2010 Maldonado ‘Los Olivos’ Chardonnay Napa Valley

WSI 94 Owned by the Maldonado family, one of the go-to growers in Napa, this is one of the most beautifully situated and meticulously farmed estates in the valley. Consulting winemaker is Jean Hoefliger, whose relationship with the Maldonado family began at Newton Vineyards in 2001. The Maldonado’s managed the vineyard practices at Newton Vineyard while Jean was making the infamous naturally fermented, unfined and unfiltered wines. Through their collaboration in the vineyards and making wines which reflect the true greatness of California terroir, the Maldonado family decided to expand their relationship to have Jean make the boutique production of Maldonado Family Vineyards as well. Their shared vision of precise vineyard practices as well as producing wines which show the extraordinary terroir of the Maldonado vineyards has created a shared passion for making the best wine they possibly can.

The grapes are pressed and their juice sent to barrel for 100% barrel fermentation. Yeasts indigenous to the vineyard and winery perform the fermentation; nothing is added to the grapes or juice prior to or during fermentation. The wine is fermented and aged in all French oak. The idea is to open and disturb the barrels as little as possible, and to leave the environment inside the barrel integral and self-regulating. This regime exposes the wine to small amounts of oxygen when it is at its youngest and most vigorous stage; this is a kind of inoculation against later oxidation.

The wine is strong and will age slowly and well. The long, undisturbed period in barrel allows a graceful and extended contact with the lees and allows anything clouding the wine to settle out so thoroughly that filtration becomes unnecessary.

On the nose, the 2010 vintage is chocked full of pears, banana, crushed rocks and brown sugar. On the palate, the fruit is dense, bold and spicy. Flavors of pears, green apples, peaches and pineapple intermingle with wonderful minerality and crisp acidity. 820 cases produced.