2020 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. Purchased in 1996 and named ARCADIA VINEYARD for its bucolic setting, this 128-acre parcel is located in the new 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
Located on a strand of gently rolling hills, ARCADIA VINEYARD has gravelly silt loam soils that were formed in part from an inland lake that existed over 125,000 years ago. The vineyard has a cool climate and clonal diversity. This wine is 100% Chardonnay and it was fermented and aged 79% in barrel, 16% in concrete egg, and 5% stainless steel. 30% of the wine went through malolactic fermentation. The wine was aged sur lies for 11 months with 41% new French oak.
VINTAGE
A dry and hot growing season, coupled with a global pandemic, and multiple wildfires made 2020 a year we won’t forget. Due to the dry winter, we started more tillage than normal in February to preserve soil moisture and reduce competition. Rain right at bloom interrupted fruit set and provided a “natural fruit thinning” that brought the crop in balance relative to the dry soil conditions. We were very excited during the heart of the growing season, as vines were in balance, and the timing of impactful viticulture practices (leafing, crop adjustment, etc.) was nearly perfect. Several heat events, including a three-day heat spike over Labor Day weekend with temperatures over 115 degrees throughout the Napa Valley, led to an early harvest. Once harvest hit, we started picking fast and furious to limit the effects of lingering wildfire smoke from the LNU Complex Wildfire while implementing strict COVID-19 protocols to ensure worker safety. When things finally started to settle down, another tragic round of wildfires erupted with the Glass Fire Complex. Despite the season’s challenges, we are very pleased with the resulting wines from the 2020 vintage (although there won’t be as many bottles) to carry our legacy forward.
TASTING NOTES
This ARCADIA VINEYARD Chardonnay offers inviting aromas of honeydew melon, peach pie, baked squash, brioche, lemongrass and honeycomb. These aromas are very fragrant and layered with just a touch of oak. The wine has a bright and flavorful entrance with flavors of Kiwi fruit, brioche, and a pleasing mineral note on the finish.
FOOD PAIRINGS
Enjoy this wine with grilled fish with capers and lemons, seared scallops drizzled with lemon-infused olive oil, or roast chicken with fennel and sage.