90points
2019 Unoaked Chardonnay
Tasting Notes
Nectarine, fugi apple, meyer lemons, clementine, zesty and bright
Wine Score
90
Stainless-steel fermented and aged, this white is light and crisp, with a moderate midpalate of richness and texture. Green-olive, apple and stone fruit highlight a fresh, focused approach.
Virginie Boone, Wine Enthusiast
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. Juuuust right.
Vinification
Fermented in stainless steel tanks, there are no additional flavors coming from secondary fermentation, oak influence, or stirring. This minimal winemaker influence has produced a minimalist Chardonnay with beautiful tension and purity of expression.
Tech Sheet
