Boasts an attractive light golden-straw color and fresh, lightly buttery, ripe golden apple, pear and citrus aromas, complemented by seductive vanilla and cinnamon/nutmeg scents from oak aging and subtle yeast tones from lees contact.  Lush, concentrated and creamy on the palate, its ripe apple, melon, bright citrus and baking spice flavors culminate in a long, beautifully structured finish boasting crisp acidity and zesty mineral and spice tones.  Sumptuous, yet refreshing, our 2010 Chardonnay is delicious now, but will handsomely reward another 3-5 years’ bottle aging.

2010 was the latest in a string of cooler-than-normal growing seasons in Napa Valley.  The year began with substantial rainfall, which pushed back bud break, flowering and grape set by several weeks.  After an especially cool summer, heat spikes in late August kick-started full ripening.  Cooler temperatures returned in early September, but classic Indian summer weather yielded grapes with mature, concentrated flavors at lower-than-normal sugar levels.  This resulted in a bevy of lower-alcohol, beautifully structured wines with rich, elegant flavors.