Description:

2006 Chardonnay, Napa Valley

Winemaker's Notes
"We are using a mix of barrel and steel fermentation (a longer, cooler fermentation) to highlight the different characteristics we get from our four Chardonnay vineyards, and the 2006 vintage is an exciting example of this exploration featuring almost half of the blend fermented in steel tanks. Lemon zest, apple, pear, vanilla and toasty spice aromas carry into the flavors with a refreshing tanginess and a bright fruit finish.” – Laurie Hook, Winemaker

Winemaking
When making the 2006 Napa Valley Chardonnay, Laurie kept each lot separate and used several different techniques to retain the bright fruitiness in the wine while also adding richness and complexity. After the grapes were gently destemmed and crushed, slightly more than half of the juice was fermented and aged for 8 months in French oak barrels to enhance its natural richness and roundness, but she chose to use one quarter new barrels and limited battonage significantly so aroma and flavor components from the oak and yeast lees would not be overpowering. The remaining juice was stainless steel fermented to retain more of the pure fruit character. Additionally, to maintain a balancing crispness in the wine, Laurie chose only 20% of the wine to undergo malolactic fermentation.

Wine Advocate | Robert Parker, Jr. | December 2007
The 2006 Chardonnay Napa is crisp and lean, with copious amounts of lemon oil, guava, and nectarine aromas, it is a medium-weight, dry, refreshing white to enjoy over the next 1-3 years. 87 Rated