2018 CHARDONNAY RESERVE, Napa Valley
A round and balanced full-bodied Chardonnay from vineyards in the southern end of Napa Valley with lush notes of baked apple, ripe pear, fall spices, and toasted almond.
ACCOLADES
93 POINTS - Jeb Dunnuck
- "This estate makes a solid white that offers classy notes of caramelized citrus, brioche, honeycomb, and classy oak. It's a rich, powerful, classic Napa Valley Chardonnay done with style. Drink it over the coming 2-4 years."
GOLD MEDAL - San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
- "The 2021 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition had over forty-eight judges, representing various North American wine regions, evaluating nearly 5,700 wines from over 1,000 wineries."
93 POINTS - Connoisseur's Guide to California Wine
- "Castello di Amorosa's Reserve Chardonnay opts for emphatic richness right from the start, and its full-volume, oak-sweetened, ripe apple aromas are echoed in kind by its generously-fruited, mouth filling flavors. Its a big, fairly lavish wine to be sure, and it's very expressive right now, but its ripeness and its fruity largesse do not come at the cost of heaviness, and it has the structural solidity to serve famously with richer foods and age effortlessly for several more years.
See our recipes for some quick and easy pairing options:
♦ Chicken, Avocado and Fennel Salad
♦ Ahi Avocado Salad with Ponzu
♦ Seared Scallops and Sweet Corn Salad
♦ Mary's Shucked Brussels Sprouts with Shallots & Pine Nuts
*93 Points - Jeb Dunnuck*
3
*Sold Out*
Wine Specs
Vintage
2018
Varietal
100% Chardonnay
Appellation
Napa Valley
Harvest Date
September 13 - September 19, 2018
Acid
6.0 g/L
pH
3.64
Aging
12 months sur lie in Burgundian French oak barrels, 100% new oak, 75% undergoing malolactic fermentation
Bottling Date
September 3, 2019
Residual Sugar
2.50 g/L
Alcohol %
14.7
Wine Profile
Tasting Notes
Lush aromas of apple, pear, and fall spices lead to enticing flavors of baked quince, butter toffee, and candied orange peel on the palate, with subtle nuances of baking spice and a focused finish.
Awards
Gold Medal - 2021 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
Vineyard Notes
We sourced the fruit for this reserve Chardonnay from two vineyards in the southern end of Napa Valley, Its close proximity to the San Pablo Bay coupled with the cool air current off the Pacific Ocean along the Petaluma Gap allows for relatively cooler daytime temperatures compared to the rest of the valley, making it a perfect location for growing Burgundian varieties such as Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Winemaker Notes
Winter provided a record-breaking rainfall - a welcome end to the 4-years of drought. Bloom and fruit set in May occurred under ideal conditions. Summer was warm but the vines weathered the heat well and maturity moved along at a steady pace. A short but intense heat wave during the first part of September brought brix levels up dramatically and winemakers waited for the pH, acids, flavor and color development in the grapes to catch up to sugar accumulation. The 2018 wine quality shows a lot of bright acidity and fresh varietal aromas in the white wines, and deep color, sweet fruit flavors. Looking like it will be another classic year! - Brooks Painter, Director of Winemaking
Food Pairing Notes
A beautiful, full-bodied wine to pair with turkey and dried apricot stuffing, butternut squash, honey glazed ham, or stuffed acorn squash.
Production
1746 cases
Other Notes
This has a spicy melon and peach nose with some gently creamy notes. The palate has flavors of banana cake, peaches and caramel with a rich, smooth texture. Drink now." 92 Points, James Suckling
Product Reviews
Karen A Spengler
(Feb 9, 2020 at 7:51 AM)
Excellent Chardonnay! Ordered many times
Paul Flemming
(Feb 18, 2020 at 4:33 PM)
Ripe apple, pear on the nose. Rich and creamy with sweet orange and toffee. Wonderful. Could be the nicest Chardonnay I’ve had. 4.4.
Kent Reynolds
(Feb 18, 2020 at 4:34 PM)
A Cali Chardonnay for the ABC crowd. Rich and full bodied with pear, apple, and butter on the nose. Flavors of golden delicious apple, fresh pear, and butter, with hints of toast, but not overly oaky. Medium acidity and finish. One of the best Chardonnays I’ve had
Taina Cancel
(Feb 6, 2021 at 6:39 PM)
This Chardonnay is excellent, smooth buttery and utterly delicious. Have order several times !!
