Franciscan Chardonnay is pale yellow in color. The aromas are bright pear and lemon are accented by subtle minerality and seashell notes, with accents of caramel apple and nutmeg adding richness. Ripe Fuji apple and Bosc pear provide a soft entry and vibrant mouthfeel. Lively fruit is supported by notes of vanilla and cream, and the generous body provides a lingering finish of apple, vanilla bean, and spice in flavor.

Winemaker’s notes: 

With Chardonnay, Franciscan Estate looks for the sort of richness and opulence that malolactic fermentation and sur lie aging in oak barrels bring. They help to deliver that delicious, creamy complexity for which Franciscan Chardonnay is known. But Chardonnay also needs a foundation, a structure, for all that richness and fruit. Minerality is essential. So we turn to cooler vineyards in southern Napa Valley, in particular from the Carneros District where the soil is dense clay. The result is grapes that offer impressive structure and mineral flair. 

Winemaker: Janet Myers

Appellation: Napa Valley

Brix at harvest: 23.0–24.0

Varietal composition: 100% Chardonnay

Fermentation:Barrel fermented 

Aging: Seven months sur lie in small French and American oak barrels; 16% new

pH: 3.38

ta:6.2g/L

alcohol: 13.5%

Pairs with Pork, Vegetarian, Poultry.