2018 Rombauer Chardonnay Napa Magnum

Rombauer Vineyards began producing Chardonnay in 1982.  In 1990, the Rombauer family made their first Chardonnay from the Carneros region, where San Pablo Bay meets the southern end of Napa and Sonoma valleys.  There, the cool climate and clay soils offer ideal conditions for growing superior Chardonnay with the Rombauer hallmarks – intense fruit flavors balanced by fresh acidity.

Vineyards

The fruit for this wine comes from vineyards in the Carneros region owned by the Rombauer family and select growers including the Sangiacomo family, long-term grower partners who have farmed this land for three generations

Winegrowing

Good rains in February lead to a warm summer, which then turned cool in August, resulting in a later harvest than the last few years. What followed was a long warm fall and near perfect growing conditions and extended hang time. In the end it was one of the longest harvests on record and also above average crop size. Sustainable farming practices throughout the growing season were tailored to each block with the assistance of aerial photos produced using NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) technology. The fruit was hand-picked and sorted in the vineyard.

 

Winemaking

The grapes were gently whole-cluster pressed while the fruit was still cool. The juice was pumped to tank to cold-settle overnight before it was racked to barrel for primary and malolactic fermentation. The lees were stirred every two weeks to give the wine rich flavors and a creamy texture.

Tasting Notes

Pale yellow with a green tinge to the hue. Aromas of yellow peach, mango with a slight citrus note intertwine seamlessly with vanilla spice. The palate is rich and round, with the mango and vanilla fight for the lime light, while the creamy texture, vanilla and slight butter combine seamlessly. The balanced acidity closes out the finish bringing the multiple components into balance.