Palate
Our 2015 Los Carneros Chardonnay showcases balanced fruit, lingering
acidity and rich flavors and aromas of caramelized white pear, fresh fuji and golden delicious
apple, apple blossoms and torched crème bruleé.
Growing Conditions
Napa Valley native and winemaker, Tony Coltrin, brings more
than 40 years of winemaking experience to Oberon, with
expertise in sourcing quality fruit from the best vineyards in the
valley and understanding the region’s uniqueness for growing
classic Bordeaux varieties. His long-standing relationships with
local growers ensure a consistency in the quality of the grapes
grown in premier Napa Valley sub-appellations for Oberon.
Despite receiving close to 75% of normal rainfall, the warmer and dryer than usual winter
season, resulted in an early bud break that coupled with a cool spring and long flowering period
resulted in an uneven fruit set. Temperatures through the first half of the growing season were
even and warm, giving way to repeated heat surges in the final ripening weeks that pushed the
harvest ahead by 2 weeks. This weather pattern resulted in smaller than usual clusters and a
lighter than usual crop of beautiful rich character.
Our Oberon Chardonnay grapes are sourced from vineyards located within the sub-appellation
of Los Carneros. Highly influenced by the San Francisco Bay and San Pablo Bay, Los Carneros
provides the perfect combination of summer fog, warm days, cool nights and a long growing
season which make it an ideal location for growing our Chardonnay grapes.
Winemaking
Thanks to a wonderful growing season which provided perfectly ripened grapes, Tony was able
to craft an expressive, approachable and fruit forward Chardonnay. Having undergone alcoholic
and malolactic fermentation simultaneously in barrel the wine spent 9 months sur lie aging in
33% new French oak.
