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Franciscan Chardonnay 2013 Wine Review

Franciscan Chardonnay 2013

Franciscan Chardonnay 2013

Napa Valley, California, United States

Community Score:88/100

Community Reviews: 18

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Price: $25.95

Drink: 2014-2017

Bottle size: 750 ml

Alcohol: 13.5%

Sweetness: Extra Dry

Wine Type: White Wine


Winery: Franciscan

Agent: Arterra Wines Canada Inc.

Natalie's Score: 88/100

Loaded with butter, butterscotch, caramel, and toffee-vanilla from generous oak aging. Full-bodied and luscious with fleshy peach emerging on the palate. Finishes smoky. Pair with roast chicken.

Chardonnay food pairings: barbecued chicken, pasta with white sauce, fruit and cheese platter.

Profound Pasta and Cream Sauce Wine

This Franciscan Chardonnay 2013 was reviewed on September 5, 2015 by Natalie MacLean

More Vintages: 2016  2015  2012  2007  2006 

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Pricing & Stock Information

Reviews and Ratings

Lynn van der Linde - Certified Sommelier rated this wine as 91/100 with the following review:

A divine Chardonnay from Napa! Aromas of butterscotch and roasted pears follow through on the palate, with a wonderful lingering butter finish that will have you coming back for more. Pair with maple glazed salmon.
Matt Steeves - Certified Sommelier rated this wine as 91/100 with the following review:

A terrific Napa Chardonnay! Lovely apple, caramel, and brioche notes. The palate is rich and refreshing. A terrific effort by Franciscan Estate winery. If you like big and refreshing Chardonnay, this is the one for you. Tasted April 2015. 90+ points. Matt Steeves - www.quercusvino.ca
Astrid Young - Sommelier ISG CAPS rated this wine as 91/100 with the following review:

Nicely toasted oak, buttery notes and Boston cream pie on the nose, slightly floral. Palate echoes the nose with delightfully creamy toffee and nutty nuances, and well balanced acidity that lifts some of the florals. Decent finish, very pleasant. Worth it. Grilled monkfish with a fennel cream sauce, or a supreme stuffed with spinach garlic and chèvre, grilled beets with chevre and hazelnut emulsion. Yummy.
Douglas McMillan rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

The aromas of this Chardonnay grabbed me right away. Creamy, but with bright apple and lemon notes and tropical fruit as well as vanilla and caramel. As with the aroma, the taste is creamy but has bright fruit character, mainly apricot, pear, and yellow apple. There are the usual butter and caramel notes as well, balanced very well.
Jessica DiFruscia rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

Nice oak presence with good acidity. Finish had a bit of a bite.
Jane LeFresne rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

Aromas of butterscotch, butter, lemon, vanilla. Flavours of lemon, vanilla, butter. A nice Chardonnay for a special occasion. Pair with creamy pasta.
David Skinner rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

Pale yellow and clean. Oak character dominates the initial nose but pleasantly so. The fruit aromas lean to the lighter side of the spectrum with apple, pear and slight citrus integrated with a nutty accent and some butterscotch. Medium bodied and well balanced. Acidity is high but offsets the oak nicely. A solid finish and very pleasant on its own or with food.

Grilled portabello mushrooms or white pizza would be nice with this good value wine or salmon on the BBQ.
Jane Staples - Certified Sommelier rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

A very enjoyable Chard with an enticing nose of tropical fruit, toasty oak and butterscotch. A rich buttery palate repeats and after decanting 30 minutes, blossoms and adds a slight floral aspect along with vanilla. Juicy mouthfeel, well-balanced and a long tropical / butterscotch finish.
Terry Jeans - Certified S rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

A very aromatic, full-bodied chardonnay from California. Beautiful nose of caramel, apple, smoke and vanilla, with an equally impressive flavours. This would be perfect with a roast chicken or buttery pop-corn.
Kristin Perrin rated this wine as 89/100 with the following review:

Smokey minerality, butterscotch, vanilla, pear / apple combo on the nose
All echoed on the palate, full bodied, surprisingly medium acidity, lengthy warm finish.

This will help some Delice de Bourgogne buttery creamy cheese melt in your mouth.
Sean O'Regan - Certified Sommelier rated this wine as 89/100 with the following review:

Fermented and aged on the lees in small barrel, this Napa Chard has apple, spice, pear and flinty mineral notes out of the glass. The palate is rich and creamy with, pear, apple, vanilla, spice and tropical notes on the toasty finish. Everything you would expect from a buttery Napa Chard. Pair with dry rubbed roast chicken or white cream sauces. Feb 1, 2015
Craig Kuziemsky rated this wine as 88/100 with the following review:

Carmel, vanilla, pear and apple on the nose and palate. Finishes with some oak and minerality.
Jennifer Havers - WSET Level 3 rated this wine as 88/100 with the following review:

Rich and fragrant aromas of caramel and vanilla along with peach and citrus notes. Balanced, medium to full bodied and a longer finish. Perfect for your next roasted chicken with lemon and herbs.
Valérie Dufour - Accredited Sommelier rated this wine as 86/100 with the following review:

Vanilla on the nose. Nice smooth mouth with matter and "fat". A wine to accompany a nice salmon dinner.
Monique Sosa - Accredited Sommelier rated this wine as 86/100 with the following review:

Interesting Napa Chard. Subtle aromas and a nice blend of apples (puckering Granny Smiths), pear, lemongrass, pink grapefruit and a hint of mineral (steely). The oak is subtle and to non-existent. Light to medium body, high acidy and a medium length lemony grapefruit finish. Pair with grilled shrimp, planked salmon, grilled bacon wrapped scallops.... Lots of seafood options.
Philippe Perreault - Sommelier rated this wine as 80/100 with the following review:

Clear yellow color.

Aromas of green apple, butter, vanilla and oak.

The wine is nerve, buttery and long.

Pair it with pasta with white sauce or BBQ chicken.

Serve it at 10-12 degrees.

Ready to drink but can be aged 2-3 years.

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