Bien Nacido Estate Chardonnay 2019
The acclaimed Bien Nacido Estate Chardonnay is sourced from the W Block on the easternmost bench of the estate - one of the windiest in the region - where original Wente clones were planted on their own roots back in 1973. As in Burgundy, Bien Nacido harvest the oldest vines here exclusively for the production of their Estate Chardonnay. At the winery the grapes are whole-cluster pressed, native fermented and aged in 20% new Damy barrels produced in Meursault. Because the Estate Chardonnay has great acidity, it always goes through 100% malolactic conversion and is aged for a total of 16 months in both wood and steel, before being bottled unfined and unfiltered. Perfectly ripened banana with a hint of fresh-baked rolls. A sweet and savoury note comes through with Marcona almonds and sea salt. There is a richness and viscosity which ties it all together.
