Nose
aromas showcasing bright lemon citrus characteristics and a core of minerality.
Palate
The wine is rich with robust and balanced acidity making the lemon zest and toasted hazelnut flavors pop on the palate. The wine is silky with an elegant texture and long finish.
Growing Conditions
The 2015 growing season in the Napa Valley was a beautiful one marked by pleasant weather with no real issues from heat spikes or rain. A dry winter followed by a dry and early spring meant an early bud break. Weather was warm throughout late spring and summer which allowed for great development in the grapes. Harvest began in August, and the overall quality and depth of flavor of the fruit was outstanding for vintage 2015. The only downside of the season was the light crop load due to continued drought conditions. Grapes for the 2015 Luminus were harvested between August 20th and September 14th.
Luminus is a single-vineyard Chardonnay from Beringer’s Big Ranch Vineyard in the Oak Knoll AVA. Located on the valley floor and at the southern end of the Napa Valley, Big Ranch is an ideal location for this style of Chardonnay owing to the cooling influence of the San Pablo Bay, preserving nice acidity and minerality in the grapes. A selection of Burgundian clones that showed excellent early development provide an elegant complexity and fruit weight to the blend.
