Merryvale Carneros Chardonnay 2010
Merryvale Carneros Chardonnay 2010
BLEND
100% Chardonnay
VINEYARDS
Merryvale Stanly Ranch Estate, Hyde Vineyard
APPELLATION
Carneros
WINEMAKING
- Hand sorted, whole-cluster pressed
- 100% barrel fermented, with native yeast and malolactic fermentation
BARREL AGING
11 months in French oak (43% new)
ALCOHOL
14.5% by volume
pH
3.43
CELLARING
Three years from release to reach maturity, with a plateau for another five years after that.
WINEMAKER’S NOTES
Winemaking
Sourced from our Stanly Ranch Estate Vineyard and Hyde Vineyard in Carneros, the fruit for this Chardonnay is carefully sorted, whole cluster pressed and barrel fermented using 100% native yeast. The wine spent 11 months in French oak barrels on the lees.
Vintage
The 2010 harvest in the Napa Valley was a difficult yet rewarding vintage with the coolest summer since 1972 continuing into the fall, resulting in some of the latest picking dates in memory. The extended hang time did increase complexity in the grapes, which were picked at moderate to slightly lower sugar levels. The results were outstanding white wines with bright acidity and wonderful aromatics, and red wines with dense color, concentration, and balance, all at moderate alcohol levels.
The Wine
Our 2010 Chardonnay Carneros displays expressive aromas of pear, papaya, citrus, nectarine, pineapple, toasty oak and spice. The wine is medium weight with a round fleshy texture and a crisp sweet finish.