Sterling Chardonnay Napa 2019

The Chardonnay fruit was harvested in the cool morning hours and sent directly to press at the winery. The majority of the fruit was barrel fermented in French (65%) and American (35%) oak to impart rich texture and added spice notes. In the 2017 vintage only a small portion of the blend (10%) was fermented in stainless-steel tanks to capture bright fruit character and retain fresh acidity. Some 90% of the wine was allowed to complete malolactic fermentation. The final wine is elegant and shows a core of beautiful fruit character with balanced, bright acidity.Fragrant aromas of crisp apple, citrus LED by lemon zest and lime, lemon creme and toasted hazelnut lead to a richly textured wine with layers of similar flavors, enhanced with a honey almond and stone fruit character. A luminous, pale gold color hints at the nicely balanced and elegant entry with bright acidity and creamy roundness. The finish is persistent and memorable.