STAG'S LEAP WINE CELLARS KARIA CHARDONNAY 2023

Established in 1970 with the purchase of S.L.V. vineyard, Stag's Leap Wine Cellars gained international recognition when its 1973 S.L.V. Estate Cabernet Sauvignon won top honors at the 1976 Judgment of Paris, defeating First Growth Bordeaux and establishing Napa Valley's reputation for world-class winemaking. Winemaker Marcus Notaro sources this sustainably farmed Karia Chardonnay from southern Napa Valley's coolest sites: Atlas Peak District (42%), Carneros (35%), Arcadia (14%), and Oak Knoll's Bravo Zulu (8%), where San Pablo Bay breezes moderate temperatures and volcanic soils provide mineral complexity. Whole cluster pressed at 13.5% alcohol, the wine fermented 96% in French oak (37% new) with 10% malolactic and 7 months sur lie aging with monthly stirring, blending 98% Chardonnay with 2% Muscat Canelli. The 2023 vintage showcases ripe melon, honeysuckle, juicy peach, citrus blossoms, hazelnut, vanilla, and oak with bright acidity and lingering citrus notes.