96
Points
Technical info
Alcohol
14.5%
Varietal
Chardonnay
Blend
100% Chardonnay
Appellation
Gamble Ranch, Oakville, Big Ranch, Oak Knoll, Napa Valley
Oak treatment
9 months in French oak (50% new)
Winemaking
The fruit was sent directly to press. Then, the juice was fermented in 100% French oak barrels (50% new) for 9 months to enhance the wine’ natural richness. The lees were stirred every month to integrate the subtle oak notes and develop a lovely texture, body, and mouthfeel. Approximately 95% of the wine underwent malolactic fermentation. Each lot was kept separate throughout the aging process. After aging, the most expressive lots were blended to create a richly layered wine with enticing aromas and intense, rich fruit flavor.
Vintage
The 2024 vintage will be celebrated for years to come, with white wines displaying remarkable brightness and depth of flavor. 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, running at a moderate pace through September, accelerated by rising temperatures in early October. Yields were generally average to slightly above.
Vineyards
Gamble Ranch, Beringer’s northernmost Chardonnay vineyard, has been the primary source for Private Reserve for decades. Located in the Oakville AVA, daytime temperatures here slowly rise as the cooling morning fog recedes south. This pronounced diurnal shift helps the grapes retain their natural acidity, an essential counterpoint to the rich, ripe flavors that develop during warmer afternoons. Older vines, planted in 1976, provide the foundation for the wine’s depth and concentration. Three percent of the blend was sourced from Big Ranch Vineyard in Oak Knoll, where fruit tends to hold slightly more acidity and delicate minerality, shaped by its proximity to the San Pablo Bay. The inclusion of select Burgundy clones further enhances the wine’s nuance, lending an added layer of elegance and weight.
