Matthiasson "Linda Vista Vineyard" Napa Valley Chardonnay 2023

Decanter : 96 Points

(12/18/2024) The Linda Vista Vineyard, located on the eastern edge of the Oak Knoll District, features alluvium soils of marine origin from Mt. Veeder. This Chardonnay is native yeast barrel-fermented in neutral oak and aged 9 months before bottling, undergoing partial malolactic fermentation and partial bâtonnage. The 2023 Chardonnay, tasted alongside the 2018 vintage, displays similar textural integrity with racy acidity and wet stone minerality. Its youthful fruit character shines, offering notes of on-the-vine apple, citrus, white peach, and apricot, complemented by springtime floral aromas and a lengthy finish of salted Marcona almonds. Winemaker Steve Matthiasson attributes the fruit's vibrancy and purity to multiple picks throughout the vineyard, allowing for separate ageing of lots, with some undergoing malolactic fermentation and others not, creating complex blending components. The finish is remarkably long, marked by bright, wet stone minerality, fragrant spring flowers, a touch of honey, and crushed almonds. The grape clone is Clone 4, a very high-acid clone of Chardonnay. Drinking Window: 2025 - 2038.