Tasting Notes

“The orchestration of different yeasts coupled with sur lie aging in stainless steel tanks as well as French oak barrels of different ages, toast levels and origins create an array of unique wines. Only the finest wines are combined in late spring into the vibrant final blend, showcasing the best of our estate. You will find layered, lovely aromas of fuji apple, clementines, kaffir lime and jasmine. A rich, yet tangy palate showcases flavors of nectarine, lemon curd and brioche with a long lip-smacking finish. Pair this with a roast chicken, a thick pork chop or just good friends.”

Description

“Bouchaine’s 100-acre estate vineyard lies on the southern border of Napa Valley’s Carneros district, overlooking the San Francisco bay with the financial district in the distance. Fog, wind, and the cold night time temperatures of this unique geographical area lend a distinctive regional identity to our Chardonnay.”

Growing Season

“The 2019 growing season will be remembered as a “Goldilocks” vintage. Not too cold, not too hot . . . but just right. Late rains in May had growers biting their nails as these storms can cause damage to vines that are flowering, leading to reduced crop. However, sunshine won that battle and the rains disappeared giving way to a long, consistent growing season throughout the summer. No major heat events appeared during harvest time allowing for beautiful ripening at an even pace. Just right.”

Vinification

“Our Estate Chardonnay is a blend of 35-year old vines and Dijon plantings from 1996. The age of the vines provides intensity and depth not found in young vineyards. Chardonnay is the ultimate medium for the winemaker’s skills and imagination. Bouchaine’s winemaking vision calls for the roduction of more than a dozen different Chardonnay wines from our estate blocks, which are in turn melded into the final Estate Chardonnay.”