The grapes for our Chardonnay Reserve come exclusively from our four estate vineyards in the Carneros district of southern Napa Valley. These cool-climate sites provide ideal conditions for cultivating world-class chardonnay. Our nine superior clones of the chardonnay variety further enhance the quality and complexity of this wine, with each contributing desirable traits to the final blend. By fermenting and barrel-aging each clonal selection separately – using French oak barrels tailored to the particular character of each lot – and then blending the lots we feel will best optimize balance and complexity, we’re able to craft a rich, luxurious chardonnay boasting layers of captivating aromas and flavors.
Tasting Notes & Food Pairings - Seductive, slightly floral aromas of creamy golden apple and honeydew melon, with complementary scents of crème brulee, yeast and mineral, preface a lush, full-bodied palate offering intense and expansive melon, peach and apple flavors accentuated by fresh, perfectly balanced acidity. The wine’s long, elegant and focused finish showcases bright, apple-y flavors with hints of citrus, mineral and oak spice. This delicious and complex Carneros Napa Valley chardonnay is eminently enjoyable now, but it will gain further complexity with another 5-7 years aging.
