Winemaker Notes
The 2015 Cougar Rock Vineyard Chardonnay expresses intense citrus aromas of Meyer lemon zest, as well as matchstick and crushed stone with notes of honeysuckle and seaspray saline. The palate is enticing; a racy and structured yet elegant body with concentrated delicate minerality and a lingering and expansive finish driven by clonal selection and the granitic soils from Cougar Rock Vineyard. This is a pure expression of Napa Valley Chardonnay that will develop over time.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Very attractive lemon rind and stone aromas follow through to a full body, yet bright and fresh mouthfeel and a long and flavorful finish. Excellent energy here. Drink or hold.
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.
Just northeast of Napa city, Atlas Peak boasts some of Napa Valley’s highest elevation vineyards. Here the intense sunlight coupled with cool, nighttime temperatures produce grapes that are perfectly ripe, balanced and concentrated. The appellation is rich in volcanic soils and excels in the production of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.