Winemaker Notes
The Mitsuko's Chardonnay is a beautiful clear lemon color in the glass. With vibrant aromas of toasted oak, ripe melon, pear and bakers spice. On the palate, the bright acidity lends a refreshing quality to the wine, supported by fruit flavors of peach, cantaloupe and a touch of citrus. The oak integrates well, adding dimension to the wine, bringing in toasted coconut, brioche and custard. Well balanced and lower in alcohol, this wine is intense, complex and delicious..
Professional Ratings
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Tasting Panel
Deemed a “classic” Napa Valley vintage, 2018 was one of the longest harvests in Carneros since 2011. This 100% barrelfermented Chardonnay is aged nine months sur lie in 30% new French oak. Toasty cedar and bread dough greet the nose, followed by scents of vanilla and lemon spice. Unctuous on the palate, baked apple goes bright with a twist of lime as chamomile and tarragon keep a savory watch over stone fruit. An underlying flintiness persists.
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James Suckling
A fruity chardonnay with sliced cooked apples, hints of vanilla and some yogurt. Full-bodied, layered and lightly oily, yet it’s fresh and bright at the finish. Drink now.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2018 Chardonnay sings of lime blossoms, pink grapefruit and green mango with hints of lemon zest and coriander seed. Medium to full-bodied, it has a lovely satiny texture and great intensity, finishing on a lingering lemon/lime note.
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Wine Enthusiast
With crisp, upfront acidity, this white evolves to show a richness of tropical fruit and a thick, dense texture. Entirely barrel-fermented and aged nine months in 30% new French oak, it has a hint of vanilla and nutmeg that works well with the fruit
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Wine Spectator
Lusciously spiced, with savory components to the apple tart, ripe pear and cream flavors. Plush midpalate, showing buttery richness on the finish. Drink now through 2023.
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.