92
Points
Technical info
Alcohol
13.9%
Varietal
Chardonnay
Blend
100% Chardonnay
Appellation
Big Ranch Vineyard, Oak Knoll District, Napa Valley
Oak treatment
8 months in (11% new) French Oak
Winemaking
Each Chardonnay lot was kept separate throughout the aging process. After sending the fruit directly to press, the juice was fermented in 82% French oak barrels (11% percent new) alongside 18% stainless steel. The lees were stirred every other month to integrate the subtle oak notes and helped to develop a polished texture. Our winemakers focused on showcasing the unique characteristics of this premium quality Oak Knoll Chardonnay by crafting the final blend after seven months of aging in French oak barrels.
Vintage
The 2024 vintage will be remembered as a more “normal” or textbook year. Heavy winter rains provided much-needed soil moisture, supporting healthy canopy growth and resilient vines capable of enduring Napa Valley’s 60-degree temperature fluctuations. Harvest began in late August at a moderate pace through September, with rising temperatures accelerating the process into early October. Yields were generally average to slightly above average. This vintage will be celebrated for years to come, with white wines displaying remarkable brightness and depth of flavor. Grapes for this 2024 Luminus were picked between September 3rd to 11th, 2024.
Vineyards
Luminus, since its inaugural release in 2012, has always been a single vineyard Chardonnay from Big Ranch Vineyard, located in the Oak Knoll AVA. Located on the valley floor and at the southern end of the Napa Valley, Big Ranch is an ideal location for this style of Chardonnay owing to the heavy clay soils and cooling influence of the San Pablo Bay and nearby Napa River, preserving vibrant acidity and minerality in the grapes. A selection of Burgundian clones which show excellent early development provide an elegant complexity and fruit weight to the blend.
