Nose
This bold and rich chardonnay has a nose that screams honeysuckle with acacia flower; mingling with white peach,
melon, caramel, vanilla and almond fragrances.
Palate
The palate starts soft with an extraordinary texture of lemon meringue
pie and toasted oak. This wine has a great finish that lasts for nearly a full minute.
Growing Conditions
The growing season of 2014 was the third in a string of stunning vintages in Napa Valley. Dry, mild temperatures
brought on early budbreak and harvest, while the persistent drought helped produce small berries with concentrated
flavors and elegant tannins. The overall length of the growing season was normal, allowing for full ripening and fresh,
balanced acidity. This year will be noted in local history for the earthquake that rocked Napa just days before harvest.
Fortunately, our winery and vineyard were safe, but the greater community was deeply impacted, and the event defined
the entire season.
Vineyards: Pahlmeyer Estate, Atlas Peak
Elevation: 1,500 ft
Harvest
We harvested grapes for this wine in the cool of the night from a late-ripening, low-yielding vineyard block.
Bottling
Bottled unfined and unfiltered on April 4, 2016.
Winemaking
At the
winery, we hand-sorted and gently pressed the berries as whole clusters, then racked the free-run juice into new French
oak barrels for primary and malolactic fermentation with wild yeast.
Aging
Twenty months of aging in 100% VYG new French oak
fully integrated the characters of this massive Chardonnay.
