Beringer Private Reserve Chardonnay 2006
Chardonnay
from Napa Valley, California
winemaker's notes:
Each Chardonnay lot was kept separate throughout the aging process to
retain the individual flavor characteristics. After gentle crushing, Winemaker Laurie Hook
fermented the juice in French oak barrels (77 percent new) to enhance the natural richness in
the wine. The lees were stirred weekly to develop a nutty-toasty character and fully integrate
the oak flavors, encouraging a good balance. All of the wines were put through malolactic
fermentation to encourage a lush creaminess.
After 9 months aging, Winemaster Ed Sbragia
and Winemaker Laurie chose the richest, most expressive lots and blended them to create an intensely aromatic and flavorful
wine featuring lemon zest, sweet vanilla, baked apple and spicy oak aromas layered with rich flavors of pineapple, and hints of
minerality and spice that lead into a long and bright citrus-infused finish.