Almost 50 years ago, Cakebread released its' very first wine: a 1973 Napa Valley Chardonnay, and have been fine-tuning it ever since. Grapes for this wine come from the world-famous Carneros appellation in southern Napa Valley. This region sits just north of San Pablo Bay, whose influence provides the cool, windswept conditions that produce Chardonnay with ideal balance between fruit characters and acidity. Soils here are predominantly Haire Loam, a light clay that helps grapevines naturally regulate vigor for fruit of intense concentration.

Grapes were harvested by night in small batches, then pressed directly into tank as whole clusters. The juice was transfered into French oak barrels to ferment. In order to achieve maximum fruit expression, we aged the wine on its yeast lees for eight months with intermittent stirring to enhance texture and boost complexity.

90 Points
Wine Spectator
2022 vintage
Harvest Note
The 2022 season was mild and even, with summer days characterized by moderate heat and steady ripening. Drought conditions persisted across Napa Valley, they allowed the vines to naturally control their vigor and yields, resulting in small, concentrated berries ideal for complex and long-lived Chardonnay.
Tasting Note
Vibrant aromas of green apple, lemon, and pear are accented by hints of white flowers, and baking spice. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied with flavors of ripe melon, lemon curd, crème brûlée and vanilla. Fresh acidity and just-picked citrus flavors carry the wine across the palate with a long, balanced, and gentle oaky finish.
Technical Data
GRAPES: 100% Chardonnay
APPELLATION: Napa Valley
PH: 3.50
ACIDITY: .603g/100ml
ABV: 13.8%
AGING: 8 months in 29% new French oak
MALOLACTIC FERMENTATION: 9.5%
Unique Selling Points
  • Grapes come from world-famous Carneros appellation in souther Napa Valley
  • Whole cluster pressed, barrel fermented and aged 8 months in 29% new French Oak
  • 9.5% malolactic fermentation for balance of richness, vibrancy and fruit expression

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.
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