Winemaker Notes
The 2019 Carneros Chardonnay is full of vibrancy and grace, exhibiting citrus aromas with fresh lemon, white floral blossom, pineapple, lychee and delicate hints of vanilla crème. On the palate there are layers of creamy lemon curd, candied lemon peel, crisp green apple, white pear, and a touch of white pepper spice. The oak shows nuances of graham cracker crust and is a pleasing backdrop supporting the core of zingy crisp acidity and fruit underpinning the overall round and textured complexity of the wine. The wine finishes long, dry, clean and refreshing. The inviting aromas, flavors, creamy texture and persistent mouth-watering acidity show a well-integrated wine that is incredibly food friendly pairing with all of your favorite meals. Viognier added a bit of floral and texture.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Dried apple and pineapple with hints of coconut, steel and some flint. Full-bodied and tight with intensity and power. This will open nicely with bottle age. Try after 2022.
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Wine Enthusiast
With 17% Viognier, this white is steely, linear and flinty, with full-bodied ripeness beneath the focus. Layers of pear, apple and nutmeg ride along a lengthy foundation of unctuous lushness and approachability.
One of the most popular and versatile white wine grapes, Chardonnay offers a wide range of flavors and styles depending on where it is grown and how it is made. While it tends to flourish in most environments, Chardonnay from its Burgundian homeland produces some of the most remarkable and longest lived examples. California produces both oaky, buttery styles and leaner, European-inspired wines. Somm Secret—The Burgundian subregion of Chablis, while typically using older oak barrels, produces a bright style similar to the unoaked style. Anyone who doesn't like oaky Chardonnay would likely enjoy Chablis.
Known for elegant wines that combine power and finesse, Carneros is set in the rolling hills that straddle the southernmost parts of both Sonoma and Napa counties. The cooling winds from the abutting San Pablo Bay, combined with lots of midday California sunshine, create an ideal environment for producing wines with a perfect balance of crisp acidity and well-ripened fruit.
This cooler pocket of California lends itself to growing Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah. Carneros is an important source of sparkling wines made in the style of Champagne as well.