Acacia Vineyard Chardonnay Carneros Winery Lake Vineyard 06

Tasting Notes:
We selected the 2006 Acacia Winery Lake Chardonnay from our finest barrel-lots of wine handcrafted from this renowned vineyard in Napa Valley’s Los Carneros region. We captured Winery Lake Vineyard’s inherent character in this Chardonnay’s concentrated layers of ripe pear, lemon citrus, mineral and ginger. Seductive crème brûlée and toasted oak notes weave through the rich aromas and flavors, and then linger on the long, fruity finish. We barrel-fermented the juice to enhance the wine’s rich texture on the palate, selecting half new oak to balance the vibrant fruit flavors. The majority of wine completed malolactic fermentation to round the acidity and add creamy notes. The depth and complexity of this Chardonnay give the impression of maturity, even in its youth. Its perfect balance of crisp acidity and rich creaminess marries well with many foods, such as lobster ravioli, salmon and fennel chowder, or a simple roast chicken.

Vineyard Notes:
We selected all the Chardonnay grapes from Winery Lake Vineyard, set among low-rolling hills that slope down to a palm tree-ringed lake. Located in Napa Valley’s Los Carneros American Viticultural Area (AVA), this vineyard receives cool winds from the San Pablo Bay, an extension of the San Francisco Bay. The resulting bright, balanced grape flavors earn Los Carneros the reputation of a premier Chardonnay region. The complexity of the geographic history is also reflected in the wines produced from these soils; both fossilized seashells and volcanic rocks from the fissures in the Mayacamas Mountains contribute minerality. Our crews handpicked each clone or block of vines at optimum maturity, taking into consideration high and low sun exposure and soil conditions. This blend is made primarily from grapes hanging on the warmer, south sides of the vines.

Winemaker Notes:
By giving extremely careful attention to our vineyards in 2006, we were able to harvest outstanding quality grapes. Heavy rains lasted unusually late into spring, raising the total seasonal rainfall in the Carneros region to 31”. Fortunately, the vines bloomed under relatively sunny skies to yield good berry set. June had slightly above average temperatures and then a challenging heat waved occurred in July. We were relieved when tempering morning fog returned in August, with ideal conditions continuing through harvest, slowing maturity and allowing excellent hangtime.