Cartlidge & Browne North Coast Chardonnay

*** GOLD MEDAL SAN FRANCISCO WINE AWARDS ***

Country: USA Region: North Coast California

Varietal: Chardonnay Vintage: 2019 

Colour: White Style: Dry

Producer: Cartlidge and Browne

Within the first few years of Napa Valley's rise to stardom, Tony Cartlidge jumped onboard the wine train to successfully launch his own label, Cartlidge & Browne, in 1980. His unique curiosity and adventurous spirit has helped him build the strong, business that it is today. Cartlidge & Browne has grown exponentially over the past 30 years, gaining recognition from critics such as Robert Parker, The Today Show, and most major wine and food publications. They're known for high quality, California-sourced fruit, easy drinking wine sold at a friendly price point. The Cartlidge & Browne slogan, 'Please stick your nose in our business'; has become an offbeat way of expressing the winery's attitude that wine should not be taken so seriously! Everyone at Cartlidge & Browne has chosen winemaking as profession for many reasons, but above all else, they want the wines they produce to ignite stories of good friends, good food, lots of laughter and lasting memories.

Viticulture

Cartlidge & Browne sources fruit for their wines from vineyards across the North Coast AVA. Sourcing from this region gives them the flexibility to select only the best lots of Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay from Napa and Sonoma Counties.

Winemaking

Grapes were harvested at <23 brix to maintain natural acidity and balance. Gentle bladder pressing was employed to minimise extraction of harsh phenolics from the grape skins and the juice was fermented cold and slow with traditional Chardonnay yeast strains. Post ferment, the wine was aged 6 months on yeast lees and French oak. Malolactic fermentation was not used to keep the wine bright and crisp with forward fruit.

Oak Treatment

Time: 6 Months; Type: French; % oaked: 100% new oak: 20%

Tasting Note:

Burgundian in style with elegant mineral complexity combined with the slightest of caramel and brown sugar notes. Aromas of a green apples and honeysuckle lead to a palate that is both silky and generous. Flavours of honey and baked bread from sur lee aging while maintaining a delicious fruit profile with lemon cake.

Food Matching

Very Versatile, well balanced with excellent acidity and will perfectly pair with a number of foods. Seafood dishes, grilled chicken, pork or veal.