Wine Profile
- Composition: 100% Chenin Blanc
- Vineyard: Priest Ranch "Orion Vinyard"
- Appellation: Napa Valley
- Vintage: 1999
- Harvested: October
- Grape Sugar: 24.5º Brix
- Time in Oak: 9 months
- Type of Oak: 100% Hungarian
- Wine T.A.: 0.62 grams per 100 ml
- Wine pH: 3.41
- Wine Alcohol: 14.5% by volume
- 81 cases made
- Price: $24.00 - SOLD OUT
1999
PRIEST RANCH CHENIN BLANC
NAPA VALLEY
The Vineyard:
The Priest Ranch is located on the far eastern edges of the Napa Valley near the Chiles Valley appellation in a niche known as "Soda Valley". This historic ranch was settled by brothers, Joseph & Jacob Priest in the late 1860's. The land was farmed by their descendents for the next 100 years until it was purchased by Carl Rose in the early 1960's. Carl was the first to plant grapes in this region. The White Riesling and Chenin Blanc grapevines were cloned from old Wente vines and continue to thrive today. Viticulturist Christine Carelli purchased the property in 1997 and immediately implemented organic farming techniques to revitalize the 30-year-old vines. Gary was so impressed with the spectacular fruit that he began a collaboration with Christine that resulted in the first Chenin Blanc for the GALLERON portfolio.
The Wine:
The grapes for this stunning Chenin Blanc were whole cluster pressed and fermented in new Hungarian Oak and aged sur lies for nine months. Golden, almost amber-like in color with a veil of smoky oak, this beautiful wine unfolds into an elegant show of honey, melon, apple and spice. Smooth and rich in texture with perfect balance, this wine is dry, nutty and spicy, with a strikingly clean finish marked by a lively acidity.
What The Critics Say...
Reviewed in The Insiders Wine line - Volume 4, Number 4
The 1999 Chenin Blanc, Priest Ranch - Napa Valley has a perfumed nose of apples, pineapple, pear, hazelnut, carnation and toast. The flavors of melon, ripe apple, pear and white pit fruits with a hint of butterscotch are rich and spicy followed by a fruity, creamy finish. Rating: 86.
