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2021 Beaulieu Vineyard Reserve Carneros Chardonnay
$65.00
Bottle
Price
$65.00
$780.00
Case
(12)
Price
$780.00
Member Pricing
Tasting Notes
Our 2021 Carneros Chardonnay captivates the nose with notes of citrus, honey suckle, and orange blossom. Subtle hints of lemon, honeycomb, and baking spice add complexity to the aroma. On the palate, this wine reveals flavors of fresh pear, orange zest, and French vanilla with balanced acidity and a creamy lingering finish. This Chardonnay possesses excellent aging potential, with the recommendation to enjoy it over the next five years, until 2028.Technical Information
| Varietal | Chardonnay |
|---|---|
| Vintage | 2021 |
| Appellation | Carneros |
| Blend | 94% Chardonnay, 6% Viognier |
| Oak Treatment | 18 months in new French oak (70% new) |
| Alcohol % | 14.5% |
| pH | 3.38 |
Winemaking
We harvested the grapes into small bins at night and delivered to the winery in the cool of the morning. After gently pressing the whole clusters, we barrel fermented the wine in small French oak barrels to add layers of flavor and textural complexity. The wine saw partial malolactic fermentation to soften the mouthfeel while batonnage (stirring the lees) enhanced the silky and creamy mouthfeel.Vintage
The 2021 season saw exceptionally high-quality fruit, producing some of the best in recent years. Early winter rain led to minimal precipitation for the remainder of the season, providing an ideal environment for grape development with budbreak early in April, followed by flowering and bloom in May. The summer provided early and even ripening, with veraison appearing in early July. Low yields, partly due to drought conditions, created intensely flavored fruit and smaller berry size. The moderate weather allowed for long, even ripening and our winemakers took their time bringing in grapes. This long season crafted wines with unprecedented color extraction, aromatic intensity, and structure that are equally lush and fruit driven.Vineyard
We selected fruit from Beaulieu Vineyard Ranch No. 8 and Ranch No. 9, where the vines, grafted to Dijon clones 95, 76 and Robert Young clone, yield small, intensely flavored Chardonnay berries. A small amount of Viognier was added to the blend from Ranch No. 9 to provide a fresh, floral lift to the wine. These vineyards are located in the cool, windy Los Carneros American Viticultural Area (AVA) at the southernmost tip of Napa Valley. The region’s shallow clay loam soils and marine-influenced climate foster ripe, beautifully balanced Chardonnay.