By Tayson Pierce
2018 Chardonnay Single Vineyard

Varietal
100% Chardonnay

Vintage
After nearly four years of drought, 2018 broke the cycle with a mild, moist winter, quenching the soil profile with rain. The growing season started frost-free, with early bud break and nearly perfect shoot growth. This led to a healthy mid-April bloom, setting the stage for an early harvest. The summer ripened a moderate but healthy crop evenly and slowly. Harvest conditions were ideal, and without rush, we brought fruit reflecting a vintage of refined elegance.

Harvest Notes
All vineyards were handpicked on September 5th with 24.60 Brix. We had a morning pick into half-ton picking bins to keep the fruit cool and preserve freshness.

Winemaking
The Chardonnay was whole-cluster pressed into barrels. There was no settling in the tank, including the lees in the Chardonnay barrels for additional texture and richness. The barrels remained un-racked but with lees stirring until a month before bottling.

Tasting Notes
The 2018 Chardonnay has a nose of peach, pear, honey toast, brioche, butter, and honeysuckle. On the palate, it is smooth with no hard edges. There is a touch of an almost oyster shell/saline quality. The wine is full-bodied and rich with creaminess to the texture. Fresh and well-balanced with a mineral note on the finish.
[Information provided by Merchant 23]

2018 Tayson Pierce Estate Wines Chardonnay
Rating: 93
Producer: Tayson Pierce Estate Wines
Wine Region: USA, California, North Coast, Napa Valley, Los Carneros
Variety: Chardonnay
Color / Type / Sweetness: White / Table / Dry
Reviewed by Lisa Perrotti-Brown
Release Price: $65
Drink Date: 2020 - 2026
The 2018 Chardonnay rolls effortlessly out of the glass with expressive notes of honey-drizzled apricots, poached pears and honeydew melon with hints of creme brulee, praline and spice cake. The palate is rich, full-bodied and decadently creamy, packed with stone fruit and melon layers and tons of honey-nut and baking spice nuances, finishing long and savory.
Published: Jan 14, 2021

2018 Tayson Pierce Estate Wines Chardonnay
Producer: Tayson Pierce Estate Wines
Location: USA, California, North Coast, Napa Valley, Los Carneros
Color: White
Rating: 87
Tasting Date: 1/27/2021
Reviewed By: Jeb Dunnuck
Source: Napa Valley’s 2018s
Coming from a single vineyard in Carneros, the 2018 Chardonnay is a soft, fleshy, creamy white that has plenty of honeyed stone fruit, brioche, and toasted bread-like aromas and flavors. It's fully mature but nicely balanced and a solid Chardonnay.