Haynes Vineyard Forgeron Chardonnay Coombsville 2021

If you want to get a feel for what Napa Valley was like in the 70's, take a meandering drive through Coombsville. This understated AVA lies East of the town of Napa, and despite being just ten minutes from the nearest Target, the pace here feels slow, steady, and unchanged. When visiting, allow ample time for tractor crossings, and don't take any turn too fast, as these country roads are well-traveled by neighbors who have been walking the same loop for fifty years.

This mundane drum of country life fuels some of the most historic and revered vineyards in the valley. Likely, the most well-known of this pedigree is the Haynes Vineyard. From 1885 to 2019, the Haynes Family took loving care of this special vineyard. The family purchased it in 1885 from Nathan Coombs, the founder of the city of Napa, for $3,135 in gold coins. The 43-acre property saw many versions of business - cattle grazing, prune orchards, and fruit trees. In 1967, the Haynes family planted their first 20 acres of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir under the guidance of the great  André Tchelistcheff. Today, about 5 acres of these original plantings still stand and are most likely the oldest vines of both varietals in Napa Valley.

In 2019, the Haynes family sold to Gaylon Lawrence, and the vineyard embarked on its third chapter. For the first time in its 140-year history, the Haynes Vineyard has become a brand with estate wines that intend to rival the quality of great Burgundy. Under the leadership of Master Sommelier Carlton McCoy and the winemaking genius of Nico Cueva, a new era of Napa history begins, and we are beyond thrilled to share that ACME is the very first retailer to offer these soon-to-be cult classics!

With the vision of creating a Chardonnay that could withstand the test of a Burgundian palate, Nico pressed the fruit hard in order to extract as many solids as possible into the fermentation. The wine was fermented in custom oval casks that lay down sideways so that the lees and solids have maximum contact with the juice during fermentation. To our knowledge, this is not a technique used anywhere else in the valley. Because the Haynes Vineyard is such a cold growing site, the acid here is electric, and so Nico's goal was to balance that out with texture rather than oak. The resulting wine is mineral-driven with a broad texture that is sliced down the middle of your palate by an explosive amount of acidity. Will undoubtedly age for 8+ years in your cellar and is redefining the potential for Napa Valley's Chardonnay palate!