By Cuvaison
Napa Valley Los Carneros 2016 Chardonnay

Vineyard
The 2016 season was on pace to be the earliest vintage ever at our Los Carneros estate, continuing a streak of early harvests. However, by mid-July, Mother Nature gave us several weeks of cooler than normal weather, which moved the vintage back to a normal date range. The overall weather was steady through harvest, with some October rains at the close. The wines, though less muscular than the 2015, display more weight and opulence and are a bit more precocious. These are wines with fine aromatics and a plush mouthfeel.

Terroir
For decades, Cuvaison has made estate grown wines from our renowned vineyard in the cool Los Carneros region of Napa Valley. This unique and expansive vineyard is planted on some of the region's most coveted land, offering a unique combination of rootstock, clone, soil type, and exposure. With almost 40 years of experience farming our estate, our team has developed an intimate block-by-block approach to cultivating this special vineyard, resulting in an amazing palette of fruit for crafting our estate-grown wines.

Winemaker Notes
The 2016 Estate Chardonnay is brimming with stone fruit, white blossoms, and lovely notes of vanilla and clove. A gorgeous vintage in Napa Valley, the wine is quite opulent, with a plush texture buoyed by white peach and honeysuckle notes. Despite its apparent richness, the wine has the trademark focus and lingering finish that our Los Carneros estate is prized for. - Steve Rogstad, Winemaker

Wine Details
Harvest Date: Aug. 26th - Sept. 23rd
Acid: 6.80 g/L
pH: 3.51
Fermentation: 25 - 38 days
Aging: 14 months in French oak barrels (20% new)
ML: 60%
Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
Region: Napa Valley, Los Carneros
Vintage: 2016
[Information provided by Brandlin Estates]

Cuvaison, Napa Valley, Los Carneros (California) Chardonnay Estate Grown 2016
Price: $26
With both elegance and power, Cuvaison’s Los Carneros Chardonnay certainly offers something for everyone. Packed with fruit, laced with refreshing acidity and long on the palate, what more could the happy wine drinker ask for? 
Points: 91
Reviewed By: Marguerite Thomas 
Review Date: Jul 23, 2019

Cuvaison 2016 Estate Grown Chardonnay (Los Carneros)
Rating: 91
Price: $26
Designation: Estate Grown
Variety: Chardonnay
Appellation: Los Carneros, Napa-Sonoma, California, US
Winery: Cuvaison
Bottle Size: 750.00 ml
Category: White
Date Published: 10/1/2018
Reviewed by: Virginie Boone
This estate-grown wine shows a balance of fleshy peach and mango settled on a light-bodied frame. There's a backbone of oak and a stony texture that offers support to the broad fruit flavors.

CUVAISON Chardonnay Napa Valley Los Carneros 2016
Score: 89
Release Price: $26
Country: California
Region: Carneros
Issue: Oct 15, 2018
Juicy, with pillowy Fuji apple, pear, and pastry flavors that are well-spiced. The creamy finish lingers with hints of nutmeg. Drink now through 2021. - KM