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Search Flickinger Wine Inventory
Inventory updated: Sat, Oct 25, 2025 11:02 AM cst
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Regions: USA White
| Producer |
Vint. |
Wine |
Price |
Qty |
Order |
| | USA White |
| 00Wines |
2021 |
VGW Vyd. Chardonnay  |
$72 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 94 (1/2024): The 2021 Chardonnay VGW is dusty and floral, with a nuanced bouquet of lemon oils, nectarine and crushed stone. It’s soft and luxuriously round. Stimulating acidity balances a pretty inner sweetness as mineral-tinged orchard fruits saturate the palate. This finishes long and sapid with a spicy tension as hints of candied citrus slowly fade. The balance within is absolutely fantastic. If served blind, my mind would immediately go to Premier Cru white Burgundy. (Drink between 2024-2029). Eric Guido.
JD 94 (9/2023): A ripe youthful yellow hue, the 2021 Chardonnay VGW is fantastic out of the gates, with ripe aromas of white smoke, lemon balm, salty earth, and white peach. From all volcanic soils, the 2021 Chardonnay VGW is ripe through the palate with generous notes of salted pineapple fruit and a rounded feel, although it’s clean as a whistle and has a fresh lift of acidity. It is drinking wonderfully now and will drink well over the next 5-7 years. Audrey Frick.
WA 92 (7/2024): The 2021 Chardonnay VGW comes from grapes harvested September 10–24. The wine was matured for 12 months in 29% new Chassin, Damy and Billon barrels, plus an additional six months in stainless steel. On the nose, white peaches are accented by honeycomb, roasted almonds and honeysuckle. The palate pairs concentrated, honeyed fruit with mouthwatering acidity and a silky texture, and it has a gently perfumed, ethereal finish. Give it a couple of hours in a decanter. |
|
| Accendo Cellars |
2021 |
Sauvignon Blanc |
$72.95 |
10 |
|
| |
| VM 94 (2/2023): The 2021 Sauvignon Blanc is bright, focused and beautifully delineated. Lime, white flowers, green apple and white pepper all come alive in steely, finely cut Sauvignon Blanc that is loaded with character. Above all else, I loved the precision here . Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2022 |
Sauvignon Blanc |
$69.95 |
10 |
|
| |
VM 94 (12/2023): The 2022 Sauvignon Blanc is fabulous, especially for a year that was so dry and warm. Light on its feet and gracious, with sublime balance, the 2022 is seriously impressive. Lemon confit, sage, tobacco, mint and dried flowers all grace this impeccable Sauvignon Blanc. Antonio Galloni.
JD 91-93 (12/2023): The 2022 Sauvignon Blanc (which is made by Francoise Peschon) includes a decent splash of Semillon, with the fruit mostly from Oakville. Bright lemon curd, honeyed white flowers, chalky minerality, and just a hint of tropical flowers all define the aromatics, and it's medium-bodied, with a clean, refreshing mouthfeel, good concentration, and a great finish. |
|
| Alpha Omega |
2018 |
Reserve Chardonnay |
$55 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 95 (1/2021): The 2018 Chardonnay Reserve showed nicely, with a Chassagne-Montrachet-like nose of white flowers, crushed stone, and caramelized stone and citrus fruits. Medium to full-bodied, it has a wonderful sense of purity and freshness, with more richness and length building with time in the glass. This fabulous, seamless Chardonnay from Jean will evolve for at least 5-7 years. (Drink between 2021-2028).
WA 94+ (11/2020): The 2018 Chardonnay Reserve bursts from the glass with tantalizing scents of fresh pineapple, apple pie and peach cobbler with hints of honeycomb, praline, creme caramel and orange blossom. The palate is full-on full-bodied and seductive, coating the mouth with decadent tropical fruits and baking spice flavors with a gorgeous satiny texture and great freshness, finishing with epic length. |
|
| Arrow & Branch |
2024 |
Sauvignon Blanc |
$68.99 |
12 |
|
| |
|
| Aubert |
2021 |
Eastside Chardonnay |
$129 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 96 (1/2024): The 2021 Chardonnay Eastside Vineyard is ample, rich and explosive, with tons of tropical character and to play off its resonant personality. Orange peel, spice, butter, passion fruit and a kiss of French oak fill out the layers. What a gorgeous and complete wine this is. Bright saline notes extend the finish effortlessly. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2022 |
Eastside Chardonnay |
$125 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 97 (7/2024): Scents of toasted hazelnuts, crushed stone, pear and tangerine appear on the nose of the 2022 Chardonnay Eastside, from a chert-rich Windsor vineyard planted in 2006 to a Montrachet selection. It's full-bodied, generous and plush without being weighty, then intense and crisp on the lemon-lime finish, with echoes reminiscent of white pepper and ginger. Matured in 68% new heavy-toast French oak, it has absorbed those flavors admirably.
VM 96 (1/2024): The 2022 Chardonnay Eastside Vineyard is a complex, racy wine. Oily and viscous, with a touch of reduction, the Eastside is a wonderfully complex, layered wine. Lemon confit, white flowers, mint, ripe pear and a kiss of French oak abound. This is a stellar Chardonnay from Mark Aubert. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2023 |
Eastside Chardonnay |
$135 |
3 |
|
| |
|
|
2022 |
Larry Hyde and Sons Vyd. Carneros Chardonnay |
$139 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 94 (7/2024): From a block planted to a selection from Corton-Charlemagne, the 2022 Chardonnay Larry Hyde & Sons delivers aromas of honeyed citrus and complex spice notes—even a hint of ginger—plus notes of melon and pear. It's medium to full-bodied, plump, generous and expansive on the palate, then pulls itself together and tightens up on the finish.
VM 95 (1/2024): The 2022 Chardonnay Hyde Vineyard is elegant, gracious and beautifully lifted. This is an especially floral, refined version of Hyde, made all the more remarkable because this was the last fruit picked in 2022. It's a style I find quite appealing. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2023 |
Larry Hyde and Sons Vyd. Carneros Chardonnay |
$145 |
7 |
|
| |
| VM 94-96 (12/2024): The 2023 Chardonnay Hyde Vineyard is super-refined and polished. This was the last pick in 2023. Apricot, dried pear, chamomile, mint, tangerine peel and lightly honeyed notes all grace this exquisite, nuanced Chardonnay. (Drink between 2026-2035). Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2023 |
Lauren Sonoma Coast Chardonnay |
$239 |
7 |
|
| |
| VM 97-100 (12/2024): The 2023 Chardonnay Lauren is the quintessential Mark Aubert wine. Rich, layered and wonderfully dynamic in the glass, the 2023 is another super-complete wine. The Lauren is marked by strong mineral, earthy and savory notes that require bottle age to be at their most expressive. (Drink between 2026-2035). Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2022 |
Park Avenue Chardonnay |
$149 |
7 |
|
| |
WA 96 (7/2024): From a densely planted (2,044 vines per acre with spacing of 3.5 feet x six feet) property adjacent to the Lauren site, Aubert's 2022 Chardonnay Park Avenue offers up gentle notes of toasted hazelnut, brioche and almond, plus lime, pear and melon. It's full-bodied, with waves of upfront fruit and generous on the mid-palate, then crisp and focused on the lingering finish.
VM 94 (1/2024): The 2022 Chardonnay Park Avenue is laced with hints of orange confit, passion fruit and jasmine. This is one of the more exotic Chardonnays in the range, especially aromatically. The 2022 is a bit less generous on the palate, but that should come with time. (Drink between 2025-2032). Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2023 |
Powder House Chardonnay |
$139 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 95-97 (12/2024): The 2023 Chardonnay Powder House is another of the more floral, weightless wines in this range. Chalk, mint, white pepper, crushed rocks, sage and mint lead into a core of white orchard fruit, lemon oil and marzipan. I especially admire its energy and overall vibrancy here. Saline notes confer freshness on the close. (Drink between 2026-2035). Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2023 |
Russian River Chardonnay |
$109 |
9 |
|
| |
|
|
2023 |
UV-SL Vyd. Chardonnay |
$135 |
9 |
|
| |
| VM 95-97 (12/2024): The 2023 Chardonnay UV-SL Vineyard is delicate and sensual in the glass. White flowers, tangerine oil, mint, lemon confit and light tropical accents take shape. Rich yet light on its feet, the 2023 UV-SL is sublime. Lifted floral overtones grace the sensual finish. This is all refinement. (Drink between 2026-2035). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Bennet Valley Cellars |
2016 |
Bin 5757 Sonoma Chardonnay |
$28.99 |
6 |
|
| |
|
| CHEV |
2022 |
Russian River Valley Chardonnay |
$45 |
3 |
|
| |
|
| Convene (Dan Kosta) |
2021 |
Russian River Valley Chardonnay |
$39.99 |
51 |
|
| |
|
| Copain Wines |
2015 |
Dupratt Vyd. Chardonnay |
$39 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 92 (4/2018): The 2015 Chardonnay DuPratt Vineyard is quite powerful and dense, but still very much within the understated style that is such a Copain signature. Pear, smoke, slate and flinty notes all flesh out in this textured, nuanced Chardonnay from Copain. The DuPratt is one of the more generous, creamy wines in the range. There is plenty of energy, but the DuPratt also has an extra kick of textural depth to balance things out. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2011 |
Laureles Grade Chardonnay |
$38.50 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 90 (5/2014): Light, bright yellow. Vibrant pear and Meyer lemon aromas are complicated by anise, ginger and smoky minerals. Dry, nervy and precise, offering intense orchard and pit fruit flavors and a touch of bitter herbs. A chalky mineral quality adds bite to the finish, which shows excellent clarity and floral persistence. I was reminded of serious Macon and Chablis wines while I tasted this stony, bracing chardonnay. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
| Cornell |
2018 |
Chardonnay |
$35 |
3 |
|
| |
|
| Diatom |
2022 |
Santa Barbara County Chardonnay |
$19.99 |
32 |
|
| |
VM 93 (9/2023): The 2022 Chardonnay (Santa Barbara County) is stellar. Powerful and textured, the 2022 is super-expressive from the very first taste. Even with very short élevage and blocked malolactic fermentation, the 2022 possesses tons of depth. Lemon confit, marzipan, white flowers and tangerine oil are all beautifully amplified. All of this fruit is from Mission Hills in Los Alamos. Greg Brewer did a fabulous job with the 2022. With a production of 17,000 cases and a price of just $25, the Diatom Chardonnay is both delicious and a tremendous value. Bravo. Antonio Galloni.
WA 93 (12/2023): The 2022 Chardonnay, vinified without malolactic conversion and matured in stainless steel, opens with inviting aromas of quince, white peaches, toasted meringue and citrus blossom streaked with hints of matchstick and saline. The medium-bodied palate balances ripe, floral fruit with focused acidity, and a touch of textural breadth lengthens the finish. It combines the verve of Chablis with the ripeness of California. It deserves 2-3 years in bottle to unwind.
