Palate
Brilliantly golden and wonderfully perfumed, the 2017 O’Brien Estate Chardonnay has vast
aromas of pear, nectarine, melon and spice that waft from the glass. Equally dynamic flavors
gently unfurl across the palate and reveal added nuances of stone fruit, flowers and caramel
that are full and rich, full bodied, but not heavy, flavorful and finish long.
Growing Conditions
The year began with abundant rainfall, followed by a mild Spring resulting in extended flowering with little shatter. A Labor Day weekend heatwave kicked harvest into high gear, then cool weather allowed sugar levels to return to normal. By October 8 nearly 90 percent of the 2017 grape tonnage was in when warm, fierce winds fueled an unprecedented firestorm. Napa Valley's winemakers remain committed to upholding the region's reputation for making some of the world's finest wines and early articles about the 2017 vintage describe the wines with words such as "finesse," "great complexity of flavor" and "elegant."
