An elegant Chardonnay that is rich and creamy upon entry with notes of lemon curd, crème brulee and candied lemon peel, this wine presents beautiful layers of stone fruit with notes of buttered French toast.

Beautiful aromas of orange blossoms are accented by notes of kaffir lime and ginger. On the palate, rich and unctuous flavors of ripe apricot and mandarin orange are accompanied by delicious notes of honey with a hint of spice. We choose to stop primary fermentation at 2% residual sugar without malolactic fermentation in order to emphasize the bright, clean finish of the wine.

An extrovert in what is often a mild-mannered crowd of unnecessarily subtle wines. When grown on Mount Veeder, the fruit gives exotic aromas that really grab your attention while the pure flavors and lush texture beg for another sip. Unlike the more delicate wines of this type, this Pinot Gris can be an adventurous culinary companion worth exploring.

From vineyard to your glass, this fruit gets special attention, and is offered in a pure, Chablis like style. On the nose, beautiful and delicate floral aromas of jasmine marry with sweeter notes of honeysuckle and candied ginger. Layers of stone fruit and tangerine citrus offer a wonderful acidity that delights the palate, while a very subtle hint of vanilla creme and toffee from the oak aging emerge on the lingering finish.

We age this Chardonnay sur lie for approximately 6 months. Only 5% of the wine underwent malolactic fermentation. The nose is inviting with kiwi, candied lemon peel and vanilla aromas leading to flavors of juicy ripe pear and golden delicious apple.

With this wine, we aim to craft a big, beautiful Napa Valley Chardonnay that showcases what our Estate vineyard is capable of producing. I am striving for texture and full flavors when I make the barrel selection. I am attracted to clones that produce fruit of low yields but tremendous quality. The Lioness is dynamic and beautifully balanced with a lush texture that is complemented by a core of acidity running throughout.