Nickel & Nickel 2013 Chardonnay Truchard Vineyard
Nickel & Nickel winery, located in Oakville, Napa Valley, produces 100 percent varietal, single-vineyard wines that express the distinct personality of each vineyard. Established by the partners of Far Niente in 1997, Nickel & Nickel is focused on producing single-vineyard Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon from the appellation’s most significant AVAs. A small collection of single-vineyard Chardonnay, Merlot and Syrah complements the portfolio. Construction of a cutting-edge winery facility housed within a vintage 1880s farmstead was completed in the summer of 2003, when the winery officially opened to the public.
Truchard Vineyard lies in the heart of Carneros, prized for its rolling hills, sun exposure and cool, breezy conditions that allow long, even ripening. Nickel & Nickel makes wine from fourteen select acres of this 270-acre vineyard, composed of volcanic ash and rock with a southwestern exposure. The growing season tends to be long in this cooler area, allowing for fully mature fruit at harvest.
Opening a bottle of their 2013 Napa Carneros Chardonnay, the color was clear rich gold color, with layered fruit aromas of peaches, melon and juicy sweet pears, with a hint of spice. Aged for 9 months on French oak (49% new), the taste did not disappoint. I enjoyed a rich creamy taste of tropical and stone fruit flavors with just the right touch of vanilla oak and minerality. Drink this gem now! Be sure to let this Chardonnay warm up a bit in your glass if it tends to fog up as you will want to taste all of the complex flavors that you will miss if the wine is too cold. The wine had a long smooth silky finish that had me yearning for more! Delicious!
Cheers!