The WineShinken means "quiet forest" in Japanese, and it is the name for this minimally-oaked Chardonnay from the Cunat family's estate vineyard.
Miki Cunat is of Japanese descent. Working with winemaker Chelsea Barrett, they designed a line of Napa Valley wines that compliment the fresh flavors of Japanese Cuisine. Chardonnay lovers and haters will both be amazed by this wine in a blind tasting - it's crisp mouth feel and nearly total lack of oak influence allow the fruit/vineyard to take the lead role resulting in a surprisingly refreshing wine I heartily recommend for a wide variety of foods. Aromas of lemon peel, pineapple, and white peach are at the heart, and its lightly creamy texture and subtle notes of baking spices add enticing complexity.
The Winery
The full name of the winery is Materra Cunat Family Vineayards, named for Brian Cunat and his wife, Miki. Miki's father owned a European-influenced restaurant in Japan, exposing her to fine wines as a young adult. Brian came to wine from his roots as a farmer in the Midwest, and wasn't exposed to fine wine until his Father-in-law helped him develop an appreciation.
The family's 50-acre vineyard is on the Oak Knoll District, a part of Napa known for being a cool sub-zone. The word Materrra (Mother Earth in Latin, roughly) is the concept that guides the family's farming choics, as they seek every opportunity to deploy sustainable practices in the vineyard and the winery.
The Winemaker
Chelsea Barrett's father, Bo, has been making wine at Chateau Montelena with his family since 1972. Her mom, Heidi, easily one of the world’s best winemakers, helped launch too many cult wines to name here (a few notable labels include Screaming Eagle, Dalla Valle, Grace Family, Paradigm and her own brands La Sirena and Amuse Bouche).
Chelsea grew up working in the Montelena cellar and vineyard and was drawn into winemaking by her love of food, chemistry, and art, graduating from UC Davis in 2010 with a degree in Viticulture and Enology.
Wisely, instead of immediatley joining the family business, she interned in Austria, Australia, and at Opus One in Napa Valley. She then worked for Joel Gott Wines until 2017, the year she also joined Heidi as co-winemaker for Amuse Bouche and Au Sommet. Not wanting any grass to grow under her feet, Chelsea collaborated with her mother and sister to co-create the "Aviatrix" label, a nod to Heidi's love of flying helicopters.
