2021 Girard - Chardonnay Carneros

Girard Winery began in 1975 when father and son Steve and Steve Girard purchased land near the Silverado Trail in Oakville, building a winery there five years later with a focus on premium, Bordeaux-style wines. In 2000, vintner Pat Roney acquired the Girard name, eventually settling the winery in Calistoga under longtime winemaker Glenn Hugo, who joined as a harvest intern before working his way up through the cellar. Girard's approach centers on decades-long grower relationships across Napa Valley's varied sub-appellations, aiming for wines that stay balanced and true to their origins.

This Chardonnay is sourced from Carneros, a cool, fog-influenced appellation spanning parts of Napa and Sonoma counties near San Pablo Bay. Marine breezes moderate temperatures here more than in the valleys to the north, making the area especially well suited to Chardonnay. Grapes for this bottling were fermented and aged in French oak, with time spent on the lees contributing extra creaminess and body to the finished wine.

The nose shows bright citrus notes of lemon and tangerine alongside stone fruit and a touch of toasted oak. On the palate, refined minerality carries ripe pear, lemon cream, and fresh apple flavors, with a medium weight and a lingering, well-balanced finish. This Chardonnay works nicely with roast chicken, seared scallops, or a creamy pasta dish.