Description

ABOUT THE PRODUCER:
Chimney Rock takes its name from the rock formations on the Palisades behind the winery which resemble chimney stacks. Established in 1980 by Hack and Stella Wilson, the first vintage of Chimney Rock Estate wine was produced in 1984. In the early 1990s, the Cape Dutch-style winery and tasting room were added to the estate, complete with the allegorical frieze of Ganymede – cupbearer to the gods. In 2000, the Terlato family joined the Wilson family and in 2002, the remaining land, covering 18 hectares, was planted entirely to Cabernet Sauvignon. In 2004, the Terlato family assumed sole ownership of the estate and ensures the highest standards in viticulture and winemaking. Chimney Rock now comprises 48 hectares of vineyard, divided into 28 distinct blocks, allowing for highly specialised viticulture suited to each specific site and is certified as a ‘Napa Green Vineyard & Winery’. Led by notable winemaker Elizabeth Vianna, Chimney Rock’s award-winning wines have firmly cemented its reputation for producing some of the world’s greatest estate Cabernet Sauvignon.

ABOUT THE VINEYARD:
This wine benefits from estate-grown grapes owned by the Terlato family from vineyards situated on the Napa Valley Floor in the Rutherford AVA. Rutherford is located at the widest part of the Napa Valley, and the vines enjoy the most sun of any of the valley floor appellations. The Sauvignon Gris and Sauvignon Blanc vines benefit from this warm, sunny location, resulting in phenolically ripe grapes with intense fruit profiles. The influence of the cool ocean breezes and signature Californian fog that rolls in from the San Pablo Bay, imparts natural, fresh balance to the fruit and produces charming white wines, with tropical fruit profiles. The soils are varied across the appellation, with pockets of sedimentary, gravelly, sandy and alluvial soils on the western benchland and volcanic soils to the eastern benchland. They have good water retention properties and good fertility. The estate holds the Napa Green Vineyard certification which provides a framework for growers to cultivate sustainably; through improving soil health, becoming carbon neutral, implementing efficient water-use strategies.

THE WINEMAKING PROCESS:
The grapes were hand-harvested and carefully sorted to ensure the highest quality of fruit was vinified. A diverse set of techniques were used including whole-cluster pressing and various yeasts including indigenous. The wine was barrel-fermented in 1/3 new French oak, 1/3 used French oak and 1/3 stainless steel. The wine then aged ‘sur lie’ for an additional six months in neutral barrels, resulting in a harmonious blend which is rich and versatile.

OUR TASTING NOTES:
An elegant white, with inviting aromas of fresh peach, apricot and passion fruit layered with hints of jasmine, brioche and caramel. Beautiful minerality on the palate leads to a bright, refreshing finish.

GRAPE VARIETY:
Sauvignon Gris 63%, Sauvignon Blanc 37%.