JD 91 (8/2023): Made by Greg Brewer and a smoking value, the 2022 Diatom has vibrant citrus and tart pineapple-like notes as well as a medium-bodied, seamless, silky style on the palate. It's a joy to drink already yet has complexity, layers, and depth, and is a beautiful Chardonnay. The 2022 comes 85% from the Mission Hills Vineyard and 15% from Bar-M (Los Alamos), both in Santa Barbara County, and it was fermented and aged in stainless steel tanks, with malolactic fermentation blocked. |
|
| Donelan |
2015 |
Venus Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$119 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 88 (6/2019): The 2015 Venus is cut from the same cloth yet doesn’t have the texture or density of the 2014. White currants, white peach, and citrus notes as well as a touch of salty minerality all emerge from this medium-bodied, elegant, streamlined white that’s going to continue drinking nicely for another 7-8 years (probably longer). |
|
|
2016 |
Venus Proprietary Blend |
$40 |
8 |
|
| |
JD 92 (6/2018): The 2016 Venus is a Roussanne-dominated white that includes 5% Viognier, sourced mostly from the Dry Stack Vineyard (the Viognier comes from the Kobler Vineyard). It offers clean, pure, vibrant Roussanne notes of white currants, white flowers, and citrus to go with a steely, focused style on the palate. A classic example of this variety, it’s going to benefit from a year in bottle and keep for a decade or more. This is another brilliant lineup of wines from the Donelan Family, with the wines made by Joe Nielson. While their estate Obsidian Vineyard was lost in the fires last year, they’re already in the process of planning and replanting the site, and I was thrilled to taste through a small retrospective from what’s unquestionably one of the great terroirs in California. Looking at the 2015s, which are by and large the current releases, these are structured, tannic wines that are going to benefit from short term cellaring.
WA 91 (6/2018): A blend of 95% Roussanne and 5% Viognier, the 2016 Venus opens with gorgeous white peach, spiced pears and apple tart with touches of orange blossom and beeswax. Medium to full-bodied with a lovely satiny texture and great freshness, it finishes long and spicy. 200 cases were made.
VM 90 (4/2018): The 2016 Venus is a classy, understated Roussanne-based white. The apricot, floral and chamomile notes are nicely delineated. This is an especially hushed white that speaks softly. Silky and nuanced, the Venus is all class. (Drink between 2018-2023). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Donum |
2021 |
Carneros Reserve Chardonnay |
$75 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 92 (7/2023): Taking on a bit of smokiness, the 2021 Chardonnay Carneros Reserve is perfumed with incense and ripe with peach, melon, and vanilla bean. Fleshy and round, with a silky texture and notes of buttered pear and toasted sweet baking spice, it’s long on the palate and made in a ripe, fleshy style to drink over the next few years. |
|
|
2021 |
Ferguson Chardonnay |
$65 |
4 |
|
| |
| JD 94 (7/2023): The 2021 Chardonnay Ferguson has a nice balance of ripeness and freshness, with flinty reduction, fresh melon rind, and lemon curd. Medium to full-bodied, it displays good balance in its notes of almond, orange peel, and fresh pear. It retains both the sunny ripeness and sense of place of Carneros, while having a lifted and Burgundian-like appeal for its freshness and snap. Drink 2024-2030. (Drink between 2024-2030). Audrey Frick. |
|
|
2021 |
Goldfields Chardonnay |
$60 |
9 |
|
| |
| JD 90 (7/2023): A rich golden hue, the 2021 Chardonnay Goldfields was fermented in concrete and tank on the skins. Aromatic of resinous herbs, chamomile, and yellow pear, a savory tone emerges, revealing aromas of yellow apple, hay, and dried herbs. Full-bodied, with ample ripe texture and notes of apricot, ripe melon, and honeyed citrus, the finish lends a bit of almond skin texture with pithy orange. Drink this over the next several years. Audrey Frick. |
|
|
2021 |
Russian River Valley Chardonnay |
$60 |
6 |
|
| |
| JD 93 (7/2023): The 2021 Chardonnay Russian River Valley pours a youthful yellow hue with ripe tropical fresh fruit aromas as well as the delicate oak spice of vanilla bean, honeysuckle, and fresh pear. Ripe with fresh peach, honeyed yellow apple, and fresh flowers, it has an attractive silky texture and freshness throughout. Drink 2023-2028. (Drink between 2023-2028). Audrey Frick. |
|
| Fingers Crossed |
2019 |
Happily Ever After White Wine |
$249 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 99 (8/2021): Starting with the 2019 White, a blend of 60% Chardonnay and 40% Roussanne, it offers a rich, gold hue as well as an utterly sensational bouquet of ripe stone fruits, honeysuckle, flower oil, tangerine, and hazelnuts. Reminding me slightly of a blockbuster Chardonnay from Mark Aubert, it’s full-bodied and has a deep, layered texture and a great finish. This is heavenly juice. |
|
|
2020 |
Head Held High White Wine |
$159 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 96-98 (8/2022): I was able to taste two vintages of this estate's whites, both brilliant. The 2020 White Head Held High, which is still resting in barrel, is a Chardonnay-dominated blend that includes 12% Roussanne and 8% Marsanne. It has a brilliant nose of ripe pineapple, orange blossom, flower oil, and honeysuckle. This carries to a medium to full-bodied, round, mouth-filling, yet still pure and precise white that has a singular character. It's a great wine in the making. |
|
|
2022 |
Life and Death White Wine |
$174 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Folded Hills |
2019 |
Ballard Canyon Roussanne |
$25 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Force Majeure |
2011 |
Force Majeure Vyd. Collaboration Series Viognier |
$28 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 89 (12/2012): Like its predecessor (which represented the debut of fruit from their steep estate site), Force Majeure’s 2011 Viognier takes two-thirds of its fruit from neighboring Ciel du Cheval. It was vinified by Mike MacMorran of Mark Ryan Winery in older barriques plus a 25% share in same-sized stainless steel “barrels” (though future installments will employ egg-shaped concrete vessels), with lees stirring and with malolactic transformation blocked on some of them. Scents of acacia and honeysuckle, pear and honeydew melon as well as intimations of cress anticipate inner-mouth florality, juicy fruit, and faint prickle that combine with a glycerol-rich, subtly creamy texture. A bitter note not unfamiliar from this grape is slightly discordantly superimposed over tartness of green apple in an otherwise persistently ripely-fruited finish. My suspicion is that this will be best drunk over the next 12-18 months. |
|
| Futo |
2022 |
Seta Sauvignon Blanc |
$125 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 93 (12/2023): The 2022 Sauvignon Blanc Seta is terrific. Lemon peel, mint, white flowers and crushed rocks abound in a gorgeous Sauvignon Blanc that offers tons of depth and varietal character while avoiding excessively green notes. Sage, tomato leaf, mint and lemon peel linger. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Gambal Work |
2017 |
Santa Rita Hills Chardonnay ex-Domaine |
$43.99 |
54 |
|
| |
| WS 90 (4/2021): Lithe and rich-tasting, with apple pastry and ripe pear flavors that show refined buttery notes. Very toasty on the finish, with creamy accents. Drink now. 175 cases made. |
|
| Girasole |
2017 |
Mendocino Chardonnay |
$9.99 |
11 |
|
| |
|
|
2019 |
Mendocino Chardonnay |
$10 |
60 |
|
| |
|
| Grand Cru |
2019 |
California Chardonnay |
$5.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Hartford |
2022 |
Russian River Valley Chardonnay |
$25.99 |
11 |
|
| |
| JD 92 (6/2024): Coming from across the neighborhoods of the Russian River Valley, the 2022 Chardonnay Russian River Valley is ripe with aromas of toasted spice, orange rind, preserved lemon, honeysuckle, and baked apples. Full-bodied, with a ripe, classic feel, it has a nice, rounded mouthfeel and offers a lovely sense of place. Drink 2024-2030. (Drink between 2024-2030) Audrey Frick. |
|
| Hendry |
2014 |
Barrel Fermented Chardonnay Nicked Capsule, Exposed Cork |
$20 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2015 |
Unoaked Chardonnay |
$20 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2017 |
Unoaked Chardonnay |
$20 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Hillick & Hobbs |
2019 |
Estate Vineyard Dry Riesling |
$29 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Hirsch Vineyards |
2019 |
Sonoma Coast Chardonnay |
$45.50 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 93 (8/2021): The lightly hued 2019 Chardonnay Sonoma Coast offers lots of minerality as well as terrific citrus, mint, and sappy green herb-like aromatics. These all carry over to the palate, where the wine is medium-bodied, has bright acidity, and a salty, marine-like hint on the finish. It's beautifully done and well worth seeking out. It should have 7-8 years or more of longevity, probably longer.
VM 93 (1/2022): The 2019 Chardonnay is bright and sculpted in feel. Lemon peel, sage, white, flowers, mint and crushed rocks abound. This is an especially savory expression of Chardonnay. The 2019 spent 10-11 months in oak, about 20% new. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2020 |
Sonoma Coast Chardonnay |
$48.30 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 92 (7/2022): The 2020 Chardonnay Estate is scented of baked yellow apples, beeswax and flint, with undertones of green herbs. The full-bodied palate offers concentrated, honeyed fruits, tangy acidity and a long, textural finish.
JD 94+ (8/2022): The 2020 Chardonnay Sonoma Coast is mineral-driven, with crushed seashell, lemon pith, and chive. The palate is fresh with white peach, ripe pear, and honeysuckle. The texture is medium-bodied, soft, and fresh, with a wonderful elegance. Drink it over the next 8-10 years.Located in Fort Ross, overlooking the Pacific Ocean, David Hirsch purchased his estate in 1978 and planted his first vines in 1980. The 2019 vintage, which was predominantly what was shown to me, marks the first vintage with his daughter, Jasmine Hirsch, taking the lead as winemaker for the estate. They have been practicing biodynamic viticulture since 2011 and were fully converted over in 2014. Their focus and attention is on the site, resulting in wines that offer elegance and purity, with transparency in regard to their sense of place. |
|
| Paul Hobbs |
2020 |
Ellen Lane Estate Chardonnay |
$75 |
3 |
|
| |
| VM 92 (1/2022): The 2020 Chardonnay Ellen Lane Estate is bright and airy, with lovely aromatic presence to match its gracious personality. Orchard fruit, white flowers, mint and orange peel are all nicely lifted. This is the last vintage for the Ellen Lane at Paul Hobbs. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2020 |
George Menini Chardonnay |
$65 |
2 |
|
| |
VM 92 (1/2022): The 2020 Chardonnay George Menini Estate is a new wine in this range. It emerges from the 38-acre parcel in the Russian River that was once an apple orchard, as many ranches here were. In this tasting, the Menini stands out for its creaminess and texture. Dried apricot, chamomile, dried flowers, orange peel and spice build into the layered finish. This is a strong debut, especially considering the challenging vintage. Antonio Galloni.
JD 95 (8/2022): The 2020 Chardonnay George Menini Estate is lifted with fresh tarragon, flint, and candied green apple. The palate is all about its chalky mineral texture and vibrant energy. Not to confuse this with losing balance or feeling underripe, it has plenty of fruit, with lemon confit, fresh green apple, and a touch of warming baking spice. Allow another year or two in cellar and drink 2023-2034.
WA 95 (10/2023): The 2020 Chardonnay George Menini Estate is the first iteration of this single-vineyard wine from Paul Hobbs, from a vineyard that he recently purchased. Previously an apple orchard, it was planted to 39 acres of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in 2015, mostly with heritage selections like Wente and Hudson. The vines are dry farmed in classic Goldridge soils. "The newer vineyards that I purchase are in cooler pockets, so I don't have to acidulate," Hobbs explains. "It has become a hallmark in the quest for vineyards, and the need to dry farm." Matured for 15 months in 30% new oak, it has very pretty scents of white peach, honey, crushed almonds and flint. The light-bodied palate is silky with expansive flavors foiled by focused acidity, and it finishes with a touch of anchoring textural grip. 491 cases produced. |
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|
2021 |
Richard Dinner Vyd. Chardonnay |
$79 |
3 |
|
| |
VM 93 (8/2023): The 2021 Chardonnay Richard Dinner Vineyard is a very pretty, expressive wine. Savory, earthy and mineral notes are front and center, while the fruit is more pushed back into the background. This nuanced, phenolic Chardonnay has plenty of character, but it is also pretty soft for this bottling. Antonio Galloni.
