Our Napa Valley Chardonnay beautifully harmonizes zesty lemon and ripe pineapple with a hint of quartzlike minerality and sumptuous vanilla cream. Deep notes of burnt caramel and crème brûlée elegantly fuse with hints of coconut and honeysuckle. The wine opens with a rich entry, then gracefully rounds out in the midpalate, where toasted sweet vanilla oak converges with a bright lemon curd finish. Opulent yet refreshingly crisp, this Chardonnay is ideal for diverse culinary pairings.
The 2022 growing season in Napa Valley was marked by several record-breaking weather events. The growing season started off strong, when 80% of the season’s total rainfall arrived before the first day of 2022. Most of the vineyard ponds were filled for the first time in two years. The water spigot was turned off at the beginning of the new year, resulting in the driest three months on record. This dry spell led to an early start to bud break. Due to the earlier rains, the canopies were healthier this vintage than the two previous. The summer progressed with average weather but was slightly on the warmer side when compared to 2021. In July, harvest was expected to be 5 to 7 days earlier than in 2021 and about 15% lighter than average, but of a very high quality. In September, over the Labor Day weekend, Mother Nature released an unprecedented heat wave. This set the harvest into high gear! A rain event in late September helped to cool things down and allow the growers and vintners to catch their breath and continue at a more steady pace. Overall, the 2022 harvest was the most condensed in recent memory.
Our Buhman Vineyard in Carneros, benefits from the region’s unique climatic conditions. The cool, fog-laden mornings and gentle afternoon breezes from the nearby San Pablo Bay create an ideal environment for growing Chardonnay. This terroir contributes to a gradual, even ripening of the fruit, ensuring a perfect harmony of sugar and acidity. The fruit for our 2022 vintage was harvested September 14th. The grapes were hand-picked at night, carefully sorted in the vineyard, then brought to the cellar, and destemmed. To enhance its complexity and character, the wine was aged in French oak for 12 months, using 30% new French oak barrels.