Nose
The 2013 Generations Chardonnay opens with striking floral and citrus
aromas that seductively mingle in the glass with bright notes of pineapple
and honeysuckle.
Palate
Creamy on the palate, this rich wine is round and
luxurious while displaying nice acidity, great structure and well integrated
oak. Enticing flavors of vanilla and spice are harmoniously accented by
hints of creamy butter and dried apricot.
Growing Conditions
The grapes for the Generations Chardonnay come from our estate
vineyards in Jameson Canyon and a select vineyard in the Atlas Peak
appellation. The estate vineyards are planted on rolling hills at the southern
end of Napa Valley. The growing conditions in the Jameson Canyon are
very similar to Carneros, the neighboring appellation just west of the Napa
River. Winds flow through Jameson Canyon, carrying in the cooling
influence of the nearby Pacific Ocean and providing a long, cool growing
season that enhances the intensity of the Chardonnay flavors.
The 2013 vintage in Napa Valley was one of the earliest harvested vintages
in years. A warm spring led to early bud break and created the perfect
environment for flowering and fruit set. With warm days and cool nights,
our team was able to maintain ideal acid levels with optimum, bright fruit
flavors.
Winemaking
A mix of specialized Old Wente, Dijon, and a small amount of Musque
clones, our 2013 Generations Napa Valley Chardonany was whole cluster
pressed and fermented in French oak barrels with 100% native yeast
fermentation and achieved 100% native malolactic fermentation.
Aging
The wine
was then aged for 14 months in 75% new French oak (Francois Frere,
Saury and Baron) with 8 months of sur-lie aging for a creamy texture and
broader mouthfeel before being bottled unfiltered.
