Mayacamas Vineyards Chardonnay Mount Veeder 2017 750ml

The wine opens with lifted aromatics of subtle tones of jasmine and lemongrass supported by a lovely fruit set of Meyer lemon, white peach, and Bartlett pear. On the palate the wine expands, broadening the frame, bringing layers of texture and energy. Secondary flavors of bergamot, and green cardamom round out the mid-palate. The finish is long with lingering notes of orchard fruit, flint rock and salinity.

• Country: United States
• Region: California
• Appellation: Napa Valley
• Sub Appellation: Mount Veeder
• 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.