2009 Chardonnay Proprietors' Reserve, Carneros

Our 2009 Proprietors' Reserve Chardonnay is a blend of our owner and winemakers favorite Chardonnay Barrels of the 2009 Vintage. It is a perfect marriage of high-quality fruit and American wood barrels: The toast on the barrels is prominent, giving a crème brûlée character to the nose. Underneath the toast, you get the intense tropical fruit – pear, peach, lemon zest and citrus. The rich mid- palate, explodes with cinnamon toast, cream and butterscotch – which is a contribution to the length of time spent in the oak barrels. In its own way, it’s as bold and expressive as a Cabernet. It’s got so much presence it can easily pass as an aperitif or carefully matched with food just as rich – perhaps pounded veal cutlets, an Italian risotto, or plump-cooked chicken breasts in a cream sauce.