Truchard

Truchard is a family-owned estate in the Carneros region, at the southern end of Napa Valley where the influence of San Pablo Bay keeps temperatures cooler than further north. Tony and Jo Ann Truchard bought their first parcel in 1974 and have farmed the estate ever since, planting varieties suited to the site rather than following fashion. The marine soils and gently sloping land make Carneros particularly well suited to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Chardonnay from vines between twenty-five and forty-seven years old gives a concentration of flavour that younger vineyards struggle to match. The style is more precise and less overtly buttery than much California Chardonnay, with good acidity and a restrained use of oak. A producer worth knowing in a region that can sometimes be overlooked.