Girard Carneros Chardonnay 2021
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James
Suckling -
Robert
Parker
Product Details
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Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
The nose is richly layered with scents of toasted oak, Meyer lemon, white peach and wet stone minerality. Medium weight and creamy textured on the palate, flavors of yellow apple, stone fruit, lemon meringue pie, and hints of sea spray abound, leading to a supple and refreshing finish. Big in its youth, this wine is enjoyable now and will reward those who can patiently cellar it away for a few years.
Blend: 100% Chardonnay
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
This is perfumed with notes of yuzu, white peaches, chamomile, jasmine and beeswax. Medium- to full-bodied and lean with sleek texture and crunchy acidity. Juicy, attractive and easy to drink. Drink now.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The nose of the 2021 Chardonnay is marked by scents of pencil shavings and lemon squares, plus hints of white peaches and flower shop greens. Aged 10 months in 40% new French oak, it's medium-bodied and tight on the palate, with a crispness and focus not always apparent in Napa Chards. It seems a bit different in style than the 2019 but equally good. Best After 2023
Other Vintages
2020-
James
Suckling
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Tasting
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James
Suckling -
Wine
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For the past 40 years, Girard has been singularly dedicated to ensuring balance in their wines. This is achieved by meticulously focusing on making choices that respect the grapes and Napa Valley heritage at each step of the winemaking process. They work closely with long-time growers in both mountain and valley vineyards to ensure vines are nurtured to develop balanced sugar and acidity in the grapes when it comes time to harvest. In their state-of-the-art winery, they employ innovative barrel technology to bring out the ripe fruit characteristics during the fermentation and aging process. The dedication to quality throughout the winemaking process is evident in the consistently award-winning wines that offer richness, complexity and balance in each sip.
One of the most popular and versatile white wine grapes, Chardonnay offers a wide range of flavors and styles depending on where it is grown and how it is made. While it tends to flourish in most environments, Chardonnay from its Burgundian homeland produces some of the most remarkable and longest lived examples. California produces both oaky, buttery styles and leaner, European-inspired wines. Somm Secret—The Burgundian subregion of Chablis, while typically using older oak barrels, produces a bright style similar to the unoaked style. Anyone who doesn't like oaky Chardonnay would likely enjoy Chablis.
Known for elegant wines that combine power and finesse, Carneros is set in the rolling hills that straddle the southernmost parts of both Sonoma and Napa counties. The cooling winds from the abutting San Pablo Bay, combined with lots of midday California sunshine, create an ideal environment for producing wines with a perfect balance of crisp acidity and well-ripened fruit.
This cooler pocket of California lends itself to growing Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah. Carneros is an important source of sparkling wines made in the style of Champagne as well.