Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
You have just got to love the Oak Knoll District of the Napa Valley, for decades I have been a super fan of the chardonnays from this part of southern Napa. The 2013 Beringer Luminus is a single vineyard star (from the winery's Big Ranch Vineyard). Full of core fruits, cream and mineral, this wine has so much to offer. Drinks well now, but will most certainly gain from aging in the bottle. (Tasted: April 13, 2015, San Francisco, CA)
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The outstanding 2013 Chardonnay Luminus comes from the Oak Knoll sector of southern Napa Valley. About 25% new oak is used in this cuvée, and it is made from the newer Burgundian clones of Chardonnay as opposed to the Old Wente selection (which actually came from Burgundy many decades ago). This wine exhibits pineapple, poached pear, honeysuckle and buttery melon notes in addition to a subtle use of wood, and a medium to full-bodied mouthfeel. Consume this beauty over the next 4-5 years.
As California's longest continuously operating winery, Beringer has been defining Napa Valley winemaking since it was founded by Jacob and Frederick Beringer in 1876. By continuing that pioneering spirit, Beringer established many 'firsts' as leaders in the wine industry. They were one of the first gravity fed facilities and among the first to operate using hand dug caves and cellars. Beringer were the first to give public tours in 1934, starting a Napa Valley hospitality tradition. They are the first and only winery to have both a red and a white wine named #1 Wine of the Year by Wine Spectator Magazine. Today, they proudly celebrate and remain true to their pioneering legacy.
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.
As one of Napa’s coolest sub-appellations, the area begs for diversity among its vineyards. Merlot and Chardonnay firmly compete with Cabernet Sauvignon for a place here. Some of Napa’s best Zinfandels also come from the Oak Knoll District.
Situated far in Napa’s southern end, Oak Knoll receives a strong cooling influence from both the San Pablo Bay and the Pacific Coast’s evening fog and breezes. Summer days are warm but on average ten degrees cooler than in St. Helena farther north up the valley; summer nights are chilly. A long growing season promotes for leisurely ripening of grape berries, resulting in an impressive balance of sugars, phenols and acidity.
Notable producers include Trefethen, one of the appellation’s oldest wineries, Robert Biale, legendary Zinfandel producer and Lewis Cellars, a family-run, hands-on establishment.