2015 Napa Valley Chardonnay
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The 2015 Chardonnay Estate is a terrific wine from Vineyard 7 & 8. Apricot, butterscotch, honey, vanillin, and tropical notes give the 2015 notable exotic flair. The flavors are quite intense and on the extroverted side, but texturally, the 2015 is very much mid-weight. At ten years of age, the 2015 is in a sweet spot. Chardonnays from this site have typically aged quite well. This is no exception. Unfortunately, severe heat and drought wiped out 60% of the crop.
Critic scores
Robert Parker
Jeb Dunnuck
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A gorgeous wine, Vineyard 7&8's 2015 Chardonnay Estate is rich and viscous on the palate, but with plenty of freshness and the hillside phenolic structure that is such a signature of this site. Lemon oil, almond, white flowers and chamomile add shades of nuance. The 2015 spent about 16 months in barrel, about 50% new. The punishing growing season took with it 50% of production.
The 2015 Chardonnay Estate is a classic California Chardonnay that has loads of upfront tropical fruit and buttered pineapple notes in a rich, medium to full-bodied, textured style. Aged 16 months in 25% new French oak, it has good acidity, background oak, and a clean, classy finish, all making for a delicious, balanced Chardonnay to drink over the coming 4-5 years.
The 2015 Chardonnay Estate, still in barrel, seems to be slightly more elegant than the 2014 with perhaps more finesse and acid. It has loads of white peach and honeysuckle in a good creamy, bright style that seems slightly lighter with more finesse and personality than the 2014.