows the polished, refined side of the vintage. Gentle orchard fruit, yellow flowers and a subtle dash of oak add to the wine’s understated, gracious personality. This is an unusually brisk, bright wine for the year. - Vinous Media 92 Points
I loved the 2015 Chardonnay Reserve Carneros from Mondavi and this classically styled, yet ripe, concentrated effort has loads of orchard fruits, caramelized peach, and brioche aromas and flavors. With good richness as well as vibrant acidity, it’s capable of lasting for 5-7 years, if not longer. - Jeb Dunnuck 91 Points
