School House Vineyard
Spring Mountain District Chardonnay
Spring Mountain District, Napa Valley, California, USA
Visited the vineyards with Tim Mosher on a hot late summer day at noon - Sep 3 2022. Drove through and tasted berries from the OG ungrafted DRC vines, old and new Pinot Noir vines, Grenache, Syrah and Carignan vines. It was a blast.
Barrel fermented, 10 months aging on lees which were stirred once a week, full malo. Yearly contract with Pride Mountains for making wine. Since 1996. 13.2% abv. Yellow delicious apples and other stone fruits, hazelnut, stony characters, butterscotch, Brioche, lemon curd, yeasty sea salt, smoke and flint. A mix of new Francis Fevre medium toast barrels (they get 12 new barrels every year) and 1 year old barrels from Pride Mountains. Ever since 2016 elevage was down to 10 months (instead of 18 months) for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Visited the vineyards with Tim Mosher on a hot late summer day at noon - Sep 3 2022. Drove through and tasted berries from the OG ungrafted DRC vines, old and new Pinot Noir vines, Grenache, Syrah and Carignan vines. It was a blast.
Barrel fermented, 10 months aging on lees which were stirred once a week, full malo. Yearly contract with Pride Mountains for making wine. Since 1996. 13.2% abv. Yellow delicious apples and other stone fruits, hazelnut, stony characters, butterscotch, Brioche, lemon curd, yeasty sea salt, smoke and flint. A mix of new Francis Fevre medium toast barrels (they get 12 new barrels every year) and 1 year old barrels from Pride Mountains. Ever since 2016 elevage was down to 10 months (instead of 18 months) for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
The butterscotch on the nose seemed to suggest this might be a sweeter, plump style of Chardonnay but on the palate it’s dry with a fine acid backbone and subtle minerality. A fine 7 year old and not oaky.
The butterscotch on the nose seemed to suggest this might be a sweeter, plump style of Chardonnay but on the palate it’s dry with a fine acid backbone and subtle minerality. A fine 7 year old and not oaky.
Nov 8th, 2020
A fabulous Chardonnay. Great balance of fresh acidity and enough richness.
A fabulous Chardonnay. Great balance of fresh acidity and enough richness.
May 1st, 2015
School House Vineyard Spring Mountain Chardonnay 2013: Medium-bodied. Great balance & structure. Vibrant bold flavors of lemon curd, yellow apple, butter, vanilla, salt & a touch of caramel. Great minerality, low oak and a long persistent finish. Wow, so delicious & unexpected. All in all, a clean, refined & luscious (no sign of age!) Burgundy-style Napa Valley Chardonnay. This was an outstanding find, a unicorn?! Great weekend to all! Cheers🍷
School House Vineyard Spring Mountain Chardonnay 2013: Medium-bodied. Great balance & structure. Vibrant bold flavors of lemon curd, yellow apple, butter, vanilla, salt & a touch of caramel. Great minerality, low oak and a long persistent finish. Wow, so delicious & unexpected. All in all, a clean, refined & luscious (no sign of age!) Burgundy-style Napa Valley Chardonnay. This was an outstanding find, a unicorn?! Great weekend to all! Cheers🍷
Aug 12th, 2022
Very special Chardonnay from Spring Mountain with a perfect balance of Oak and acidity.
Very special Chardonnay from Spring Mountain with a perfect balance of Oak and acidity.
Aug 18th, 2016
Lovely, slight oxidation, bright, touch of mineral
Lovely, slight oxidation, bright, touch of mineral
Apr 20th, 2016
Medium bodied, bright cherries, a little hot, could benefit from decanting. Very nice overall.
Medium bodied, bright cherries, a little hot, could benefit from decanting. Very nice overall.
Oct 5th, 2015Great balance. Feels like a good Meursault. Would age a couple years yet. Have one more and wish I had 3.
Great balance. Feels like a good Meursault. Would age a couple years yet. Have one more and wish I had 3.
Sep 13th, 2015
This was simply the best Chardonnay I have had in a couple of years. Reminds me of Burgundy as it shows a very grainy pear with a tinge of caramelization up front but then on the palate unfolds with multiple layers of golden apple and also some lemon custard. Excellent acidity and the minerality leaves a great zesty tension throughout the mid palate and finish. Ends with some melon and apple and be Finish lasts about a minute. Superb!
This was simply the best Chardonnay I have had in a couple of years. Reminds me of Burgundy as it shows a very grainy pear with a tinge of caramelization up front but then on the palate unfolds with multiple layers of golden apple and also some lemon custard. Excellent acidity and the minerality leaves a great zesty tension throughout the mid palate and finish. Ends with some melon and apple and be Finish lasts about a minute. Superb!
May 31st, 2015