Nose
Apple pie aromas dominate the nose of our Oak Knoll Chardonnay with a sweet mélange of vanilla, nutmeg and Granny Smith apple.
Palate
The apple component shifts through the palate, taking on softer Golden Delicious qualities along with poached pear and golden toffee. A line of citrus weaves through the medium-bodied palate and remains on the lasting finish.
Winemaking
Our Oak Knoll Chardonnay exhibits solid, robust character representative of Napa Chardonnays. We utilized two clones, the Robert Young Clone and clone 15, which we harvested in the cool night hours. At the winery, the grapes were destemmed and crushed, and then barrel fermented to impart structure and sweet spices. We allowed a good portion of the wine to undergo secondary malolactic fermentation, which converted the tart malic acids into creamy lactic acids, balancing the wine with a nice buttery component that unfolds on the palate. The wine was then aged for approximately 8 months in French and American oak barrels, a good percentage of which was new.
Aging
8 months in French and American oak
Food Pairing
This is an excellent wine with food; we recommend serving it alongside seafood or light poultry dishes.