WA 96+ (10/2023): The 2021 Chardonnay Richard Dinner Vineyard was matured in 37% new French oak for nine months. It opens slowly as it spends time in the glass and will benefit from additional bottle time or a decant. Apricot, peach and honey are accented by touches of flint and mushroom, and the light-bodied palate is highly concentrated yet racy. It has pure, expressive flavors, shimmery mineral character and a very long, lively finish. |
|
| Jonata Winery |
2017 |
La Flor de Jonata Sauvignon Blanc |
$30 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 94 (9/2019): The 2017 Flor is expressive and caressing, with soft contours and terrific balance. Yellow orchard fruit, sage, mint, orange peel and apricot all meld together in a wine of superb balance and class. Quite simply, 2017 is a great vintage for Flor, Jonata's Bordeaux-inspired dry white. (Drink between 2019-2025). Antonio Galloni.
JD 91 (10/2019): A blend of 90% Sauvignon and 10% Semillon, the 2017 Flor has a pretty, classic bouquet of crushed citrus, lemon zest, white flowers, and crushed rock-like minerality. It's clean, beautifully balanced, has nicely integrated acidity, and a clean, crisp finish. It's going to keep for upwards of a decade if you're so inclined. |
|
| Kenzo Estate |
2020 |
Asatsuyu Sauvignon Blanc (375 ML) |
$41.65 |
7 |
|
| |
| WA 91+ (11/2021): Composed of 96% Sauvignon Blanc and 4% Semillon, the 2020 Sauvignon Blanc Asatsuyu bursts with vibrant lemon curd, fresh grapefruit and white peach scents plus hints of dill seed, chopped herbs and lime blossoms. Medium-bodied, intense and delicately styled, the palate delivers a restrained, quiet intensity and long, zesty finish. |
|
|
2020 |
Muku White Wine (375 ML) |
$41.65 |
3 |
|
| |
|
| Kistler |
2022 |
Durell Vyd. Chardonnay |
$149 |
3 |
|
| |
VM 96 (1/2024): The 2022 Chardonnay Durell Vineyard is ample and creamy in the glass, with striking nuance. A vivid and expressive wine, the Durrell marries brightness with textural resonance. Citrus confit, white flowers, spice, tangerine peel and mint fill out the layers. There's a lot to like. (Drink between 2024-2032). Antonio Galloni.
JD 94 (6/2024): The 2022 Chardonnay Durell Vineyard is a ripe yellow color and starts to take on a bit more complexity, with delicate notes of flint, green apples, candied lemon, and melon. It offers a delicate feel on the palate, with a kiss of sweet pear fruit through the midpalate, and floats away with a long, graceful finish. This site typically produces one of the fleshier of the wines from Kistler, but this vintage isn't heavy. It's ripe and quite elegant. Drink 2024-2030. Audrey Frick.
WA 93 (7/2024): The 2022 Chardonnay Durell Vineyard is delicate and tinkly. At this early stage, it sits low in the glass, focused on flint, iodine and candle smoke rather than its youthful lemon, pear and citrus blossom aromas. The light-bodied palate balances a gently creamy texture with bright, mouthwatering acidity. It features pure, saline-tinged flavors and has a long, perfumed finish. |
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|
2021 |
Hudson Vyd. Chardonnay |
$149 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 96 (8/2023): The 2021 Chardonnay Hudson Vineyard is bright and effusive as it soars from the glass. Yellow flowers, orchard fruit, mint, spice and a kiss of French oak lend notable aromatic presence. Deceptive in its mid-weight feel, the 2021 is classic Hudson in its flavor profile and overall feel. (Drink between 2024-2031). Antonio Galloni.
WA 95+ (8/2023): The 2021 Chardonnay Hudson Vineyard is powerful yet seamless, although it's youthfully coiled and deserves plenty of time to unfold in bottle. It's savory on the nose to begin, with wafts of iodine that give way to fresh citrus and peach. The medium-bodied palate is satiny and mouth-coating with concentrated lime-and-flint flavors counterbalanced by vibrant acidity, and it has a long, flavorful finish.
JD 95 (7/2023): Taking on a sunnier feel aromatically, the 2021 Chardonnay Hudson Vineyard is ripe with attractive aromas of orchard fruit, ripe lemon balm, and fresh herbs. The palate is ripe and full-bodied, with a rounded mouthfeel and notes of ripe apricot, orange, and fresh flowers as well as a bit of toasted spice. It’s approachable now or over the next 6-8 years. Audrey Frick. |
|
|
2022 |
Hudson Vyd. Chardonnay |
$149 |
2 |
|
| |
JD 95 (6/2024): A bright, youthful yellow hue with a tinge of green, the 2022 Chardonnay Hudson Vineyard is sunny with aromas of honey, golden apples, lemon curd, fresh yellow flowers, and a kiss of baking spice. It's full-bodied but gains intensity on the back palate without feeling heavy and has a great close. Warming but not heavy, it can be enjoyed over the next 8-10 years. Audrey Frick.
VM 95 (1/2024): The 2022 Chardonnay Hudson Vineyard is a very pretty, floral Chardonnay. I find it a touch closed today. White flowers, lemon peel, chalk, mint, dried herbs, sage and crushed rocks open with some reticence. This is one of the few Kistler 2022s that I would cellar for now. As always, the Hudson has a slightly reductive character. (Drink between 2024-2032). Antonio Galloni.
WA 94 (7/2024): The 2022 Chardonnay Hudson Vineyard is delicate and detailed. "Hudson can be big and powerful," winemaker Jason Kesner says. "This is a very different expression." It has a singular perfume of panna cotta, pear blossom, white pepper and cashew. The light-bodied palate is soft and silky with floral, spicy flavors. Its taut acidity gives it a shimmery feel, and it has a long, pure finish. |
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|
2021 |
Hyde Vyd. Chardonnay |
$149 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 97 (8/2023): The 2021 Chardonnay Hyde Vineyard is singular and expressive! Saline, lime candy, chalk and lemongrass aromas are underpinned by a pleasurable smoky reduction, and as it spends time in the glass, it continues to blossom and gain aromatic intensity. The palate is ethereal, seamless and silky, with a deep core of candied citrus fruit and chalky nuances that define the very long, very powerful finish. This vibrant, characterful Hyde Chardonnay will be long-lived in the cellar.
JD 97 (7/2023): A slightly bright yellow, the 2021 Chardonnay Hyde Vineyard has very pretty aromatics of lime blossom, fresh pear, and saline, and like the other Chardonnays from Kistler, it has a savory element to it. Medium to full-bodied, with a more delicate and ethereal nature, its floral perfume coaxes throughout the palate, with melon rind, white peach, and a hint of salty earth. Delivering fresh acidity and purity, it has fantastic lift and a more Chablis-like texture, with a note of crushed rock on the finish. Drink it over the next 10 or more years. Audrey Frick.
VM 95 (8/2023): The 2021 Chardonnay Hyde Vineyard is laced with the essence of tangerine oil, hazelnut, passionfruit, spice and lightly honeyed notes. All the exotic signature of Hyde come through loud and clear, but there's tons of energy too. I especially like how this opens with time. This is beautifully done. (Drink between 2024-2031). Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2022 |
Hyde Vyd. Chardonnay |
$149 |
5 |
|
| |
JD 96 (6/2024): Bright yellow/straw-hued, the 2022 Chardonnay Hyde Vineyard offers delicate notes of toasted spice as well as orange zest, flint, and golden apple. It offers fantastic levity and a haunting, weightless feel. It's a beautiful wine that's only going to improve if given time. Drink 2026-2036. Audrey Frick.
WA 95 (7/2024): After opening the 2022 Chardonnay Hyde Vineyard, it opened dramatically over several days. Saline, nori, white pepper and lemon aromas slowly give way to orange peel, apricot, beeswax and floral perfume on the nose. The palate's silky texture and powerfully concentrated fruit are foiled by mouthwatering acidity, and it has a vibrant, expressive finish. That pure, delicate expression is alluring, though it will be long-lived in the cellar.
VM 95 (1/2024): The 2022 Chardonnay Hyde Vineyard is a heady, exotic wine. Viscous and oily in the glass, the 2022 retains gorgeous freshness to balance things out. Lemon confit, spice, butter, apple tart and apricot build with a bit of time in the glass. This is classic Hyde, tempered by the personality of a cool year. (Drink between 2024-2032). Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2020 |
Laguna Ridge Vyd. Chardonnay (1.5 L) |
$295 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 97 (7/2022): Always one of my favorite cuvées from Kistler, the 2020 Chardonnay Laguna Ridge Vineyard has loads of personality and density. Struck match scents give way to white peaches, lime peel, jasmine, spring butter and pie spices, with a singular streak of alluring herbal character. The palate's mouth-coating, expansive texture and concentrated fruit are balanced by tangy acidity and flinty character on the long finish.
JD 96 (8/2022): Only produced in magnum, the 2020 Chardonnay Laguna Ridge Vineyard has classic aromatics with the addition of fresh mint and key lime. The palate is more taught with tension and more about its stony mineral texture than mid-palate weight. Long and persistent, this will need 2-4 years in bottle to unfurl and show its full potential, but it will be well worth the wait. Enjoy over the next 15 years. (Drink between 2022-2037). Audrey Frick.
VM 88 (1/2022): The 2020 Chardonnay Laguna Ridge (Magnum) has just enough depth to be interesting for a few years. Apricot, tropical fruit, sweet spice and honey are all signatures of a very warm and dry year. The short, abrupt finish suggests near-term drinking is the best course of action. (Drink between 2022-2026). Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2021 |
Laguna Ridge Vyd. Chardonnay (1.5 L) |
$295 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 98 (8/2023): The 2021 Chardonnay Laguna Ridge Vineyard is vibrant yet powerful. Bottled only in magnums, it opens slowly to wafts of matchstick and roasted almonds before revealing its core of lemon and apricot fruit. The medium-bodied palate features concentrated, expansive flavors that blossom dramatically from almonds to peach, spring honey and spice, yet its vibrant acidity creates a shimmery feel. It has a luxurious, satiny texture and a hauntingly long finish. Wow!
JD 98 (7/2023): Only produced in magnum, the 2021 Chardonnay Laguna Ridge Vineyard is pure and layered with aromatics of lemon curd, lime blossom, petrol, and green apple. Medium to full-bodied, with wonderful focus and tension, it’s all about that green apple. Its crunchy fruit and fresh, salty citrus make it absolutely delicious, and it offers exceptional balance and length, with ripe, sweet citrus that’s irresistible. Drink it over the next 15 years. Audrey Frick.
