New vintage on the way... so distributor is slashing price to make room. We grabbed all they had left... We love this stuff!

Freemark Abbey Napa Valley Chardonnay 2018
(label for illustration)
Sale $27.99 - Regularly $40 - save 30%

93 Pts Vinous / 92 pts Jeb Dunnuck

Can we talk about “Malolactic Fermentation” for a minute?  Wine Spectator describes it as “a chemical reaction that tones down a wine's acidity. Malolatic fermentation (or "malo," as the cool kids call it) is a secondary fermentation, in which sharp malic acids (think of the acidity of green apples) are converted into lactic acids (think of the creamy, soft acids in milk), making the wine softer and smoother.”  There are a ton of world-class wines that are allowed to undergo “full malo” (basically every red wine) and a ton of world-class wines that have their malo halted early on in the winemaking process to produce a bit zippier, higher acid style wine.  When someone asks for a “buttery” chardonnay, they are looking for one that has undergone full malo… very typical in a lot of California Chardonnay. 

In the case of this Freemark Abbey Chardonnay, the winery wants to preserve the freshness and halt the malo early on.  This creates a lighter mouthfeel with higher acid, more citrus than apple, a nice clean, slightly mineral finish…  It see’s a little bit of new oak aging so you can still get a bit of spice and vanilla but without the buttery-ness that you see so often in California Chardonnay. In short... it's balanced... rich yet bright... offering a wealth of vibrant cirtus fruit with hints of peaches and pears, and enough spice to keep things interesting!

“The 2018 Chardonnay is a very pretty, nuanced wine that deftly balances textural richness and vibrancy. Lemon peel, orchard fruit, mint and bright floral notes are finely sculpted in this classy, wonderfully polished Chardonnay from Freemark Abbey." VM

" Notes of lemon oil, orange blossom, and honeysuckle, with just touch of toastiness, are followed by a wine that’s beautifully balanced, medium to full-bodied, and layered on the palate, with loads to love." JD


Or reply. The wine is available Tuesday in Chapel Hill. Wednesday, as ordered, in Hillsborough.