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Schug Carneros Chardonnay 2023 750ml
🇺🇸 Creamy Carneros Chardonnay with citrus, peach, and fresh acidity.
Schug · Carneros · 2023
Chardonnay | Carneros, California | 750ml
Drawn primarily from Schug's Estate and Ricci vineyards, with additional barrels from Wildcat Mountain and Sangiacomo, this Carneros Chardonnay brings together barrel-aged richness and refreshing acidity. Each vineyard lot was fermented separately and aged on the lees in small French oak barrels, with a judicio...Show More >
Schug · Carneros · 2023
Chardonnay | Carneros, California | 750ml
Drawn primarily from Schug's Estate and Ricci vineyards, with additional barrels from Wildcat Mountain and Sangiacomo, this Carneros Chardonnay brings together barrel-aged richness and refreshing acidity. Each vineyard lot was fermented separately and aged on the lees in small French oak barrels, with a judicious contribution of new oak.
Citrus, white flowers, and peach lead into layers of tropical and stone fruit with light minerality. Creamy texture and a crisp, mouth-watering finish make this a Chardonnay to enjoy at the table.
Expert Reviews · Vintage 2023
Tasting Panel, 92 Points | Aged sur lie for nine months in (25% new) small French oak barrels, this classically styled Chardonnay shows a salty mineral character with melon, MacIntosh apple, marzipan, and lemon oil. Nice mouth feel, with body weight, and accented with crisp acidity.
Wine Enthusiast, 92 Points | A tantalizing, toasty top note draws you into this mouth-coating, richly flavorful and full-bodied wine. Spicy oak notes, light butter accents and poached pear flavors bring a lot of satisfaction on the sip.
James Suckling, 91 Points | This shows note of ripe peaches and pineapple with hints of toffee, honeysuckle and lemon custard. Medium- to full-bodied, creamy and weighty yet with fresh, juicy acidity coming through. Mellow and textural on the finish.
Winemaker Description
Chardonnay grapes grown primarily in Schug's Estate and Ricci vineyards, with additional barrels from the Wildcat Mountain and Sangiacomo vineyards, underwent traditional European winemaking practices. Each lot was fermented separately and aged on the lees ("sur-lie") in small French oak barrels, introducing judicious new oak. The result is an elegant and powerful wine that is refreshing and mouth-watering on the finish. It has intense aromatics of citrus, white flowers, and peach. This wine offers layers of tropical and stone fruit and light minerality on the palate.
Well-balanced acidity gives it a crisp, clean finish, making it an excellent wine with food. Try it with cream soups, rich seafood, fowl, veal, and pasta dishes.
Pairing & Serving
Serve chilled alongside rich seafood, cream soups, poultry, veal, or pasta dishes.
Wine Details
- Producer: Schug
- Vintage: 2023
- Appellation: Carneros
- Region: California, United States
- Grape: Chardonnay
- Aging: On the lees in small French oak barrels
- Size: 750ml
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Wine Information:
Country: United States
Region: California
Sub-Region:
Appellation: Carneros
Variety: Chardonnay
Type: Whites
Size: 750ml
Choose when time is of the essence
This classic Carneros Chardonnay was grown primarily on the Schug Estate vineyard, with additional barrels from the Wildcat Vineyard and Thornton Ranch. It was fermented and aged on the lees ("sur-lie") in small French Oak barrels, with judicious new oak introduced. Malolactic fermentation was not induced, allowing the wine to retain its natural acidity and varietal focus. The result is a wine that is both rich and powerful, while refreshing and elegant on the finish. It has a ripe, spicy tropical bouquet with flavors that suggest citrus, pear, and spiced apples. Well-balanced acidity gives it a crisp, clean finish, making it an excellent wine with food. Try it with cream soups, rich seafood, fowl, veal, and pasta dishes.