VM 97 (1/2023): The 2021 Chardonnay Laguna Ridge (bottled only in magnum) captures all the best the year had to give. Rich, explosive and wonderfully deep, the 2021 exudes concentration and structure from the very first taste. Crushed rocks, dried lemon peel, white flowers, mint, herbs and incense all build in the glass, with a light touch of reduction that extends into the finish. This complex, dynamic Chardonnay is a stunning wine by any measure. (Drink between 2024-2031). Antonio Galloni. |
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|
2021 |
McCrea Vyd. Athearn Estate Chardonnay |
$139 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 95+ (8/2023): The 2021 Chardonnay McCrea Vineyard has a powerful expression, with highly concentrated flavors and generous, juicy acidity. Wafts of iodine, seaweed and lemon peel give way to undertones of almonds and beeswax waiting to emerge. Medium-bodied and lively, the palate catches you off guard with its bursts of concentrated, grapefruit-tinged flavors, tangy acidity and satiny mouthfeel, and a touch of grip draws out the candied-citrus finish. It deserves 2-3+ years to unfold in bottle and will be long lived.
JD 95 (7/2023): A youthful golden hue, the 2021 Chardonnay McCrea Vineyard offers aromas of golden fruits, wet stone, chamomile, and pineapple rind. Medium to full-bodied, it has good energy throughout, with a chalky texture and ripe fruit of peach, orange zest, and a hint of savory saline. With fantastic warming spice and a finish that lasts for days, it’s well-balanced and long on the palate, with good freshness. Drink it over the next 10-12 years. Audrey Frick.
VM 94 (8/2023): The 2021 Chardonnay McCrea Vineyard is fabulous. Rich, deep and super-expressive, the 2021 offers a beguiling mix of intense mineral-driven savoriness with a tropical flair I don't recall seeing in this wine before. A Chardonnay of structure and intensity, the McCrea is superb in 2021. The density of low yields comes through loud and clear. This is a fabulous McCrea. As always, the vineyard designate wine emerges from portions of the vineyard with white volcanic soils, while blocks planted on reddish soils are used for the Sonoma Valley Chardonnay that is typically sold only into restaurants. (Drink between 2024-2031). Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2022 |
McCrea Vyd. Athearn Estate Chardonnay |
$139 |
4 |
|
| |
VM 94 (1/2024): The 2022 Chardonnay McCrea Vineyard is a pretty dense, savory wine defined by its phenolic character, always a signature of wines from Sonoma Mountain, especially in this low-yielding vintage. Tangerine oil, hazelnut, dried flowers and spice build in a textured, ample Chardonnay of notable pedigree. (Drink between 2024-2032). Antonio Galloni.
WA 93 (7/2024): The 2022 Chardonnay McCrea Vineyard is a bit youthfully disjointed at this stage. It has pure scents of yellow apple and spring butter with undertones of matchstick and iodine. The medium-bodied palate features ripe pineapple and citrus fruit. It balances mouth-coating phenolic grip with fireworks of fresh acidity and has a detailed finish. It opens up after an hour in the glass and will benefit from 3-5 years to harmonize in bottle.
JD 93 (6/2024): From the Athearn Estate, the ripe yellow-hued 2022 Chardonnay McCrea Vineyard is open knit and expressive already with notes of golden apples, honeyed citrus , and wet stones. Ripe and round, it has a savory element through the palate, with a delicate note of toasted spice. It will benefit from another 6 months in bottle, but this is showing well now and is going to have an open window for drinking over the next 6-8 years. Audrey Frick. |
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|
2022 |
Stock Ranch Chardonnay |
$169 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 96+ (7/2024): The Stock Ranch Chardonnay is a brand-new wine from a site Kistler first planted in 2016. Located on a ridge at 800 feet above the Bohemian Highway just north of the town of Occidental, it's influenced by both heat from Sonoma Valley and fog and coastal breezes from the Pacific Ocean. Since the beginning, this new site "had a pretty distinct personality," says winemaker Jason Kesner. Now, "The vines are mature, and it continues to raise its hand and ask to be noticed in the cellar." The 2022 Chardonnay Stock Ranch is detailed, dynamic and expressive. It opens with pure scents of saline and seashell, grapefruit and tangerine oil, white pepper and spice. The palate is arresting with its pure, ripe citrus and honey-nut layers and luxuriously silky texture. It's lent energy and a shimmery feel by a taut spine of acidity and finishes with tremendous length.
JD 96 (6/2024): Coming from a site that sees influences from both the coast and the valley (it sits around 8 miles in from the coast), the 2022 Chardonnay Stock Ranch pours a bright yellow hue and is all about its saline feel both on the nose and the palate. The first vintage for this wine, it has notes on the nose of lime and green apples followed by a weightless feel on the palate, but then there's a ripe side to the wine as well, with a custardy finish along with a savory, light umami touch. Medium to full-bodied, it's going to do well with another 2-3 years in the cellar and can be enjoyed over the following 8-10 years. Audrey Frick.
VM 96 (1/2024): The 2022 Chardonnay Stock Ranch is a new wine from Kistler. It emerges from a site near Occidental, on the border with the West Sonoma Coast. Deep, bold and luscious, the 2022 stands out from the rest of the wines in this range because of its textural depth and overall intensity. At the same time, the Stock Ranch has plenty of energy and overall structure. It's one of my favorites In the range. (Drink between 2024-2032). Antonio Galloni. |
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|
2021 |
Stone Flat Vyd. Sonoma Coast Chardonnay |
$139 |
3 |
|
| |
JD 96 (7/2023): Aromatically the 2021 Chardonnay Stone Flat Vineyard exhibits notes of gravelly earth, with Meyer lemon, and white flowers. On the palate, it takes on so much focus, with vibrant energy, and feels more linear in its approach, with driving citrus, lime, bright green apple, and a touch of nuttiness on the finish. It’s long and driving. Drink 2025-2034. Audrey Frick.
WA 95+ (8/2023): The 2021 Chardonnay Stone Flat Vineyard features alluring tones of spring honey, panna cotta, crushed almonds, jasmine and a core of white peach. The medium-bodied palate has a deeply concentrated core of peachy fruit balanced by a gentle chalkiness and refreshing bursts of tangy acidity. Powerful yet energetic, it has a long life ahead.
VM 94 (8/2023): The 2021 Chardonnay Stone Flat Vineyard is packed with the essence of tangerine oil, hazelnut, dried flowers, herbs and ripe apricot. Potent and layered, the Stone Flat is super-impressive right out of the gate. It's another wine with real density. All the elements are dialed up in 2021. Stone Flat is distinguished from Durell, which is adjacent, because of the use of 420A rootstock (versus 3309 at Durell). That, in the theory, results in a wine with lower pH and therefore higher acidity, but that is not the impression conveyed in tasting. (Drink between 2024-2031). Antonio Galloni. |
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|
2022 |
Stone Flat Vyd. Sonoma Coast Chardonnay |
$139 |
4 |
|
| |
JD 96 (6/2024): The 2022 Chardonnay Stone Flat Vineyard boasts a more floral bouquet of white flowers. It is more vertical on the palate, with a more persistent core of fresh acidity, a focused feel, and a note of delicate, toasty incense on the finish. It takes on a good deal of energy and is going to be an age-worthy wine. Very compelling, it's going to show its best over the next 10 years. (Drink between 2024-2034). Audrey Frick.
VM 96 (1/2024): The 2022 Chardonnay Stone Flat Vineyard is bright and nicely lifted. Airy and medium in body, the Stone Flat is a Chardonnay of sublime refinement and class. Citrus peel, white flowers, mint and crushed rocks are beautifully delineated. Pretty earthy undertones linger on the close. This is so elegant. (Drink between 2024-2032). Antonio Galloni.
WA 94 (7/2024): The 2022 Chardonnay Stone Flat Vineyard has pure, layered scents of peach, elderflower, panna cotta, matchstick and toast. The medium-bodied palate balances creamy fruit and a satiny texture with a taut spine of acidity, and it has a long, understated finish. |
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|
2021 |
Trenton Roadhouse Chardonnay |
$139 |
5 |
|
| |
JD 96 (7/2023): The 2021 Chardonnay Trenton Roadhouse pours a youthful golden hue and takes on a dramatically different profile in its notes of pineapple, fresh yellow flowers, and golden apple. Full-bodied, it has a rounded feel and great salinity, ripe salted pineapple, orange oil, and, and toasted spices. It’s long and round on the finish, which gives a hint of smoky incense. Drink this over the next 8-10 years. Audrey Frick.
VM 95 (8/2023): The 2021 Chardonnay Trenton Roadhouse is one of the more potent wines in this range. Fruit is pushed into the background in a Chardonnay that offers tons of mineral and savory intensity. Dried herbs, crushed flowers, rocks and chamomile lend nuance throughout. The Trenton Roadhouse is not an obvious wine, but it is still super-impressive. Here, too, the density of the vintage is very much apparent. (Drink between 2024-2031). Antonio Galloni.
WA 94+ (8/2023): The 2021 Chardonnay Trenton Roadhouse has delicate scents of white apricot and fresh quince with soft smoky undertones from a hint of youthful reduction. The palate is light-bodied with a singular, silky texture, vibrant acidity, a perfumed core of peachy fruit and a very long finish. |
|
|
2022 |
Trenton Roadhouse Chardonnay |
$139 |
6 |
|
| |
JD 97 (6/2024): The 2022 Chardonnay Trenton Roadhouse is a touch riper yellow but youthful color. A beguiling wine, it moves continuously on the nose with notes of fresh pineapple, yellow flowers, piney herbs, fresh flowers, and candied citrus. Medium to full-bodied and long on the palate, with great finesse and concentration as well as a long spine of acidity through the finish, it offers a wide drinking window over the coming 10 years. Audrey Frick.
VM 95 (1/2024): The 2022 Chardonnay Trenton Roadhouse is powerful yet restrained at the same time. Lifted floral notes, crushed rocks, mint, sage, dried herbs, tangerine peel and slate open over time. In the glass, the 2022 is a Chardonnay of notable finesse. I especially admire the energy here. Give this time to unwind. (Drink between 2025-2032). Antonio Galloni.
WA 94 (7/2024): The 2022 Chardonnay Trenton Roadhouse is luxurious for its detail and delicacy. Its aromas bloom dramatically from matchstick and toast to wafts of apricot, jasmine and panna cotta. It offers a seamless balance of textural creaminess and taut acidity, and it has a long, perfumed finish. |
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|
2022 |
Vine Hill Vyd. Chardonnay |
$139 |
4 |
|
| |
JD 97 (6/2024): The 2022 Chardonnay Vine Hill Vineyard is a bright yellow/green-tinged hue and displays pure notes of tangerine, honeycomb, and caramel apple. It's full-bodied but has a driving freshness of mouthwatering, salty acidity and a clean, toasty finish. It's bright and needs time to show its best, but it's going to be a worthy addition to cellars. Drink 2026-2037. I'd like to revisit this in 8-10 years. Audrey Frick.
VM 95+ (1/2024): The 2022 Chardonnay Vine Hill Vineyard is a potent, tightly wound wine. Bright, sculpted and tightly wound, the 2022 feels like a Chardonnay that needs time to truly blossom. Its energy and persistence are both compelling. Citrus peel, sage, mint and chamomile open with some coaxing. The Kistler Vine Hill is one of the most savory and phenolic Chardonnays in the range. (Drink between 2024-2032). Antonio Galloni.
