2016 Chardonnay
Carneros, Napa

The 2016 vintage was a wonderfully long and balanced growing season, with an early budbreak at the end of February and slow ripening through August and into September. We picked our Chardonnay by hand, at dawn. The grapes were whole-cluster pressed and the juice fermented in 25% new French barrels, then aged 18 months in oak. The 2016 Chardonnay has a lightly green-tinted yellow-gold color, with white-rose floral notes. It is medium bodied, with notes of mellow tar and matchstick on the attack, then tart green apple, fresh pineapple, and a touch of buttery burnt caramel. Less voluptuoius and more balanced than 2014, yet more curvacous than 2015.
100 cases produced.