Barnett Vineyards Sangiacomo Vineyard Chardonnay 2019

The 2019 Sangiacomo Chardonnay is a beautiful bright gold colour with powerful aromatics. Passionfruit and kiwi jump from the glass which is matched by spiciness, mainly white pepper. There are layers of honeysuckle and jasmine. Round and rich this is a very luscious wine. The fruit moves to more apricot and pear on the palate while pretty jasmine persists. This is a lush rich wine that can be enjoyed in it’s youth or develop nicely over the next 6-7 years (2026-2027).

If there were ever an average of great years, 2019 was it. In the spring there was average rainfall and in summer the heat was average. Fall was typical in being warm without heat spikes, and with a few small showers. In Carneros the San Pablo bay aided in slowing down ripeness by providing foggy cool mornings which can linger into the afternoons. This extra time on the vine forms a longer period of flavour development adding great complexity to the wine. The three blocks were picked at their individual physiological ripeness over the month of October.

The grapes were harvested in the dark early morning under the bright tractor lights. These night picks allow the cool fog to keep the grapes fresh prior to their delivery to the winery. The grapes were whole bunch pressed and kept overnight in a cool tank, where the next morning the juice is inoculated, stirred up, and then moved to barrel (20% new) for the primary fermentation. Every barrel is allowed to go through malolactic fermentation naturally. Each barrel is then monitored for flavour profile changes, and each barrels malolactic fermentation is halted at the perfect point, which lead to 48% malic to lactic conversion that year.

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AWARDS & ACCOLADES

 - 93 Pts

The 2019 Chardonnay Sangiacomo Vineyard opens with a gorgeous nose of spice cake, candied ginger, lemon butter and marzipan over a core of apricots, Bosc pears and apple pie. Medium-bodied, the palate bursts with intense citrus and apple flavors plus loads of spicy accents with a racy backbone and satiny texture, finishing long with beautiful savouriness.

 - 90 Pts