WA 95 (7/2024): The 2022 Chardonnay Vine Hill Vineyard is electric! The nose features pineapple and lemongrass scents accented by almonds, panna cotta and exotic floral perfume. The palate is bursting with layers of peach and green tropical fruit delivered in a satiny texture, and it's balanced by fireworks of fresh acidity that energize the long finish. |
|
| Kongsgaard |
2019 |
The Judge Chardonnay (1.5 L) |
$1,195 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 98 (1/2022): The 2019 Chardonnay The Judge offers an intriguing mix of textural richness and energy. Lemon confit, white flowers, almond and dried flowers emerge with a bit of time in the glass, but readers should be in no rush. The 2019 is clearly holding its cards close to the vest. That is probably a very good thing for the future. This dense, beautifully layered Chardonnay has a very bright future ahead of it. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2020 |
The Judge Chardonnay |
$600 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 96 (2/2023): The 2020 Chardonnay The Judge is fabulous. It is also easily one of the wines of the vintage. Bright and vibrant, the 2020 is all class. The 2020 is not as opulent as these wines used to be, but no matter, all the elements are so well balanced. Lemon confit, marzipan, spice, minerals and a kiss of French oak all build effortlessly into a crescendo of aromas, flavors and textures. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Lewis Cellars |
2016 |
Sonoma County Chardonnay |
$36 |
19 |
|
| |
|
|
2016 |
Sonoma County Chardonnay Very Lightly Scuffed Label |
$36 |
6 |
|
| |
|
|
2016 |
Sonoma County Chardonnay Slightly Depressed Cork; Lightly Scuffed Label |
$36 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2017 |
Sonoma County Chardonnay |
$40 |
7 |
|
| |
| JD 94 (1/2019): There are two Chardonnays. The 2017 Chardonnay Sonoma County is a beauty and has a big perfume of caramelized pineapple, tangerine, and toasted oak. It’s rich, medium-bodied, and beautifully textured, with plenty of length. It’s seriously good Chardonnay that has richness and freshness. |
|
| Lioco |
2022 |
Sonoma County Chardonnay |
$20 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 90 (10/2024): The 2022 Chardonnay Sonoma County is scented of Meyer lemon, toasted meringue, acacia and beeswax. The light-bodied palate balances firm, focused acidity with a soft, creamy texture. It has slowly blossoming, lemon-drop flavors and a long, mineral-driven finish. It will benefit from some time in a decanter. |
|
| Marcassin |
2011 |
Marcassin Vyd. Chardonnay Signs of Old Seepage; Bin-Soiled Label |
$495 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 97 (8/2015): The 2011 is a great Chardonnay Marcassin Vineyard from a much-maligned and sometimes excessively criticized vintage. 2011 has its low points, but there are many producers who got it right, and survived the challenging growing and harvest conditions. This wine has phenomenal intensity, with plenty of crushed rock, pineapple, honeysuckle, orange and tangerine blossom in an elegant, medium to full-bodied style, with terrific intensity, good acidity and freshness. This is more evolved than either the 2009 or 2010, and probably will be a candidate for 7-8 years of aging, rather than 10 or more. |
|
| Martinelli |
2011 |
Bella Vigna Chardonnay |
$20.30 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2012 |
Bella Vigna Chardonnay |
$22.40 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2010 |
Three Sisters Sea Ridge Meadow Chardonnay Significant Cristal Deposit in Bottle |
$24.50 |
8 |
|
| |
|
|
2010 |
Zio Tony Ranch Chardonnay |
$27.30 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2011 |
Zio Tony Ranch Chardonnay Significant Cristal Deposit in Bottle |
$24.50 |
9 |
|
| |
|
| Maybach |
2015 |
Eterium Chardonnay |
$109 |
2 |
|
| |
| WS 90 (7/2017): A spirited expression of pure, zesty Chardonnay, with a tasty mix of light spicy oak, pure apple, pear, citrus and melon flavors, all well-proportioned and lingering on the finish. Drink now through 2020. 63 cases made. |
|
|
2015 |
Eterium Chardonnay |
$69 |
6 |
|
| |
| WS 90 (7/2017): A spirited expression of pure, zesty Chardonnay, with a tasty mix of light spicy oak, pure apple, pear, citrus and melon flavors, all well-proportioned and lingering on the finish. Drink now through 2020. 63 cases made. |
|
| Mending Wall |
2022 |
Stone on Stone Semillon-Sauvignon Blanc |
$35 |
3 |
|
| |
|
| Peter Michael Winery |
2022 |
Cuvee Indigene Chardonnay (1.5 L) |
$550 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 98 (3/2025): The 2022 Chardonnay Cuvée Indigène is pure and complex, unfolding from white peaches and green guava to vanilla panna cotta, tropical flowers and seamlessly integrated new oak spice. The palate is stunning! A luxuriously satiny texture complements expansive, detailed flavors that grow in intensity with every sip. Its tremendous depth of flavor is balanced by a crescendo of refreshing acidity, and it has a hauntingly long finish. |
|
|
2011 |
La Carriere Chardonnay |
$50 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 92 (5/2013): Pale yellow. Deeply pitched aromas of pear, white flowers, anise and smoky minerals. Penetrating and pure, with intense orchard and citrus fruit flavors nicely framed by bright acidity. Nervy and tight in the middle, with a honeyed nuance coming up with air. Shows very good clarity and power on the long, mineral-drenched finish. This chardonnay is carrying 15.2% alcohol but it doesn't show. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2018 |
Point Rouge Chardonnay (1.5 L) |
$550 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 100 (2/2021): The 2018 Chardonnay Point Rouge is composed of the best barrels from the entire estate. Floral notes of citron blossoms and honeysuckle leap from the glass, over a core of grapefruit, yuzu and ripe pears with hints of struck match, almond croissant and lime zest. The medium to full-bodied palate has a racy backbone supporting the tightly wound citrus and pear flavors with a lovely creaminess to the texture and a very long finish packed with tension and bursting with fruit. While it is tempting to drink now, it’s going to really impress with another 2-3 years in bottle and drink for a further 15 years+. |
|
| Minimus |
2017 |
Dijon Free Chardonnay |
$34.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Morlet Family Vineyards |
2017 |
La Proportion Doree |
$112 |
4 |
|
| |
WA 98+ (12/2019): Luc Morlet has 100 Muscadelle vines, planted in 1953, which he co-ferments with the Sauvignon Blanc to produce this stunning wine. The 2017 La Proportion Doree is composed of 65% Semillon, 34% Sauvignon Blanc and 1% Muscadelle. It needs a little coaxing to reveal notes of candied citrus peel, lemon curd, white peaches, honeycomb and fresh hay with wafts of lime leaves and chalk dust. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is completely coated with savory, saline and citrus layers. The texture is decadently satiny with a provocative suggestion of phenolic grip, and it finishes with great persistence and poise.
JD 98 (6/2019): Checking in as 65% Semillon and 34% Sauvignon, from dry farmed vines in Sonoma County, the 2017 La Proportion Dorée was barrel fermented with the malolactic fermentation blocked. This is a big, blockbuster styled effort that offers a huge nose of spiced apples, quince, candle wax, and white flowers that develops beautifully with time in the glass. Rich, full-bodied, and concentrated on the palate, yet at the same time displaying bright acidity and beautiful purity, this is a serious effort that would give a top vintage of Haut Brion Blanc a run for its money! Drink it any time over the coming decade! (Drink between 2019-2029).
VM 95 (1/2020): The 2017 La Proportion Dorée is a real standout. Rich, unctuous and utterly dazzling in its complexity, the 2017 is impressive right out of the gate. The depth and dimension here is simply compelling. Orange confit, apricot, chamomile and dried flowers all meld together in a succulent, creamy Sémillon/Sauvignon Blanc blend. The 2017 is a blend of fruit from Knights Valley, Bennett Valley, Dry Creek, Alexander Valley and Calistoga. It is a fabulous edition of the Proportion Dorée. Don't miss it. (Drink between 2020-2028). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| One True Vine |
2021 |
Summer Dreams Lazy Lounging Chardonnay |
$104 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 96 (12/2023): Honeyed apple, tangerine, flower oil, toasted almond, and brioche notes all emerge from the 2021 Chardonnay Lazy Lounging, a medium to full-bodied, concentrated, yet remarkably pure Chardonnay that has integrated oak, a layered, seamless mouthfeel, and awesome length on the finish. |
|
|
2021 |
Summer Dreams Lazy Lounging Chardonnay Lightly Bin-Soiled Label |
$104 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 96 (12/2023): Honeyed apple, tangerine, flower oil, toasted almond, and brioche notes all emerge from the 2021 Chardonnay Lazy Lounging, a medium to full-bodied, concentrated, yet remarkably pure Chardonnay that has integrated oak, a layered, seamless mouthfeel, and awesome length on the finish. |
|
| Clos Pegase |
2018 |
Mitsuko’s Vyd. Sauvignon Blanc |
$14.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Perchance |
2022 |
Beckstoffer Carneros Lake Chardonnay Ex-Domaine |
$95 |
44 |
|
| |
JD 95-97 (2/2024): The 2022 Chardonnay Beckstoffer Carneros Lake Vineyard is stunning stuff, and this is one I can't wait to taste from bottle. Reminding me of a great Chardonnay from Aubert with its ripe pineapple, lemon oil, candlewax, and honeyed flower notes, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a layered, seamless mouthfeel, and that rare mix of richness and freshness. This will spend 15 months in barrels, and there are roughly 150 cases.
WA 93 (10/2024): Composed of Clone 96 planted in 1995 and barrel fermented in 100% new French oak, half of the 2022 Chardonnay Beckstoffer Carneros Lake Vineyard underwent malolactic fermentation. It boasts a subtle honeyed element, plus ripe melon and pear notes. Full-bodied, plump and generous, with a long, richly textural finish, it's a beauty to enjoy over the next several years. |
|
|
2022 |
Beckstoffer Melrose Vyd. Sauvignon Blanc Ex-Domaine |
$65 |
60 |
|
| |
JD 94 (2/2024): From vines planted in 2000 and brought up in 75% new French oak, the 2022 Sauvignon Blanc Beckstoffer Melrose Vineyard is a brilliant white revealing classic lemon and floral notes, as well as some background tropical and spicy nuances. With great acidity, medium body, and beautiful overall balance, this will stand toe to toe with a great Bordeaux Blanc. It should evolve for 10-15 years, but I love it today.
WA 92 (1/2024): The barrel-fermented 2022 Sauvignon Blanc Beckstoffer Melrose features a slightly smoky, fumé quality, a pleasant scent to the fig, melon and citrus fruit. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, nicely rich and creamy textured, with a long, citrusy finish. From a site off Zinfandel Lane, planted to clone 1 in 1990. |
|
| Pott |
2015 |
20m3 Viognier |
$55.25 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Pride Mountain Vineyards |
2019 |
Vintners Select Chardonnay |
$35 |
5 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Vintners Select Chardonnay |
$32 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Realm |
2024 |
Fidelio White Wine |
$100 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 93 (6/2025): The 2024 Sauvignon Blanc Fidelio is all Sauvignon Blanc from the Farella Vineyard in Coombsville. Picked on two or three dates, fermented in stainless steel and then aged in a combination of concrete eggs, clay amphorae and an older foudre, it features hints of crushed stone, passion fruit, pink grapefruit, fig and guava on the nose. It's medium-bodied and silky in texture, with a nice line and length and a clean, refreshing finish. |
|
| J. Rochioli Vineyards |
2012 |
River Block Vyd. Chardonnay |
$59 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 93 (12/2013): The 2012 Chardonnay River Block is made from the Old Wente clone as well as Dijon clone 95. It offers up notes of buttered tangerine oil, lemon grass, white peach, an underlying stony character, and a fresh, full-bodied, rich mouthfeel displaying terrific texture and length. This superb Chardonnay should drink well for 6-8 years.
