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Stags' Leap
2022 Stags' Leap Napa Valley Chardonnay
Description
Description
Established in 1893, Stags’ Leap Winery is one of the oldest wine estates within the acclaimed Stags Leap District, producing wines expressive of its unique terroir. With an enduring winemaking philosophy that honors traditional techniques while embracing modern capabilities, and by using the finest grapes from our own 80-acre vineyard and from quality-focused growers, Stags’ Leap wines embody a natural balance, exhibiting both intensity and finesse, while bringing forth the inherent qualities of each variety.
Wine & Vintage Details
Wine & Vintage Details
The 2022 Napa Valley Chardonnay is fragrant and bright with aromatic notes of fresh green apple, lemongrass, lychee, lime peel, coriander spice and jasmine white flowers. On the palate the texture is lively and viscous with mouth enveloping flavors of lemon citron, white peach, Asian pear, lanolin, and white pepper spice. The luscious mouthfeel is a signature of this elegant Chardonnay, providing the round and creamy texture which is a nod to the delicate bâtonnage (lees stirring) that occurs during the winemaking process. The wine finishes long and graceful with undertones of minerality and a present backbone of acidity, providing mouthwatering richness, making it an ideal accompaniment to a variety of cuisines, and the perfect al fresco refreshing white.
The first half of the 2022 harvest started calm and early, with healthy vineyards offering fruit with bright acidity, fruit-forward flavors, and strong yields for white varietals and thin-skinned reds, like Pinot Noir. Then, California experienced a historic heat wave in early September that ramped up the pace of ripening, compelling a fast and furious harvest as winemakers worked to pick fruit at its best quality. Fortunately, strong vines and proactive irrigation helped many vineyards survive the heat. The second half was much more predictable with cooler temperatures through October, so that later-ripening red varieties, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, could develop their full flavor and tannin profile.
Vineyard & Winemaking Details
Vineyard & Winemaking Details
The grapes for our Napa Valley Chardonnay were sourced from the cooler southern appellations within Napa Valley, where fog from the San Pablo Bay helps to cool the vineyards throughout the growing season, allowing for ideal preservation of freshness and acidity. The majority of the fruit comes from the Carneros AVA which provides citrus, mineral, and crisp apple notes, with a smaller percentage coming from the Oak Knoll AVA, which contributes more tropical and stone fruit characteristics. These vineyards consistently produce Chardonnay ideal for our style of winemaking with fresh fruit flavors and bright acidity and vibrancy.
Our Napa Valley Chardonnay is gently pressed, in order to preserve the fresh aromatics naturally occurring in the fruit. Twenty-five percent of the wine is fermented in stainless steel and remains in tank until the final blend is assembled, Twenty-five percent of the wine is fermented and aged in new French oak barrels, and the remaining fifty percent in seasoned French oak.This specific barrel treatment helps preserve the essential purity of the fruit while adding subtle notes of oak complexity. This Chardonnay does not undergo malolactic fermentation, which helps to further maintain the fruit’s natural acidity, terroir expression and aromatic freshness.The wine was bottled after just seven months of maturation with a bi-weekly bâtonnage, a traditional french winemaking technique putting the yeast lees in suspension to increase the mouthfeel, and preserve the freshness of the aromas and flavors”
| Alcohol % | 14.1% |
|---|---|
| Oak Treatment | Fermented and aged in 25% stainless steel 25% new oak and 50% neutral oak barrels for 7 months |
| Blend | 100% Chardonnay |