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Description
Description
Luminus, meaning “light” in Latin, naturally represents the radiance of this exceptional Chardonnay. Like the brightness and purity the name conjures, Chardonnay from the Oak Knoll district is distinct for its uncommon focus. Big Ranch Vineyard offers fruit known for its elegance and balance. Winemaker Mark Beringer has always gravitated towards this acid driven, crisp and pleasing, food-friendly style of Chardonnay.
Awards & Accolades
Awards & Accolades
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93
JamesSuckling.com
“A fresh, lively white with sliced apples, spiced pears and hints of cream. Honeysuckle. Medium to full body. Flavorful finish. Shows mineral and cream undertones with hints on nutmeg. No malolactic. Vivid. Drink now.” - James Suckling, February 2020
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91
Jeb Dunnuck
“The 2018 Chardonnay Luminus is a much smaller production effort and made in a fresher, crisper style. Lots of lemon, orange blossom, spice, and a touch of minerality emerge from the glass, and it's medium-bodied, balanced, and elegant on the palate, with plenty to love. Drink it over the coming 3-4 years." - Jeb Dunnuck, February 2020
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90
Wine Enthusiast
“Lush and oak-driven, this has a concentrated, full-bodied foundation of apple, pear and pineapple flavors that give it flesh and weight across a lengthy palate. Secondary notes of vanilla, baking spice and crème caramel add to the richness and breadth of the wine, with underlying acidity that refreshes.” - Virginia Boone
Wine & Vintage Details
Wine & Vintage Details
Tasting Note
A lively freshness is the hallmark of Luminus, which leads with aromas of citrus and delicate white blossoms, giving way to flavors of lemon zest, butterscotch, hazelnut nougat, and nectarines, with white pear and a clove spice coming from the Hungarian oak influence. A rich, creamy mouthfeel resulting from bâttonage, hints of minerality and noticeable depth leave a lasting impression.
Vintage Note
Luminus is a single vineyard Chardonnay from Big Ranch Vineyard, located in the Oak Knoll AVA. Located on the valley floor and at the southern end of the Napa Valley, Big Ranch is an ideal location for this style of Chardonnay owing to the heavy clay soils and cooling influence of the San Pablo Bay, preserving nice acidity and minerality in the grapes. A selection of Burgundian clones which show excellent early development provide an elegant complexity and fruit weight to the blend.
Vineyard & Winemaking Details
Vineyard & Winemaking Details
Oak Knoll AVA
Mark Beringer - Winemaker
Mark Beringer, great-great-grandson of Beringer Vineyards' founding brother Jacob Beringer, was immersed in wine from the moment he was born in the heart of the Napa Valley. As the direct descendant to Beringer's first winemaker and one of the most iconic family names in Napa Valley wine history, he knew from a young age that he would follow in the footsteps of his ancestors. As a young man he spent many hours working in his family's wine store in Saint Helena, expanding his knowledge of wine as well as gaining an appreciation for wines outside of the famous region he has always called home.
| Alcohol % | 14.5% |
|---|---|
| Enclosure Type | Cork |
| Oak Treatment | Aged 9 months in French oak (14% new) |
| pH | 3.73 |
| Blend | 100% Chardonnay |