VM 92 (5/2014): Pale yellow-gold. Mineral-laced citrus and orchard fruit aromas are complicated by a sexy floral nuance. Tightly wound orange and pear skin flavors deliver impressive depth and power, with no excess weight. The mineral quality dominates the finish, which features a subtle iodine flourish. Stephen Tanzer.
WS 91 (7/2014): Brimming with intense fruit flavors, this offers a mix of fig, pear, honeydew melon, smoky oak and cedar notes, ending with a zesty aftertaste. Drink now through 2018. 223 cases made. |
|
|
2012 |
South River Vyd. Chardonnay |
$59 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 94 (12/2013): The 2012 Chardonnay South River reveals a terrific perfume of subtle smoke, buttered tropical fruits and a Chassagne-Montrachet-like nuttiness. Full-bodied and rich, this dazzling effort should drink well for 5-6 years.
VM 91 (2/2014): Rochioli's 2012 Chardonnay South River presents a beautiful array of tangerine, mint, white flowers and slate, all of which seem to lift out of the glass effortlessly. This pretty, feminine Chardonnay should drink well upon release and also mature a bit faster than some of the other wines given its mid-weight structure. Antonio Galloni.
WS 90 (7/2014): Tight and perfumed, with ripe fig, apricot, green apple and light citrus notes. This is lightly oaky, revealing a fresh, lively, elegant mouthfeel. Drink now. 222 cases made. |
|
| Union Sacre |
2018 |
Fraulein Kick on Ranch Vyd. Riesling |
$12 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Sanguis |
2009 |
Ode to Sunshine Chardonnay |
$44 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 92 (8/2011): The 2009 Chardonnay Ode to Sunshine, from the Bien Nacido Vineyard, wraps around the palate with layers of tropical fruit. Despite its textural richness and volume, the wine shows plenty of acidity and fabulous overall balance. This racy, sleek wine from Sanguis is best enjoyed while the fruit is vibrant. Ode to Sunshine spent 22 months in French oak barrels, 50% new. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2015.
VM 91 (10/2011): (100% chardonnay from the Bien Nacido vineyard): Hazy gold. Wild, complex bouquet evokes pear skin, nectarine, macadamia nut and marzipan, with an oak spice note that gains strength with air. Ripe and broad but lively, with deep orchard and pit fruit flavors showing very good clarity and spiciness. Finishes long and sappy, with very good cut. |
|
| Saxum |
2017 |
James Berry Vyd. White |
$139 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 94 (2/2020): Glistening straw-yellow. Intensely perfumed pear, lemon pith, white flowers and succulent herb aromas pick up a chalky mineral element with air. Chewy and tightly focused on the palate, offering concentrated, mineral-laced citrus and orchard fruit and honeysuckle flavors that show superb clarity and spicy back-end cut. Finishes on a sappy pear nectar note, showing sharp delineation and superb, floral-driven tenacity. (Drink between 2022-2030). Josh Raynolds.
JD 93 (10/2019): Starting with the white from one of the unquestionably great estates in wine today, the 2017 James Berry Vineyard White offers a concentrated, richer style as well as classy notes of caramelized tangerines, toasted spice, orange blossom, and brioche. I love its texture and richness, and it’s beautifully balanced. Saxum’s Justin Smith has hit a home run with these recent vintages, and his 2015s, 2016s, 2017s, and 2018s all have singular styles, with the quality remaining sky-high. The 2018s show the slightly more pure, fresh, yet concentrated style of the vintage nicely. While not yet bottled, these will offer pleasure in their youth as well as benefit from short term cellaring. The 2017s are more pretty, perfumed wines that don’t quite have the density of the 2016s yet certainly don’t lack for fruit. Most are already drinking nicely today, yet as with all great wines, they’re going to evolve gracefully. Lastly, the 2016s are some of the greatest wines I’ve tasted from this estate, and they offer massive, layered, yet impeccably balanced profiles that are a joy to drink today; they’ll also be a joy to drink in 10-15 years as well. As I’ve written more than once, there are few mailing lists worth being one, but without a doubt, this is one of them.
WA 91 (2/2020): The 2017 James Berry Vineyard White, the first vintage of this wine, is made up of 55% Grenache Blanc, 32% Roussanne, 8% Chenin Blanc and 5% Petit Manseng aged 21 months in 80% new oak. The nose gives warm Golden Delicious apples, quince and poached pear with a hint of baker’s yeast and honey-nut touches. Medium-bodied, it’s fresh and pure in the mouth with a lifted, honeyed finish. |
|
| Scherrer Winery |
2011 |
Helfer Vyd. Chardonnay |
$50 |
10 |
|
| |
VM 91 (5/2014): Light yellow. Complex, perfumed scents of poached pear, nectarine and honey, with smoky oak and iodine accents. Deeply pitched pit and orchard fruit flavors show very good vivacity, with dusty minerality adding back-end lift. The smoky note carries through the long, penetrating finish, with the pear note echoing.
WS 89 (6/2014): Intense, with an edgy texture and ripe pear, fig and honeydew melon notes, gaining depth and complexity and ending with a touch of anise. Drink now through 2021. 126 cases made. |
|
|
2014 |
Helfer Vyd. Chardonnay |
$59 |
9 |
|
| |
| VM 91 (8/2017): Smoke, pastry, baked apple and pear run through the 2014 Chardonnay Helfer Vineyard. There is good immediacy to the fruit, yet the 2014 remains medium in body and nicely lifted, with good Russian River intensity and silkiness to match its gracious personality. Another 6-12 months in bottle will help the oak integrate more fully. Antonio Galloni |
|
|
2013 |
Scherrer Vyd. Chardonnay |
$55 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 90 (2/2016): The 2013 Chardonnay Scherrer Vineyard is pretty, soft and nuanced throughout. Yellow orchard fruit, spice, pear and vanilla are laced together in a creamy yet understated wine endowed with grace and lovely overall balance. |
|
|
2019 |
Scherrer Vyd. Chardonnay |
$43.99 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 94 (1/2022): The 2019 Chardonnay Scherrer Vineyard is a powerful, wild wine. Soaring aromatics and a deep structure give this Alexander Valley Chardonnay tons of character. Orchard fruit, mint, tangerine oil and dried flowers all open in the glass. There's something exotic about the 2019 that is undeniably appealing. The creamy, substantial finish is a thing of beauty. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Seven and Eight |
2017 |
Estate Chardonnay |
$65 |
6 |
|
| |
WA 93+ (10/2019): The 2017 Chardonnay Estate gives up apple pie, spiced pears and honeydew melon with touches of cedar, toasted cashews, honeycomb, allspice and ginger. Full-bodied, rich and spicy in the mouth, it has a creamy texture and long, toasty finish.
VM 93 (1/2020): The 2017 Chardonnay is bold, luscious and absolutely delicious. Tangerine oil, passion fruit, butter notes and exotic flowers all develop in a Chardonnay that nicely balances mountain structure, acidity and the natural viscosity of Wente-clone Chardonnay. As it often is, the Vineyard 7 & 8 in this vintage is one of the most distinctive Chardonnays in Napa Valley. (Drink between 2019-2027). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Shafer Vineyards |
2010 |
Red Shoulder Ranch Chardonnay |
$50 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 92 (12/2012): Shafer's 2010 Chardonnay Red Shoulder Ranch offers up lemon, white flowers, spices and crushed rocks. The cold, late vintage yielded a wine loaded with intensity, focus and verve. As has been the case in recent years, the Chardonnay is aged 75% in oak and 25% in steel. This is a fabulous showing from Shafer. (Drink between 2013-2015). Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2018 |
Red Shoulder Ranch Chardonnay |
$50 |
16 |
|
| |
JD 95 (1/2021): Tasted out of bottle, the 2018 Chardonnay Red Shoulder Ranch is beautifully done, with a vibrant yet rich style carrying notes of buttered lemon, orange blossom, white flowers, and toasted bread. With bright acidity, terrific overall balance, and a great finish, this is classic Napa Valley Chardonnay to enjoy over the coming 5-7 years. I wouldn't be surprised to see it keep even longer as well. (Drink between 2021-2030).
VM 93 (1/2021): The 2018 Chardonnay Red Shoulder Ranch is gorgeous. Tangerine oil, white flowers and light tropical accents grace the Red Shoulder Ranch Chardonnay. Creamy and yet delicate, with lovely balance. The 2018 has so much to offer. Drink this understated, classy Chardonnay over the next handful of years. (Drink between 2021-2025). Antonio Galloni.
WA 91 (11/2020): The 2018 Chardonnay Red Shoulder Ranch bursts from the glass with oak-laced apple pie, peach preserves and ripe pineapple scents plus hints of allspice, candied ginger and praline. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a gorgeous satiny texture and loads of stone fruit and tropical fruit layers, finishing on a lingering spicy note. |
|
|
2019 |
Red Shoulder Ranch Chardonnay |
$50 |
11 |
|
| |
JD 95 (2/2023): Always one of my favorite Chardonnays from Napa, the 2019 Chardonnay Red Shoulder Ranch is no exception and offers a richer, concentrated, yet brilliantly balanced profile that carries classic caramelized citrus, orange, and stone fruits as well as spicy oak and brioche in the background. It’s a serious, concentrated, textured Chardonnay that does everything right. I wish there were more Chardonnay being produced in this style today.
VM 93 (1/2022): The 2019 Chardonnay Red Shoulder Ranch is bright, fragrant and light on its feet. Lemon peel, tropical fruit, jasmine and mint lend striking aromatic nuance to a Chardonnay that balances the energy that is typical of this wine today with attractive, exotic accents that add wonderful nuance. (Drink between 2022-2026). Antonio Galloni.
WA 91 (11/2021): The 2019 Chardonnay Red Shoulder Ranch gallops out with bold scents of ripe yellow apple, spiced pears and beeswax, plus hints of nutmeg, orange blossoms and cedar. Full-bodied with a lively line cutting through the dense stone fruit and spicy flavors, it finishes on a toasty oak note. |
|
|
2021 |
Red Shoulder Ranch Chardonnay |
$55 |
24 |
|
| |
JD 94 (2/2023): The 2021 Chardonnay Red Shoulder Ranch is another winner that has a slightly fresh, more vibrant style in its lemon and citrus fruits as well as honeyed minerality and spice. Medium-bodied, balanced, and elegant, it’s going to put on weight with a year or two of bottle age and should keep through 2031. (Drink between 2024-2031).
WA 93 (3/2023): Always an impressive bottling, the 2021 Chardonnay Red Shoulder Ranch was barrel fermented in a 75% new French oak and 25% stainless steel. Boasting fabulous aromas of lemon curd, apple, pear and pencil shavings, this non-malolactic Chardonnay is full-bodied, round and generous on the palate, then crisp and refreshing on the finish. If it's not as complex or rich as the very best Chardonnays California has to offer, it's not that far behind, and the pricing and availability (6000 cases produced) remain reasonable for a wine of this quality.
