
Cakebread Cellars
Napa Valley Chardonnay Reserve
Region:
America
/ California
/ Napa Valley
Chardonnay Reserve is vinified exclusively from grapes grown in Cakebread’s four Estate vineyards in the Carneros district of southern Napa Valley. These cool‐climate sites provide ideal conditions for the cultivation of world‐class chardonnay. Nine superior clones of Chardonnay further enhance the quality and complexity of this wine. The grapes were night harvested and whole-cluster pressed, and each clonal selection was fermented and barrel‐aged separately. Fermentation took place in French oak barrels, 30% new, with 38% of the wine put through a secondary malolactic fermentation to enhance its texture and foster a rich, creamy mouthfeel. Fifteen months of barrel aging with periodic stirring of the lees optimized wine’s complex aromas, rich texture and bright, concentrated flavors.
San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
2016 vintageKen's Wine Guide.com
2014 vintagetasting note
Seductive, slightly floral aromas of creamy golden apple and honeydew melon, with complementary scents of crème brulee, yeast and mineral, preface a lush, full-bodied palate offering intense and expansive melon, peach and apple flavors accentuated by fresh, perfectly balanced acidity. The wine’s long, elegant and focused finish showcases bright, apple-y flavors with hints of citrus, mineral and oak spice. This delicious and complex Carneros Napa Valley chardonnay is enjoyable now, but will gain further complexity with another 5-7 years aging.
food pairing
Ideal with salmon, swordfish, veal and light pork, bouillabaisse or cream bisques.
points of distinction
- A classic, oak-aged Carneros Chardonnay
- A portion of the wine completes malolactic fermentation, to enhance richness and mouthfeel
- Produced entirely from estate vineyards in Foster Road, Tinsley, Cuttings Wharf and Milton Road, in the cool-climate Carneros district
-
about the grape +
-
Chardonnay
Though it has a distinctive profile, Chardonnay reflects other factors such as soil composition and vinification technique. Chardonnay is a reliable, hardy and prolific vine whose only real vulnerabilities are frost and uneven development of fruit.
-


– Stephanie Jacobs, Winemaker“[This wine] exemplifies balance of ripe fruit, fresh acidity, sweet oak and malolactic character. As the wine ages, these elements meld into a complexity that defies recognition of single components.”
Other Products:
-
quick view Certified Sustainable, Organic or Biodynamic Green Certified Cakebread Cellars Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc
-
quick view Certified Sustainable, Organic or Biodynamic Green Certified Cakebread Cellars Napa Valley Chardonnay
-
quick view Certified Sustainable, Organic or Biodynamic Green Certified Cakebread Cellars Napa Valley Merlot
-
quick view Certified Sustainable, Organic or Biodynamic Green Certified Cakebread Cellars Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
-
quick view Certified Sustainable, Organic or Biodynamic Green Certified Cakebread Cellars Benchland Select Cabernet Sauvignon
-
quick view Certified Sustainable, Organic or Biodynamic Green Certified Cakebread Cellars Vine Hill Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon
-
quick view Certified Sustainable, Organic or Biodynamic Green Certified Cakebread Cellars Dancing Bear Ranch
-
quick view Certified Sustainable, Organic or Biodynamic Green Certified Cakebread Cellars Two Creeks Vineyards Pinot Noir