VINEYARDS:
Grapes for the 2018 Napa Cellars Chardonnay were selected from vineyards in renowned Chardonnay locations including south Napa Valley, Oak Knoll and Carneros. The proximity of these vineyards to the fog and breeze from San Francisco and Marin Bay creates a cooler climate, which is ideal for growing Chardonnay. These coastal effects also allow for a longer growing season, giving the fruit more time on the vine and helping produce energetic acidity and flavorful fruit.
HARVEST:
The 2018 growing season offered superlative growing conditions with abundant rain at the beginning of the year. Plenty of sunshine and moderate temperatures throughout the spring and summer led up to a harvest with great crop quality.
WINEMAKING:
At Napa Cellars, the Chardonnay grapes are carefully hand-picked, harvested and crushed. Fermented and aged in 100% French oak barrels, 26% of which were new, this wine completes 97% malolactic fermentation and undergoes lees stirring for five months.
WINEMAKER NOTES:
The Napa Cellars 2018 Chardonnay displays classic Napa Valley Chardonnay characteristics indicative of this region. Aromas of fresh Fuji apple, lemon curd, guava, white peach and crème fraîche with light toasted graham cracker pie crust excite the senses. A soft mouthfeel supports flavors of guava, pineapple, Braeburn apple and Bosc pear that leads into a long finish of mild toasted oak and creme brûlée. Balanced, persistent acidity with an nice oily texture and a dry finish pulls together this well balanced, full-bodied Chardonnay. This is the perfect wine to pair with a Camembert French cheese plate drizzled with local honey and almond halves, or with panna cotta topped with fresh berries for dessert.
- AGING: 8 months, 26% new oak (100% French)
- ALCOHOL: 13.9%
- T.A.: 0.49 g / 100ml
- PH: 3.55