VM 92 (2/2023): The 2021 Chardonnay Red Shoulder Ranch is brisk, fresh and finely cut, with plenty of citrus and floral character. Bright acids drive the profile in this vibrant, steely Red Shoulder Ranch. The 2021 was bottled with a bit less time in oak than normal to compensate for the lack of 2020, an approach that turned out quite well. (Drink between 2022-2027). Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2022 |
Red Shoulder Ranch Chardonnay |
$55 |
11 |
|
| |
JD 95 (12/2023): I love the 2022 Chardonnay Red Shoulder Ranch. It's a richer, broad, yet still fresh and lively Chardonnay with ripe citrus and pineapple fruits, medium to full body, a layered mouthfeel, and terrific toast, brioche, honeysuckle, and lemon oil aromatics. It will keep for 4-6 years, if not longer, but I love it today. (Drink between 2023-2028).
WA 94 (12/2023): A modern-day classic, Shafer's 2022 Chardonnay Red Shoulder Ranch continues the tradition, delivering pristine pineapple notes alongside hints of citrus curd, pencil shavings and mocha. Full-bodied, round and generous, this no-malolactic-fermentation Chardonnay harmoniously tapers down into a clean, crisp finish. The only quibble with this vintage is that it may show a touch of alcoholic warmth.
VM 91 (12/2023): The 2022 Chardonnay Red Shoulder Ranch is bright, focused and aromatic, as is the style these days. Light tropical notes add an exotic flair as lemon peel, lime, white flowers and crushed rocks linger. The 2022 spent nine months in 40% new oak and the rest in tank and a bit of neutral oak. (Drink between 2023-2029). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Sine Qua Non |
2021 |
Distenta III White Wine |
$199 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 93 (8/2024): The 2021 White Wine Distenta III blends 33% Chardonnay, 27% Viognier, 24% Gelber Muskateller, 12% Roussanne and 4% Petit Manseng, the latter pair co-fermented. It hails mainly from the Eleven Confessions Vineyard, with inclusions from The Third Twin and Cumulus. It spent 23 months in 52% new French puncheon and demi-muids. The nose is extremely floral and exuberant, with honeyed, exotic aromas of stone fruit, citrus oil, pine needles, mint and noticeable alcohol after increased aeration. The palate is weighty and oily, centered around a decedent core of polished stone fruit flavors underpinned by tangy acidity. The finish is texturally clean and focused but gradually develops to reveal distracting, spirituous sensations.
VM 94 (8/2024): The 2021 White Wine Distenta III is a wild, exotic white. Ginger, passion fruit, spice and lemon confit are all woven together in the glass. Extended lees-stirring of 8-12 months really builds texture. The 2021 is rich and creamy but not at all heavy. Intensely perfumed overtones extend the finish. The Distenta III is a gorgeous wine in every way. The blend is 33% Chardonnay, 27% Viognier, 24% Gelber Muskateller, 12% Roussanne and 4% Petit Manseng. This is the first vintage with a high percentage of Muscat, an approach that is so successful here. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2001 |
Mr. K The Noble Man Chardonnay (375 ML) |
$129 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 97 (8/2004): While richer, sweeter, and more unctuous than the Iceman, 2001 Mr. K The Noble Man (Chardonnay), a Trockenbeerenauslese look-alike, possesses nervy, vibrant acidity that is hard to imagine in a wine of this mass and richness. The residual sugar is 255 grams per liter, with an amazing 11.1 grams per liter of acidity, and 11.7% finished alcohol.
VM 94-95 (8/2005): (for 375 ml.; made from air-dried grapes from Alban Vineyard; 350 grams per liter of r.s., 12.8 grams of acidity and 7.8% alcohol) Deep orange-gold. Aromas of orange peel, clove, menthol and white raisin, with a whiff of Benedictine. Thick and spicy but less glyceral than the chardonnay owing to its huge acidity. And yet I find this less bright than the chardonnay. flavors dominated by the cherry/almond/marzipan family, with hints of honey, raisin, caramel and nuts. Finishes extremely long, with saline and white raisin hints. |
|
|
2006 |
Mr. K The Noble Man Chardonnay (375 ML) |
$130 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 95 (8/2009): The 2006 Mr. K. The Nobleman Chardonnay (200 grams of residual sugar per liter) reveals phenomenal fresh, lively acidity as well as wonderful honeyed peach, marmalade, tropical fruit, and creme brulee characteristics. It is a Trockenbeerenauslese-styled wine that is a fitting tribute to the effusive and much revered Alois Kracher.
VM 94 (12/2009): (200 grams per liter residual sugar with 10.2 g/l (!) acidity) Bronze-gold color. Smoky pit fruit and orange marmalade aromas are complemented by spicecake and white pepper. Deep, sweet and creamy in texture, offering weighty pit fruit liqueur flavors and mounting spiciness. Clings to the palate with impressive sweetness but the overall impression is of spice and energy. |
|
|
2006 |
Mr. K The Noble Man Chardonnay (375 ML) Cracked Wax Capsule |
$130 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 95 (8/2009): The 2006 Mr. K. The Nobleman Chardonnay (200 grams of residual sugar per liter) reveals phenomenal fresh, lively acidity as well as wonderful honeyed peach, marmalade, tropical fruit, and creme brulee characteristics. It is a Trockenbeerenauslese-styled wine that is a fitting tribute to the effusive and much revered Alois Kracher.
VM 94 (12/2009): (200 grams per liter residual sugar with 10.2 g/l (!) acidity) Bronze-gold color. Smoky pit fruit and orange marmalade aromas are complemented by spicecake and white pepper. Deep, sweet and creamy in texture, offering weighty pit fruit liqueur flavors and mounting spiciness. Clings to the palate with impressive sweetness but the overall impression is of spice and energy. |
|
|
2012 |
Shackled Petit Manseng (375 ML) |
$225 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2001 |
Vin de Paille Inamorata (375 ML) |
$350 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 98 (6/2005): There is one barrel of the Sine Qua Non cuvee, the 2001 Vin de Paille Inamorata, which spent 42 months in oak, resulting in 350 grams per liter of residual sugar, and a whopping 12.8 grams per liter of acidity. Tasting notes are inadequate to describe this profound sweet 100% Roussanne. A medium amber color is accompanied by a honeyed perfume revealing scents of marmalade, espresso, maple syrup, and flowers. Unctuously-textured yet incredibly fresh and lively (because of high acidity), this phenomenal wine should age effortlessly. Amazingly, the alcohol is only 7.8%. The fruit was air-dried on straw mats for over a month prior to pressing.
VM 94-95 (7/2005): (for 375 ml.; made from air-dried grapes from Alban Vineyard; 350 grams per liter of r.s., 12.8 grams of acidity and 7.8% alcohol) Deep orange-gold. Aromas of orange peel, clove, menthol and white raisin, with a whiff of Benedictine. Thick and spicy but less glyceral than the chardonnay owing to its huge acidity. And yet I find this less bright than the chardonnay. flavors dominated by the cherry/almond/marzipan family, with hints of honey, raisin, caramel and nuts. Finishes extremely long, with saline and white raisin hints. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
| Sojourn Cellars |
2022 |
Durell Vyd. Chardonnay ex-Domaine |
$59 |
60 |
|
| |
|
| Spring Mountain Vineyard |
2016 |
Napa Valley Chardonnay |
$40 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Staglin Family Vineyards |
2020 |
Estate Chardonnay |
$101.15 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 94 (1/2022): The 2020 Chardonnay Estate offers terrific brightness to play off the natural vigor of this Rutherford site. Orchard fruit, mint, white flowers, white pepper and crushed rocks are all finely sculpted in a Chardonnay that impresses from start to finish. This is the first vintage aged partially in sandstone, which seems to add vibrancy and delineation. I am very curious to see how it ages. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Three Sticks |
2020 |
Cuvee Eva Marie Pinot Noir |
$60 |
6 |
|
| |
| JD 91 (7/2023): The 2020 Pinot Noir Cuvee Eva Marie is a rich ruby hue and has elegant aromas of raspberry, baking spices, and roses. Medium-bodied, with a linear feel and fine tannins, with notes of orange pith, pomegranate, and dusty earth closing out the palate. It has a graceful texture and a good, clean finish. Drink it over the next several years. Audrey Frick. |
|
|
2019 |
Durell Vyd. Chardonnay |
$75 |
9 |
|
| |
| JD 90 (8/2022): The 2019 Chardonnay Durell Vineyard is savory, with notes of salted lime, melon rind, and a hint of oak that transition to the palate, with the addition of a lightly bitter almond note on the finish. It has medium body and a chalky granular texture. Drink it over the next 5 or so years. (Drink between 2022-2027). Audrey Frick. |
|
|
2020 |
Gap’s Crown Vyd. Chardonnay |
$60 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2021 |
Gap’s Crown Vyd. Chardonnay |
$70 |
6 |
|
| |
VM 92 (1/2024): The 2021 Chardonnay Gap’s Crown Vineyard is a dense, textured wine. Apricot, lemon confit, marzipan, white flowers and a kiss of French oak are nicely amplified by a touch of lees-stirring that builds texture. The 2021 remains vibrant and light on its feet. It's a very pretty wine from Three Sticks. (Drink between 2024-2029). Antonio Galloni.
JD 92 (7/2023): Taking on a richer and softer floral profile, the 2021 Chardonnay Gap's Crown Vineyard is expressive of toasty oak spices, ripe peach, and a bit of smoky earth. This full-bodied white has more power and drive, with a good core of acidity, and offers notes of lemon balm and fresh pear, with more toasted spice on the finish. It’s a solid wine with good salinity. Drink 2023-2028. Audrey Frick. |
|
|
2022 |
Gap’s Crown Vyd. Chardonnay |
$70 |
4 |
|
| |
| VM 93 (1/2025): The 2022 Chardonnay Gap's Crown Vineyard is gorgeous. Creamy, open-knit and expansive, the 2022 is quite impressive. Citrus confit, marzipan, white flowers, slate and chalk are all woven together. There's a seamless quality here that is so attractive. (Drink between 2023-2030). Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2020 |
One Sky Vyd. Chardonnay |
$65 |
12 |
|
| |
|
|
2022 |
One Sky Vyd. Chardonnay |
$70 |
4 |
|
| |
| VM 94 (1/2025): The 2022 Chardonnay One Sky Vineyard shows just how compelling this site is. Rich and oily in the glass, the One Sky possesses notable textural volume that builds with time in the glass. Lemon confit, orange peel, chamomile and lightly honeyed notes build into the deep, resonant finish. Impressive. (Drink between 2023-2030). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Ultramarine |
2015 |
Heintz Vyd. Blanc de Blancs |
$189 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 94 (4/2020): The 2015 Blanc de Blancs Charles Heintz Vineyard from Michael Cruse's Ultramarine is a rich, powerful wine. Orange peel, almond, chamomile, butter and tropical overtones give the 2015 a good bit of raciness to play off its creamy, ample frame. The 2015 is overt and quite rich, with tons of the breadth that make Charles Heintz wines so distinctive. The radiance of the year really comes through nicely. Observant readers will note the 1% Pinot Noir listed in the blend; in 2015, the topping wine used was Pinot. Dosage is 2 grams per liter. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2018 |
Heintz Vyd. Blanc de Blancs |
$150 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 96 (1/2024): The 2018 Blanc de Blancs Charles Heintz Vineyard is a wine of crystalline precisiion and nuance, showing notes of crushed rocks, white flowers, mint and jasmine. The 2018 is an understated, quite wine built more on persistence than volume. There is so much character and vibrancy here. Disgorged: November, 2022. Dosage is 2 grams per liter. Drink between 2024-2029. Antonio Galloni.
