ABV: 13.8%
VINEYARDS
The fruit for this wine comes from vineyards in the Carneros region owned by the Rombauer family and select growers including the Sangiacomo family, long-term grower partners who have farmed this land for three generations.
WINEGROWING
Heavy rains in March and April replenished reservoirs and led to healthy vine growth which we managed through leafing and cluster thinning. Weather during the summer and fall was moderate, and we finished picking our Chardonnay on October 16th. Sustainable farming practices throughout the growing season were tailored to each block with the assistance of aerial photos produced using NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) technology. The fruit was handpicked at dawn and sorted in the vineyard.
WINEMAKING
The grapes were gently whole-cluster pressed while the fruit was still cool. The juice was pumped to tank to cold-settle overnight before it was racked to barrel for primary and malolactic fermentation. The lees were stirred every two weeks to give the wine rich flavors and a creamy texture.
TASTING NOTES
Pale light yellow with a green hue. Aromas of ripe peach, honeydew, and lemon rind intertwine seamlessly with vanilla and spice. The aromas are followed by flavors of lychee and yellow peach which meld perfectly with the cream texture, vanilla and slight butter. The finish builds with more peach and spice, while the acidity maintains the freshness and structure. The wine will continue to gain weight and depth over the next 12 months, revealing additional notes of nectarine, butter and spice.
When founders Koerner and Joan Rombauer moved their two children, two horses and five dogs to Napa Valley in 1972, they arrived armed with an appreciation for the intimate relationship between food and wine. Their appreciation stemmed from Koerner’s great aunt Irma Rombauer having authored internationally renowned cookbook the Joy of Cooking and his ancestors originating from the winegrowing region of Rheingau, Germany, where wine is considered an essential complement to a meal.
Appreciation bred passion, and Rombauer Vineyards was established in 1980. Forty years later, the winery remains owned by second- and third-generation members of the family.
We invite you to take a trip through some highlights of the history of Rombauer Vineyards, a story still very much in progress!
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