Stags' Leap Winery Chardonnay 2023

Profile & Story

Stags' Leap Winery (a Treasury Wine Estates property, distinct from Stag's Leap Wine Cellars) sits on Silverado Trail in Napa Valley, with a first Chardonnay vintage dating to 1893. Fruit for the current release is sourced from cooler southern Napa Valley appellations cooled by San Pablo Bay fog, primarily Carneros (citrus, mineral, crisp apple notes) with a smaller portion from Oak Knoll (tropical and stone fruit character). The blend is 99% Chardonnay, 1% Viognier. Winemaking splits the lots roughly a quarter each into stainless steel and new French oak, with the remaining half in seasoned French oak; the wine skips malolactic fermentation to preserve freshness and ages about seven months with bi-weekly bâtonnage. The 2023 vintage was 14.3% ABV.