JD 94 (11/2023): The 2018 Blanc De Blancs is forward with toasted brioche, buttered citrus, ripe pear, and quince. It’s medium to full bodied, with generous fruit throughout, while remaining balanced and stony in its texture. Offering notes of honeysuckle and green apple candy, it has a fluffy mousse and a long finish. Drink 2025-2040. Audrey Frick. |
|
|
2013 |
Heintz Vyd. Blanc de Noirs |
$179 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 93 (1/2018): Interestingly, the 2013 Blanc de Noirs Charles Heintz Vineyard comes across as more complete and also more satisfying than the Blanc de Blancs, which suggests the Pinot handled the intensity of the vintage better than the Chardonnay. Expressive floral and red berry fruit notes all flesh out in this creamy, inviting wine. Vinous and alluring, the 2013 will drink well right out of the gate. Bottled with no dosage. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2016 |
Heintz Vyd. Blanc de Noirs |
$179 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2017 |
Heintz Vyd. Blanc de Noirs |
$165 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2017 |
Heintz Vyd. Blanc de Noirs |
$199 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2017 |
Heintz Vyd. Blanc de Noirs Disgorged 11/11/21 |
$174 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2018 |
Heintz Vyd. Blanc de Noirs |
$145 |
3 |
|
| |
|
|
2019 |
Heintz Vyd. Blanc de Noirs |
$150 |
4 |
|
| |
| VM 94 (2/2025): The 2019 Blanc de Noirs Charles Heintz Vineyard is rich and vinous in the glass. Varietal notes are beautifully amplified from start to finish. Plum, kirsch, white flowers, mint and exotic floral overtones all take shape nicely. The 2019 is texturally gorgeous. I find a touch of volatile acidity, but it is just a touch and well below what would be considered an issue. Here, that manifests in high-toned, lifted aromatics. Bottled with no dosage. (Drink between 2025-2031). Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2017 |
Heintz Vyd. Rose |
$159 |
2 |
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| WA 97 (8/2022): The 2017 Sparkling Rosé Heintz Vineyard is composed mainly of Pinot Noir, made without malolactic conversion and bottled without filtration. It was aged on the lees in bottle for 40 months and has just below five atmospheres of pressure (as opposed to the six to 6.5 bars of pressure in the Cruse Tradition sparklings), resulting in a creamier texture. "What matters more is pressure, not time en tirage," notes winemaker Michael Cruse. "2017 was an earlier vintage for us, so this is a bigger Ultramarine than I would normally release—the 2016 and 2018 were more classic vintages for us, more acid driven." The palate is elegant yet powerful, its bright fruit layered with more savory tones of toast, pastry and mushrooms. It has an alluring ultra-soft texture, singular personality and a very long finish. I'd love to see how this develops over the next 5-7+ years in bottle. |
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2018 |
Heintz Vyd. Rose |
$224 |
5 |
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| VM 94 (1/2024): The 2018 Rosé Charles Heintz Vineyard is a blend of equal parts Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, with 10% of the Pinot component vinified with stems. Rose petal, kirsch, mint and cinnamon all grace this striking Rosé. It’s quite attractive, but not as pure or crystalline as the Blanc de Blancs. Pretty floral notes grace the finish. Disgorged: November, 2022. Dosage is 4 grams per liter. Antonio Galloni. |
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2018 |
Heintz Vyd. Rose |
$225 |
3 |
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| VM 94 (1/2024): The 2018 Rosé Charles Heintz Vineyard is a blend of equal parts Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, with 10% of the Pinot component vinified with stems. Rose petal, kirsch, mint and cinnamon all grace this striking Rosé. It’s quite attractive, but not as pure or crystalline as the Blanc de Blancs. Pretty floral notes grace the finish. Disgorged: November, 2022. Dosage is 4 grams per liter. Antonio Galloni. |
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2019 |
Hirsch Vyd. Sparkling Rose |
$159 |
2 |
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VM 96 (2/2025): The 2019 Rosé Hirsch Vineyard is a fabulous, wonderfully complex, dynamic wine. I don’t know how it will age, but most bottles will be long gone before that is an issue. The Hirsch Rosé, done as a light saignée, hails from Raschen Ridge, one of the best sections of the vineyard and also the source of some of the very best fruit on the entire ranch. Wild, dynamic and super-expressive, the 2019 is so beguiling. The aromatics alone are wild. Those qualities follow through to the palate. Game, dried herbs and a whole range of savory notes emerge with air. There is so much going on here. Dosage is 6 grams per liter. (Drink between 2025-2030). Antonio Galloni.
WA 93 (8/2025): The 2019 Sparkling Rosé Hirsch Vineyard comes from Hirsch’s Raschen Ridge vineyard. This saignée rosé has a medium cherry-pink color and layered aromas of strawberry, raspberry, peach, saline, iodine and toast. The palate is unapologetically fruity, though mineral and autolytic nuances add complexity, and it has a luxuriously creamy texture. Its vibrant acidity is balanced by six grams per liter dosage, and it has a long, energetic finish. |
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2020 |
Hirsch Vyd. Sparkling Rose |
$148 |
3 |
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2018 |
Keefer Ranch Blanc de Blancs |
$150 |
3 |
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| VM 94 (1/2024): The 2018 Blanc de Blancs Keefer Ranch is supple, open-knit and engaging. Soft contours wrap around a core of orchard fruit, jasmine, mint and crushed rocks. The Keefer Ranch might not be the most complex wine in the Ultramarine range, but it sure is delicious. Disgorged: April, 2023. Dosage is 2 grams per liter. (Drink between 2024-2029). Antonio Galloni. |
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2019 |
Keefer Ranch Blanc de Blancs |
$149 |
6 |
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| VM 95 (2/2025): The 2019 Blanc de Blancs Keefer Ranch is a total stunner. Bright and focused, with tremendous depth, the 2019 is so expressive. Citrus peel, mint, white pepper and crushed rocks all race across the palate. The 2019 is so vivid, so expressive, especially in the way it marries tension and textural presence. Dosage is 2 grams per liter. (Drink between 2025-2031). Antonio Galloni. |
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2018 |
Michael Mara Blanc de Blancs |
$175 |
3 |
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2018 |
Michael Mara Blanc de Blancs |
$210 |
1 |
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2018 |
Michael Mara Blanc de Blancs |
$250 |
1 |
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2019 |
Michael Mara Blanc de Blancs |
$175 |
4 |
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| VM 87 (2/2025): The 2019 Blanc de Blancs Michael Mara is challenging to taste. I very much admire its energy, but there is a vegetal quality that is hard to reconcile with the wine's overall polish. It may be that this fruit needed more time on the vine, or that the dosage is too low. In the many years I have tasted Ultramarine, which is very close to the beginning, I don’t remember a wine like this. In Champagne parlance, the 2019 Michael Mara reminds me of the 2011s. Dosage is 2 grams per liter. (Drink between 2025-2027). Antonio Galloni. |
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| Venge |
2011 |
Maldonado Vyd. Dijon Clones Chardonnay |
$17.50 |
1 |
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2012 |
Maldonado Vyd. Dijon Clones Chardonnay |
$20.30 |
2 |
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| Vincent Wine Co. |
2018 |
Willamette Valley Pinot Gris |
$17 |
7 |
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| Vineyard 7 & 8 |
2012 |
Estate Chardonnay |
$75 |
1 |
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VM 94 (5/2024): The 2012 Chardonnay Estate is terrific. Still fresh and vibrant, the 2012 offers up hints of tangerine oil, mint, vanillin, white pepper and butter. Creamy and textured, the 2012 is gorgeous today, but will drink well for another decade or so. It's a very representative wine of this era at Vineyard 7 & 8. (Drink between 2022-2027). Antonio Galloni.
WA 93 (10/2014): The beautiful 2012 Chardonnay Estate exhibits a light straw color with green tints. Honeysuckle, white peach, tangerine oil and lemon blossom characteristics are present in the complex set of aromatics. The wine is medium to full-bodied, layered, rich and impressive. Enjoy it over the next 5-6 years. |
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2014 |
Estate Chardonnay |
$75 |
7 |
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VM 92 (1/2025): The 2014 Chardonnay Estate is a very pretty, understated wine that has aged quite well. Hints of apricot, butter, hazelnut and candied orange peel are all typical of a ten year-old Chardonnay. It retains plenty of energy, although it is on the lighter side texturally relative to most years. There's plenty of up-front charm, but the mid-palate and finish taper off a bit. (Drink between 2024-2028). Antonio Galloni.
WA 90 (12/2015): The 2014 Chardonnay Estate is cut from the same mold, and like its sibling in 2013, it spent 14 months in 25% new French oak. The wine offers good, crisp white currant, tangerine oil and caramelized citrus. It is medium-bodied and fresh, with a hint of minerality in the background. The oak is very restrained and appropriate. Drink it over the next 4-5 years. |
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2015 |
Estate Chardonnay |
$75 |
3 |
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VM 93 (1/2018): A gorgeous wine, Vineyard 7&8's 2015 Chardonnay Estate is rich and viscous on the palate, but with plenty of freshness and the hillside phenolic structure that is such a signature of this site. Lemon oil, almond, white flowers and chamomile add shades of nuance. The 2015 spent about 16 months in barrel, about 50% new. The punishing growing season took with it 50% of production. (Drink between 2017-2023). Antonio Galloni.
JD 92 (12/2017): The 2015 Chardonnay Estate is a classic California Chardonnay that has loads of upfront tropical fruit and buttered pineapple notes in a rich, medium to full-bodied, textured style. Aged 16 months in 25% new French oak, it has good acidity, background oak, and a clean, classy finish, all making for a delicious, balanced Chardonnay to drink over the coming 4-5 years. |
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2018 |
Estate Chardonnay Lightly Bin-Soiled Label |
$75 |
1 |
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JD 94 (1/2021): The only wine I was able to taste from this estate, the 2018 Chardonnay Estate is a beauty, offering lots of lemon curd, stone fruits, white flowers, and honeyed bread-like aromas and flavors. Rich and medium-bodied, it has ample depth of fruit on the palate and picks up more toasty, almost nutty nuances with air. This beautiful, layered Chardonnay is going to keep nicely for 4-6 years or so. (Drink between 2021-2028).
WA 94 (11/2020): The 2018 Chardonnay Estate sashays out of the glass with flamboyant scents of honey-drizzled apricots, poached pears and almond croissant with touches of candied ginger, apple strudel and crème caramel. The medium to full-bodied palate nicely balances the savory vs fruit flavors, featuring loads of warm apple, baking spice and nutty layers, supported by great freshness and a satiny texture, finishing long.
VM 93 (1/2021): The 2018 Chardonnay is a very pretty, lifted wine that offers considerable immediacy and tons of appeal. Light floral and tropical accents grace this beautifully transparent, expressive Chardonnay from Vineyard 7 & 8. Drink it over the next handful of years. (Drink between 2021-2026). Antonio Galloni. |
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2019 |
Estate Chardonnay |
$75 |
2 |
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| VM 95+ (1/2022): The 2019 Chardonnay Estate is a potent, structured wine that will need a few years to come together. Its depth, complexity and overall presence are admirable. Bright acids perk up a core of tangerine peel, mint, apricot and honey. The 2019 is beautifully done. Given how these wines age, I would be in no rush to open a bottle. (Drink between 2024-2034). Antonio Galloni. |
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