2005 Fleury Chardonnay

Fleury in Courteron dates to 1895, when the Fleury family began growing grapes. The family sold their grapes to cooperatives until 1929, when Robert Fleury released the family’s first wines under their own label. Always ahead of the trends, the family began biodynamic farming in the late 1980s, converting all 35 acres to biodynamic farming by 1992. Today patriarch Jean-Pierre Fleury grows mostly Pinot Noir, with about 10 percent of his vineyards planted to Chardonnay. His adult son and daughter also work in the business. Fleury Champagnes are distinguished by being very fruit forward and balanced, along with persistent and pure mineral traces.

Napa Valley AVA is the most famous winemaking region in the United States and one of the most prestigious in the world. With nearly 43,000 acres of vineyards and more than 300 wineries, it is the heart of fine wine production in the United States. Winemaking started in Napa in 1838 when George C. Yount planted grapes and began producing wine commercially. Other winemaking pioneers followed in the late 19th century, including the founders of Charles Krug, Schramsberg, Inglenook and Beaulieu Vineyards. An infestation of phylloxera, an insect that attacks vine roots, and the onset of Prohibition nearly wiped out the nascent Napa wine industry in the early 20th century. But by the late 1950s and early 1960s Robert Mondavi and other visionaries were producing quality wines easily distinguishable from the mass-produced jug wines made in California’s Central Valley. Napa Valley’s AVA was established in 1983, and today there are 16 sub-appellations within the Napa Valley AVA. Many grapes grow well in Napa’s Mediterranean climate, but the region is best known for Cabernet Sauvignon. Chardonnay is also very successfully cultivated, and about 30% of the AVA’s acreage is planted to white grapes, with the majority of those grapes being Chardonnay,

This white variety originated in Burgundy, but is now grown around the world. Its flexibility to thrive in many regions translates to wide flavor profile in the market. Chardonnay is commonly used in making Champagne and sparkling wines.