Elegant and Chardonnay are two words that are not commonly found together, but today’s Vampire Vineyards 2012 TRUEBLOOD Carneros Napa Valley Chardonnay is a truly elegant wine.

There is plenty of fruit here, accompanied by a soft, almost voluptuous mouthfeel that gives the wine a silky character that had our whole tasting panel sitting up to take notice. The whole lot of us really loved this delicious wine.

The Carneros region is particularly well-suited to growing Chardonnay. Here, the hot days are followed by cooler, wind-swept nights that are chilled by cold evening breezes that are sucked upward through the valley from the San Francisco Bay. This sort of (diurnal) cooling cycle allows for optimal ripening, by placing just the right degree of stress on the grapes. In France, Burgundy (the true home of Chardonnay) experiences these same conditions.

Enjoy today’s delightful wine with our boldest recommendation.