2024 ARCADIA Chardonnay
ABOUT ARCADIA
For the Roman poet Virgil, ARCADIA was celebrated as a place of pastoral simplicity, where inhabitants lived in close harmony with nature. Named ARCADIA VINEYARD for its bucolic setting, this 128-acre parcel is located in the Coombsville AVA in southern Napa Valley, at the foot of Mt. George. This vineyard produces Chardonnay in a style similar to classic Burgundian Chablis. From the first release with the 1998 vintage, this single-vineyard wine has become recognized for its alluring perfume, delicate fruit, vibrant minerality, and understated oak.
VINEYARDS & WINEMAKING
ARCADIA VINEYARD is situated on a series of gently rolling hills, featuring gravelly silt loam soils that were partly formed from an inland lake over 125,000 years ago. The vineyard benefits from a cool climate and a diverse selection of grape clones. This wine is a 100% Chardonnay, primarily sourced from clones 17 and 96. Sixty percent of the grapes were cold-soaked on the skins in the press for three hours before pressing. The entirety of the wine was fermented in French Oak barrels without any malolactic fermentation.
VINTAGE
The 2024 season experienced 27.75 inches of rainfall, closely aligning with the five-year average of 24 inches. A cool spring gave way to warmer temperatures, with heat gradually intensifying through May and June. The average daily temperatures in 2024 surpassed those of 2023, marking this year as a warmer vintage overall. In contrast, 2023 was noted as the coolest vintage in the past decade. In July, just before veraison, a heat spike helped manage vine vigor and accelerated flavor development. As a result, Chardonnay – along with Sauvignon Blanc and many Cabernet Sauvignon blocks – were harvested earlier and at lower brix levels than in previous years, due to this early flavor progression.
The harvest Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc occurred in rapid succession, followed by harvest of Cabernet Sauvignon from warmer sites. Overall, the harvest began and concluded three weeks earlier than the previous year. A brief cooling period in late September was succeeded by an extended heat event in early October, which led to an early conclusion of the harvest. This extended heatwave, with daily highs ranging from 94°F to 107°F stressed the vines, yet they displayed remarkable resilience and sustained minimal cluster damage due to precise and timely irrigation management by our viticulture teams.
The white wines from this vintage stand out with bright, vibrant flavors, characterized by crisp acidity and complexity. This vintage embodies excellence, promising wines that will resonate with enthusiasts for years to come.
TASTING NOTES
This ARCADIA VINEYARD Chardonnay offers complex aromas of brioche bread, honeysuckle, white peaches, key lime pie, and jasmine flowers. It’s bright and flavorful on the palate with exuberant acidity. There are full flavors of peach, pears, kiwi, and touch of oak spice with coating fruit characteristics and a lasting savory finish.