Single Vineyard Chardonnay, Carneros The Bay 2017
WINERY EXCLUSIVE - Bright and ample on the nose, it opens with aromas of lime and orange blossom. The 2017 "The Bay" Carneros Chardonnay keeps the vivid freshness of its 2016 predecessor, showing its youth with balance and length on the palate, showcasing iodine notes with a hazelnut finish.
92 POINTS DECANTER
92 POINTS WINE ADVOCATE
92 POINTS JEB DUNNUCK
Single Vineyard Chardonnay, Carneros The Bay 2017
WINERY EXCLUSIVE - Bright and ample on the nose, it opens with aromas of lime and orange blossom. The 2017 "The Bay" Carneros Chardonnay keeps the vivid freshness of its 2016 predecessor, showing its youth with balance and length on the palate, showcasing iodine notes with a hazelnut finish.
92 POINTS DECANTER
92 POINTS WINE ADVOCATE
92 POINTS JEB DUNNUCK
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Attributes
-
Style
White
Description
WINERY EXCLUSIVE - Bright and ample on the nose, it opens with aromas of lime and orange blossom. The 2017 "The Bay" Carneros Chardonnay keeps the vivid freshness of its 2016 predecessor, showing its youth with balance and length on the palate, showcasing iodine notes with a hazelnut finish.
92 POINTS DECANTER
92 POINTS WINE ADVOCATE
92 POINTS JEB DUNNUCK
Details
VINEYARD
Since purchasing our Carneros vineyard some 30 years ago, we have performed various experimental practices—at one point reorienting the vineyard 90° by twisting the existing vines and then filling the gaps between them with younger vines to increase planting density. The vineyard features multiple Dijon clones and various rootstocks, and the vines are between 15 and 30 years old on average. The inherent vine age and complexity produce great wine, which has always served as the backbone of our Unfiltered Chardonnay. We decided to showcase the vineyard by releasing a single vineyard bottling in 2014, and have continued the tradition for every vintage since.
VINTAGE CONDITIONS
2017 should be divided into two components: before and after Labor Day. All Newton’s Chardonnays were harvested before Labor Day. The year started with extended rainfall, followed by a mild Spring, resulting in extended flowering with little shatter. Temperatures remained mild throughout the Chardonnay growing season up until August, which allowed for great flavor development in line with sugar accumulation, while also retaining excellent acidity. During Labor Day weekend, a heatwave kicked harvest into high gear. The weather cooled, Sugar levels returned to normal when the weather cooled. By October 8th, 100% of Newton’s Chardonnay, 100% of Newton’s Spring Mountain and Yountville fruit, and 50% of Newton’s Mt. Veeder fruit was fermenting at the winery. On October 9th a wildfire hit the Napa/Sonoma regions, ending the vintage for Newton. We did not pick any of the remaining fruit at Mt. Veeder.
VINIFICATION
The winemaking is classically simple, something that is true for all our Chardonnays. Once the fruit reaches optimal maturity, it is hand-harvested at night, and whole-bunch pressed. The must is then transferred to oak barrels, where the cloudy juice undergoes natural fermentation. For this vintage, we only put 50% of the barrels through a secondary malolactic fermentation, to preserves enough malic acid to sustain the Chardonnay’s distinct fresh and bright qualities. Regular barrel stirring prevents oxidation, while building aromatic and textural complexity.