Decoy Napa Valley Chardonnay 2022 (California)

Description

Oak, Pineapple, Vanilla

"This wine is fresh, bright with aromas of yellow apple, pear, honeysuckle and vanilla cream on the nose. The midpalate has flavors of grilled orange slices, baked pear and green apple, with wildflower honey wafting through the mineral, dry finish. Pair with spicy calamari" Wine Enthusiast Magazine, Jan 2024

With luxurious aromas of ripe mango, pineapple, Mandarin orange and sweet citrus zest, this vibrant Chardonnay beckons a first sip. On the smooth, supple palate, refreshing acidity adds poise and polish to the tropical fruit flavors, with hints of vanilla and toasted almonds adding complexity to a long, lush finish.

Established in 1985, Decoy is recognized for producing attractively priced wines from exceptional vineyard sources, including Decoy’s own Ridgeline and Brownell estate vineyards in the Alexander Valley of Sonoma County. Decoy’s winemaking program is guided by acclaimed Winemaker Dana Epperson, who is an expert at working with multiple grape varieties across multiple regions.

Like all of our Decoy wines, our Decoy California Chardonnay benefits from the passion, skill and experience from The Duckhorn Portfolio team. Established more than 30 years ago by legendary vintners Dan and Margaret Duckhorn, our roots run deep at Decoy. From vine to bottle, we craft our wines to the highest standards, using grapes from exceptional vineyards, including from our own estate properties.

The 2022 harvest got off to an early start, with relatively low yields and warm late-July and early-August weather driving ripeness in many key appellations. As a result, we began harvesting Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Zinfandel and Pinot Noir all in the first weeks of harvest. Early September brought a significant heat event to much of the state. During this period we meticulously monitored the weather reports, and our crews worked tirelessly to bring the fruit from each appellation in at ideal ripeness. After minor rains in late-September that cooled down the vines, we concluded harvest in late October. Although the pace was brisk, the wines are absolutely amazing, with bright, fruit-forward whites, and opulent and beautifully structured reds.