VINTAGE:
The extended drought created concern as the 2016 growing season began, but welcomed winter rain hinted at relief to come. After a relatively dry January there was significant rainfall in February, along with mild temperatures. Bud break was early, but was slowed by heavy April showers. While still early by historical standards, picking began about a week later than 2015, and continued at a leisurely pace, allowing the grapes to reach full maturity. Fruit was in the winery by the time the first noticeable fall rainstorm arrived in mid-October. A traditionally sized harvest followed the lighter 2015, and the extended season helped balance the acids and add complexity to the layers of flavors. Fruit was harvested when winemaker Harry Hansen called the pick from September 7 to October 3, 2016.
VINEYARDS:
Sourcing for this Napa Valley Chardonnay comes from a selection of prestigious vineyards, including Oak Knoll, Big Ranch and Rodgers Vineyard from the Oak Knoll AVA giving the wine its plush roundness and fruit-forward characteristics. A small amount of Chardonnay fruit also comes from Gamble Ranch in the Oakville AVA and from the southern, cooler reaches of the Carneros region, adding balanced acidity to the rich fruit flavors.
WINEMAKING:
The Chardonnay fruit was harvested in the cool morning hours and sent directly to press at the winery. The majority of the fruit was barrel fermented in French (65%) and American (35%) oak to impart rich texture and added spice notes. In the 2016 vintage only a small portion of the blend (10%) was fermented in stainless-steel tanks to capture bright fruit character and retain fresh acidity. Some 90% of the wine was allowed to complete malolactic fermentation. The final wine is elegant and shows a core of beautiful fruit character with balanced, bright acidity.
TASTING NOTES:
Fragrant aromas of crisp apple, citrus led by lemon zest and lime, lemon crème and toasted hazelnut lead to a richly textured wine with layers of similar flavors, enhanced with a honey almond and stone fruit character. A luminous, pale gold color hints at the nicely balanced and elegant entry with bright acidity and creamy roundness. The finish is persistent and memorable.
- Alc: 14.5%
- TA: .57 g/L
- pH: 3.51