Winemaker Notes
Deep golden in color, this Carneros Chardonnay opens with lovely aromas of citrus, green apple and crème brûlée. The palate is soft and creamy from complete malolactic fermentation and sur lie aging with weekly stirrings. Flavors of Meyer lemon and pear flow over the tongue followed by hints of minerality. Barrel fermented and aged in French oak, this vintage shows elegant structure with vibrant acidity and a supple yet lingering finish.
Professional Ratings
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Tasting Panel
Gemstone minerality intersects with lemongrass, oregano, and chervil for a most glamorous mouthfeel-crisp, delicate, and armed with cut-glass acidity.
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.