Have you tasted our Chardonnay?
Chardonnay can be a polarizing wine. Whether we’re talking about a sophisticated Burgundy or chardonnay produced from one of the best wineries in Yountville and Napa. For our winemaker Rob, the release of our gorgeously golden Carneros chardonnay is an exciting time of year. Our Jessup Cellars club members love our Chardonnay for its bright, refreshing balance of fruit and elegant oak character. Here’s some interesting points to know about our much-loved Chardonnay!
Our 100% Wente clone chardonnay is grown in the foggy rolling hills of Los Carneros. Carneros lies in the southern-most AVA in Napa Valley and was the first AVA established as a subdistrict of Napa in 1983.
It’s here on Jo Ann and Tony’s family owned Truchard Vineyard, that grapes hang, enjoying cool nights and wind-swept mornings. These conditions lend well to long, steady growing seasons that yield wines with spritely acidity, structure and intensity. Volcanic white ash soils lend elusive minerality and timeless elegance. Before wines see your glass at our Yountville winery, grapes are harvested in the cool of the night and brought immediate to our crush facility.
You may know that chardonnay is often a dominant grape in the production of sparkling wine and French Champagne. Like the most iconic and celebrated chardonnays of the world, our Carneros chardonnay is pressed to high quality oak where the juice undergoes slow barrel fermentation. Our chardonnay ages gracefully for 10 months in seasoned American oak (40% new oak) benefitting from lees stirring (battonage) every 2 weeks.
Jessup Chardonnay is bursting on the nose with bright notes of Meyer lemon peel, fresh yellow apple, honeysuckle, and nuances of vanilla, caramel, and coriander spice. On the palate, this wine is delectably dry, with lifted acidity and prominent characteristics of citrus, stone and pome fruits. A welcomed finish of rich lemon curd and crême brulèe leave you craving more.
The style that we have refined is a refreshing, complex white wine that will convert even the most discerning of skeptics. As we always say, our chardonnay is best served with sunny weather and great friends. Pull up a patio chair at our Yountville winery and enjoy our Chardonnay with a staff-curated selection of artisan cheese and seasoned nuts. If you’re feeling fancy when in Rome (or just at home), try our Dungeness crab risotto for a fall inspired entrée, seasoned and served with our Carneros chardonnay. It’s our love of food and wine pairings that makes Jessup and Handwritten Wines among the best wineries in Yountville. For personalized service, call our team at (707) 944-5620.
