2018
Reserve Chardonnay

Napa Valley Carneros

This smooth, rich Chardonnay is the wine for you if your palate tends toward the “buttery” and “oaky” side. This is our version of the classic-style, oak-aged, creamy California Chardonnay.

$34

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92 Points, California Grapevine

09/10/2020 - See Review

Aromas & Flavors

This wine entices with aromas of vanilla, buttercream, apricot, graham cracker and marshmallow followed by elegant, upfront ripe flavors of pear, peach, apple, orange blossom and brown sugar on the finish. The cool climate of Napa Valley Carneros imparts its unique finesse to the wine, while the Alexander Valley component adds an intensely rich mouth-filling character.

Food Pairings

In addition to a wide variety of appetizers, shellfish and poultry dishes, Reserve Chardonnay pairs perfectly with richer foods that enhance this fuller bodied and deliciously creamy wine.

How It's Made

Each individual lot for this wine is hand picked, whole-cluster pressed and then cold settled for 24 hours in stainless steel tanks before moving to French oak barrels for fermentation. The wine completes 92 percent malolactic fermentation and is sur lee aged in French oak barrels, with bi-weekly stirring for five months until blending in April. Then the blended wine is aged an additional eight months in neutral French oak until bottling.

The Vintage

2018 was a very good year with ideal weather conditions for the vines. Spring produced great set, and average rainfalls led to normal to above-normal yields. Consistently warm temperatures during the summer months without any drastic heat spikes or rain events allowed for longer “hang time” for the grapes, which led to fully ripe flavors.

Recipe Suggestions

From Our Kitchen

Smoked Chicken Ravioli

Pasta & Side Dishes

This smoked chicken ravioli recipe combines smoky chicken blended with hazelnuts and cheese to make up the filling in this surprisingly easy ravioli dish. Topped with a white wine cream sauce, the flavors compliment each other perfectly. Pair with a glass of one of Ferrari-Carano's Chardonnays. Delicious!

Pan-Seared Veal Chops with Apple Cognac Sauce

Main Courses

Pan-seared in a combination of peanut and olive oil, these veal chops are rich and flavorful. Tart green apples and fresh thyme are used to bring out the flavors in the veal. The sauce can be prepped 1 day ahead to save time if needed. Serve with onion pudding and a glass of FC Reserve Chardonnay.

2018 Reserve Chardonnay