The 2013 Franciscan Estate Nape Valley Chardonnay is, like too many Napa Chardonnays, over-oak and scored 14+ points on the Dionysian Scale of 20.
By itself, it’s easy to drink and a prime example of the “modern Californian style.” But as a food wine, as is the emphasis of this wine-site, and a goal of all Dionysian members, the Franciscan misses the mark with excessive oak over buttery tropical frunits and a too heavy body.
This modern style of over-oaking hurts what could have been a beautiful wine.
It over-powered the fish, but the meal was outstanding! Joanne gets better each evening cooking to challenge me to pair wines with her creations. It’s well worth the time and trouble and we both continue to learn. For about $20, the 13.5% alcohol wine was a bit over-powering. However, some places in Napa are changing back to the classic food-styled wines of the past. In vino veritas.
Baked sweet potato with yellow and green Jersey string beans married to the fresh Atlantic flounder encrusted with break and panko crumbs garnished with a black-eyed Susan demanded a Chardonnay with minimum oak.
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