Estate Chardonnay from Vineyard 7 & 8

2012 Estate Chardonnay

The 2012 Estate Chardonnay reminds us how fortunate we are to craft wine from vineyards planted on our estate over thirty years ago. The vintage, already being hailed as one of Napa Valley’s finest, brings forth a wine with a harmonious balance between density and brightness; satisfying with depth and power. Fresh, focused, structured: this wine is already showing beautifully and can be enjoyed now, as well as successfully cellared for many years to come.

Release Date:	October 2014
Acclaim:	93 pts—Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

2012 Estate Chardonnay Tasting Notes

2013 Estate Chardonnay

What stands out in the 2013 Estate Chardonnay is the seamless texture and acid balance, exhibiting hints of pear intermixed with notes of candied lemon and creme brûlée. Our thirty-four year-old, Wente clone vines continue to provide fruit of world-class quality.

Release Date:	October 2015
Acclaim:	93 pts—Vinous Media

2013 Estate Chardonnay Tasting Notes

2014 Estate Chardonnay

The 2014 Estate Chardonnay is the first wine crafted by Winemaker Martha McClellan and Wesley Steffens. A wine they both feel carries on the 7 & 8 legacy of the traditional style Chardonnay crafted from the thirty-five year old vines on our estate. With a bright deep golden core, the nose offers aromatics of white peach, pink lady apple, chamomile tea with a hint of fresh wildflowers. On the palate the wine attacks with a rich, cream, seamless texture, marked by fresh minerality, lemon curd and key lime meringue. A lingering and memorable finish completes a wine of true distinction.

Release Date:	October 2016
Acclaim:	92 pts—Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate 93 pts—Vinous Media

2014 Estate Chardonnay Tasting Notes

2015 Estate Chardonnay

The 2015 Estate Chardonnay marks our finest, yet smallest, release to date. Longtime fans of our Chardonnay will recognize all of the hallmarks of a wine crafted from our thirty-five year old vines on our estate, but taken to a new level of intensity. With a bright, vivid golden color, the nose offers aromatics of lemony sweet cream, orange blossom and honeysuckle. On the palate, the mouthwatering acidity invites another sip and balances the richness of the wine. A creamy, seamless texture, marked by fresh minerality, lemon curd and baked apple round out the palate.

Release Date:	October 2017
Acclaim:	(92–94) pts—Vinous Media

2015 Estate Chardonnay Tasting Notes

2016 Estate Chardonnay

The 2016 vintage was a near perfect growing season, and the resulting wines from this vintage show incredible depth and concentration, balanced by a beautiful elegance and brightness. The 2016 Estate Chardonnay is a wonderful example of the vintage. Showcasing all the characteristics our Chardonnay fans have come to appreciate, and highlighted by the story Mother Nature helped us tell, this wine has a bright golden hue, while the aromatics explode with notes of lemon crème brûlée, honeydew melon, candied citrus and fresh honey. A rich, creamy and seamless texture is lifted by our signature bright acid, culminating in a long, mineral-driven finish.

Release Date:	Fall 2018
Acclaim:	95+ pts—Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate (Oct. ‘18) (92–94+) pts—Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate (Oct. ‘17)

2016 Estate Chardonnay Tasting Notes

2017 Estate Chardonnay

The 2017 Estate Chardonnay brings forth a truly classic vintage from the mountain top, expressing all the elements we feel make this estate an incredible location to grow ageworthy, world class Chardonnays. Harvested in mid-September, and aged for nearly 16-months before bottling, the 2017 shows notes of pear galette with almond cream, and pineapple brûlé. The focused minerality and lingering stone fruit notes are highlighted by white flower and blossoms. A great creamy texture and full-bodied wine finishes with focus and freshness.

Release Date:	Fall 2019
Acclaim:	(93–95+) pts—Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate (Oct. ‘18) (90–93) pts—Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media (Dec. ‘18)

2017 Estate Chardonnay Tasting Notes

2018 Estate Chardonnay

The 2018 Estate Chardonnay is a remarkable example of the quality of wine that can be crafted from Chardonnay planted at 2020 ft elevation. A beautiful balance between fineness, freshness, structure and texture. Harvested in mid-September culminating a remarkable growing season, we were blessed with beautiful fruit from which to craft a superb wine. The nose immediately jumps from the glass with a brightness marked by lemon curt, honeysuckle, crushed stone, leading into a gorgeous texture across the palate. The wine finishes with incredible length without being heavy on the palate. A remarkable wine!

Release Date:	Fall 2020
Acclaim:	(93–95) pts—Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media (Nov. ‘19) (92–94+) pts—Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate (Nov. ‘19)

2018 Estate Chardonnay Tasting Notes

2019 Estate Chardonnay

The 2019 Estate Chardonnay is reminiscent of some of the classics from the Estate such as the 2008, 2012 and 2014. A superb example of the world class quality this vineyard routinely produces. The color shows a silvery green rim with a classic golden core. The aromatics explode off the nose with tropical tones like pineapple crème brûlèe, lychee, a fresh vibrancy and flint and toasted honeycomb. On the palate this 2019 shows incredible texture, very well‐integrated oak, complementing the kaffir lime, white pepper, honeysuckle and white flower nuances. The wine finishes very long, and should age extremely well over the coming 15‑20 years.

Release Date:	Fall 2021
Acclaim:	(94–96) pts—Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate (Mar. ‘21)

2019 Estate Chardonnay Tasting Notes

2020 Estate Chardonnay

Rather than focusing on the unprecedented challenges we all faced in 2020 marked by the COVID-19 pandemic and the devastating fall wildfires that impacted so many here in Napa Valley, we are so excited to share one of the incredible highlights of the year. The 2020 Estate Chardonnay, harvested well before the fires on Spring Mountain, is quite honestly one of our favorite vintages we have made together. A stunning pale-yellow core with a silver rim, with notes on the nose of honeysuckle, grapefruit, lemongrass, stone fruit and apple blossom. On the palate, the wine’s incredible texture is highlighted by complex mineral and stone elements, with perfectly ripe citrus. A freshness showing this wine will age forever, finishing with great length.

Release Date:	Fall 2022
Acclaim:	(91–93) pts—Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media (Jan. ‘22)

2020 Estate Chardonnay Tasting Notes