91points
2022 Gewurztraminer
Tasting Notes
If wines were awarded Oscars, the Gewurztraminer would most certainly be nominated for a “Best Supporting” role. We all know those Napa Cabs, Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs love to steal the spotlight and flash their big smiles on the red carpet, but the Gewurztraminer likes to glide in and knock your socks off with an amazing performance. Unbelievable aromatics (no special effects needed), crisp acidity, and fresh flavors that linger long on your palate while the credits roll. This wine has all the star-power you’ll need.
Wine Score
91
A comforting, warm and floral nose expressing notes of ripe peaches, guava and fresh flowers. Medium body, agile and crisp with a mineral frame at the center and a vivid, succulent finish. Drink now.
James Suckling
Description
Bouchaine’s 100-acre estate vineyard lies on the southern border of Napa Valley’s Carneros district, overlooking the San Francisco bay with the financial district in the distance. Fog, wind, and the cold night time temperatures of this unique geographical area lend a distinctive regional identity to our Gewurztraimer.
Growing Season
The growing season of 2022 will ultimately be defined by the 5-day heat wave we experienced in early September. Thankfully, our crop was ready to be harvested. The heat condensed the time frame of harvest and the winery filled up quickly. Prior to the heat, the growing season in Carneros was highlighted only by its cool breezes and morning fog. With all of these factors combined, Bouchaine was able to capture the fresh acidity we know and love, while also extracting velvety structure and depth of flavor in the wines.
Vinification
After gentle pressing, the Gewurztraminer was placed in neutral French oak barrels for a slow, low-temperature fermentation. Once complete, the wine was aged in the same neutral barrels and malolactic fermentation was inhibited to maintain the vibrant flavors and perfumed aromas.