Winemaker Notes
The 2020 Carneros Chardonnay is fresh and vibrant, leaping from the glass with a bouquet of citrus aromas, white floral blossom, honeysuckle, and lifted notes of vanilla crème. The palate is layered and creamy with nuance and depth. Pleasing juicy fruit notes of candied lemon peel, pineapple, and white pear come through with a touch of white pepper spice and brioche toast from the delicate oak aging. Viognier adds hints of elderflower and a rich lanolin texture. Mouthwatering, with a core of zesty acidity underpinning the luscious complexity of the wine. Finishing long, dry, clean, and refreshing, this wine invites you to sip, savor, and repeat.
Blend: 85% Chardonnay, 15% Viognier
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
This is tight and phenolic with a creamy texture, yet it’s fine and tight with focused acidity and lovely length. Long, tight finish. 15% viognier.
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.