Franciscan Estate Chardonnay 2021
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The 2021 Franciscan Estate Chardonnay is a bright, approachable white wine grown in California. Hints of freshly sliced pineapple and lemon flower greet the nose. With no oak aging or malolactic fermentation, the wine feels refreshing on the palate with juicy notes of pear and apple. A wonderful texture gives the wine a plushness that carries through to a refreshing finish.
This Chardonnay is delicious with cracked crab squeezed with lemon or sweet and sour pineapple chicken.
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Specially selected vineyards throughout California's cool coastal regions yielded the grapes in this crisp white. Fermented in stainless steel, it displays a richness and brightness in flavor and mouthfeel, The perfume of pear banana lemon chiffon, and chamomile is delicate, and cinnamon and vanilla leave a creamy trace on the tongue Focused and clean, with a nuance of toasted coconut and cedar on the Fish
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Franciscan was founded in 1972 by a group of lawyers and doctors from San Francisco who decided to try turning their passion for wine into a business. In 1985, Agustin Huneeus, a Chilean exile who had built Concha y Toro in his native country, took over the helm at Franciscan. Huneeus refocused the winery on using the superlative grapes growing in its own vineyards, rather than sourcing from outside.
Today, Franciscan's wines are crafted under the exacting eye of Janet Myers, who came to Franciscan in August 2003 as associate winemaker after working in the Margaret River region and Beaulieu Vineyard, Stag's Leap Wine Cellars and Louis Martini. The winery remains committed to its tradition of small-lot winemaking, with small batches averaging just 150 to 1,500 cases. The image of a hand-operated wine press on Franciscan's logo and wine labels reflects this small lot approach to winemaking.
California’s most praised white wine, Chardonnay is also the state’s most planted white grape variety. Diverse terrain and microclimates allow for an incredible range of wine styles.
Chardonnay planted in the cooler, coastal zones takes on bright characteristics like lemon zest, key lime, green apple and wet flint. For this style, look to the chilly Sonoma Coast, Carneros, Santa Cruz Mountains, Santa Lucia Highlands and Edna Valley.
The inland zones of California’s coast, such as the Russian River, Sonoma, Napa and Livermore Valleys maintain a more Goldilocks-esque climate where both styles go. Early picking retains acidity and creates a leaner style but leaving the grapes to hang creates an approachable Chardonnay, balancing richness and finesse.
Chardonnay also plays a major part in the sparkling wine production of the Anderson Valley and Carneros.