Arnot-Roberts Chardonnay Sanford & Benedict Vineyard 2022 750ml

The 2022 Chardonnay Sanford & Benedict comes from the original own-rooted vines planted in 1971, and the wine was matured for 10 months in used French oak. The nose features tones of yellow peach, honey and spice, and as it opens, it reveals pretty citrus blossom perfume. The medium-bodied palate is concentrated yet understated in terms of ripeness. It has an expansive, silky texture, energetic acidity and a long, flinty finish.

• Country: United States
• Region: California
• Appellation: Napa Valley
• Size: 750ml
• Color: White

Varietal

Chardonnay

Of all the white wine grape varietals, surely the one that has spread the furthest and is most widely appreciated is Chardonnay. This green-skinned grape is now grown all over the Old and New Worlds, from New Zealand to the Americas, from England to Chile, and is one of the first varietals people think of when considering white wine grapes. Perhaps this is because of its huge popularity, which reached a peak in the 1990s, thanks to new technologies combining with traditional methods to bring the very best features out of the Chardonnay grape and allow its unique qualities to shine through. Most fine Chardonnay wines use a process known as malolactic fermentation, wherein the malic acids in the grape juice are converted to lactic acids, allowing a creamier, buttery nature to come forward in the wine. No grape varietal is better suited to this process than Chardonnay, which manages to balance these silky, creamy notes with fresh white fruit flavors beautifully.