Winemaker Notes
This Chardonnay is well balanced with notes of spiced pear, apple and a hint of lemon zest. A deliciously sweet entry of apricot lingers mid-palate and opens to a lively finish. Our Organic Reserve Chardonnay is sourced from the Pear Block within the Home Ranch of Sangiacomo Vineyard. The expertly executed organic farming practice of this vineyard amplifies the distinctive character and intensity of the grapes. We handled this wine with great tenderness and care and minimum intervention. Aged 10 months on French Oak (25% new). We allowed the Chardonnay to rest on its lees throughout barrel aging in order to build body and a round texture in the wine. The resulting mouthfeel is creamy and luxurious.
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.