• French & American oak
• Melon & ripe pear
• Toasted hazelnut & vanilla
• Bright citrus

"Gorgeously ripe and inviting, the bouquet shows golden peach, mango, vanilla and cedar characters, followed by a wonderfully rounded palate that's supple and lingering with creamy texture and mellow acidity. It's succulent and flavoursome with soothing mouthfeel. At its best: now to 2023" Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, May 2020

This Chardonnay is a bold wine grown from some of the oldest vines in California. Gnarly Head’s untamed vines produce full-flavored grapes, abundant with aromas of melon, ripe pear, toasted hazelnut and a touch of vanilla. Flavors of peach, pineapple, honey dew melon and graham cracker make this Chardonnay complex and layered with flavor. This bright and citrusy wine boasts a medium body and rounded mouthfeel, with a ripe, juicy finish for those who like bold wines with a little attitude.

Older vines produce fewer grape clusters, but the small berries yield intense fruit flavors. The grapes for this Chardonnay were harvested early in the morning while the weather is cool. This allows the grapes to start off cool and warm up gently for fermentation. Winemakers pick mid to late harvest season to promote the tropical flavors and to retain the natural acids. A portion of the juice is cold settled and racked to stainless steel tanks while the remainder is fermented and aged on French and American oak.

This Chardonnay was harvested off "head trained" vines that resemble wild bushes with twisted old trunks and branches that spread out in all directions like unruly umbrellas – truly gnarly heads. These gnarled, head-trained vines provided the inspiration for Gnarly Head…they look gnarly and the wines they create are powerful, concentrated, and in other words, gnarly. All Gnarly Head wines are crafted with California’s spirit of adventure – each sip plunges the palate into bold fruit flavors.

Food Pairing: Enjoy this wine with cedar plank grilled salmon, arugula and grilled peach salad topped with tangy goat cheese or pair with a dessert of grilled pound cake topped with stone fruit and drizzled with honey.