Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Connoisseurs' Guide
We were struck by this wine’s energy as well as its fruity depth when first released, and our enthusiasm is unchanged. Still very fresh and wonderfully alive, it seems to have barely aged and has the buoyancy expected of a far younger wine. Not tight as much as it is vibrant and bright, it is slightly rounded in feel with fine supporting acidity. It is a very dry effort whose sensation of sweetness comes not by way of residual sugar but by dint of its insistent, slightly honeyed, melony fruit.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
An outstanding new world Chenin Blanc, the 2015 Lang & Reed offers top notch flavors of the grape variety—honeydew melon, ripe citrus, core fruits and flowers. The wine is dry on the palate, yet smooth and nicely textured in the finish. The combination of flavors and textures make this wine an excellent match with roast chicken or turkey. Drinking well now. (Tasted: August 24, 2016, San Francisco, CA)
Unquestionably one of the most diverse grape varieties, Chenin Blanc can do it all. It shines in every style from bone dry to unctuously sweet, oaked or unoaked, still or sparkling and even as the base for fortified wines and spirits. Perhaps Chenin Blanc’s greatest asset is its ever-present acidity, maintained even under warm growing conditions. Somm Secret—Landing in South Africa in the mid 1800s, today the country has double the acreage of Chenin Blanc planted compared to France. There is also a new wave of dedicated producers committed to restoring old Chenin vines.
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.