Black Stallion Los Carneros Chardonnay 2022 (California)

Black Stallion Los Carneros Chardonnay 2022 (California)"Richly fruited and inviting, the bouquet shows mango, pineapple, French vanilla, and roasted hazelnut aromas with a hint of butterscotch. The palate is weighty and plush, displaying creamy texture and expansive mouthfeel, leading to a lengthy, opulent finish. At its best: now to 2027" Sam Kim, Wine Orbit "Notes of cooked lemons, pineapple, dried summer herbs, chamomile and pralines. Full bodied and creamy yet with crunch and freshness to its rich

"Richly fruited and inviting, the bouquet shows mango, pineapple, French vanilla, and roasted hazelnut aromas with a hint of butterscotch. The palate is weighty and plush, displaying creamy texture and expansive mouthfeel, leading to a lengthy, opulent finish. At its best: now to 2027" Sam Kim, Wine Orbit

"Notes of cooked lemons, pineapple, dried summer herbs, chamomile and pralines. Full-bodied and creamy yet with crunch and freshness to its rich fruit. Layered and fruit-forward with a spicy finish. Drink or hold" James Suckling

"Fruit sourced from the Alexander Valley (70%) and Sonoma Coast (30%) result in a aromatic, flavorful white with stamina and staying power. Toasted brioche, cake batter, and tangerine are opulent on nose and palate. Elegant, reined in succulence, it washes over the moth with grace in a stream of plush, ripe apricot, a streak of melon, and marzipan. Fine acidity offers a crispness that softens the buttery finish" Meridith May, The tasting panel

Black Stallion Estate Winery Chardonnay opens with aromas of citrus, golden delicious apple, stonefruit and hints of butterscotch. The flavors are tantalizing notes of bright, juicy pear and toasted bread. This Chardonnay is medium bodied with ripe fruit flavors, balanced with a bright acidity and gives way to a long, lingering and silky finish.

Located on the historic Silverado Trail in Napa Valley’s Oak Knoll District, Black Stallion Estate Winery pays homage to the rich history of the 32-acre estate which was once home to the Silverado Equestrian Center. The property was purchased in 2010 by the Indelicato family, a fourth-generation family-owned company founded in 1924. Sourcing from the most prestigious vineyards, the winery is committed to making only the most expressive wines.

The 2022 growing season in Napa Valley and Sonoma County saw a remarkably mild start, with budbreak commencing in March, robust shoot growth, and the promise of average crop yields ahead of veraison in mid-July. Despite occasional summer heat spikes, proactive vineyard management successfully mitigated negative impacts. Harvest began in mid-August, delivering grapes with excellent balanced acidity and freshness. However, in early September, a record-breaking heat wave accelerated ripening in most varieties, leading to an early and compact harvest.

Los Carneros is one of Napa Valley’s coolest growing regions that has marine influences of both morning fog and afternoon wind originating from the San Pablo Bay. These climatic conditions work to synergistically moderate temperature. Our Chardonnay vineyard sites in Los Carneros enjoy a long cool, growing season that allow for exceptional varietal expression to develop along with ripe fruit characteristics, fantastic balance and finesse.

The fruit for this blend was handpicked during the night, at optimal ripeness. Chardonnay clusters were gently pressed, releasing juice of exceptional balance. The juice was settled then racked to barrels for fermentation. Fermentation occurred in our cool barrel cellar for about a month. We then added malo-lactic bacteria to soften the wine’s acidity. We stirred the barrels during aging to suspend the yeast (batonage). This action developed a rich and complex palate. The wine aged sur lees for 8 months.

Food Pairing: Sip this wine on its own or pair alongside goat cheese, salads and dishes such as crab, lobster, grilled shrimp or roast chicken.