93
Points
Technical info
Alcohol
13.5%
Varietal
Chardonnay
Blend
100% Chardonnay
Oak treatment
Eight months in (10% new) French Oak
Winemaking
Each lot for this wine was kept separate. After sending the fruit directly to the press, the juice was fermented in French oak barrels (10% percent new). The lees were stirred every other month to integrate
the subtle oak notes and 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 eight months of aging in French oak barrels.
Vintage
The first half of the 2022 harvest started calm and early, with healthy vineyards offering bright acidity, fruit-forward flavors, and strong yields. Then in early September, California experienced a historic heat
wave that ramped up the pace of ripening, compelling a fast-and-furious harvest as winemakers worked
to pick fruit at its best quality. Fortunately, strong vines and proactive irrigation helped many vineyards survive the heat. The second half was much more predictable with cooler temperatures through October. The grapes for this wine were picked between August 24 and September 16.
Vineyards
Luminus is a single-vineyard Chardonnay from Big Ranch Vineyard in the Oak Knoll AVA. Located on the valley floor and at the southern end of Napa Valley, Big Ranch is an ideal location for this style of
Chardonnay. The heavy clay soils, along with the cooling influence of San Pablo Bay and the nearby Napa River, preserve nice acidity and minerality in the grapes. A selection of Burgundian clones which show excellent early development provides an elegant complexity and fruit weight to the blend.
