A Lithe Expression of High-Elevation Chardonnay
A26 illustrates the impact of microclimate on wine character. In the peak of the summer season, cold nighttime air flows down the mountain slopes and collects atop several of the estate’s upper benchland sites, dramatically mitigating the heat of the day. Beginning in the late 1980s, Chardonnay was planted in these parcels to take advantage of this unique cooling phenomenon, and the result is white wines of tension and vibrancy.
Today, the A26 Chardonnay exhibits a combination of depth and freshness, balanced by a purity of fruit. Barrel fermentation in 100% new French oak adds a subtle and well-integrated richness during the wine’s development. The juxtaposition of cold nights and sun-drenched days over the growing season shape this wine into an elegant and refined example of mountain Chardonnay.
A26 is named for Marchese Antinori’s three daughters, Albiera, Allegra, and Alessia, and for the depth and freshness this 26th generation brings to Antinori Napa Valley legacy.