A fantastic Unoaked Chardonnay from the folks at Caymus.
90 Points Wine Spectator: "A seductive style that captures effusively ripe peach and nectarine flavors. Features a juicy texture that's broad and layered. Despite using no oak, this leaves the impression of spicy, jazzy wood on the lingering finish. Drink now."
Monterey County is one of the best appellations in the world for producing Chardonnay. This region benefits from cool morning fog and afternoon breezes that result in a long growing season, producing intense fruit flavors balanced with vibrant acidity. Mer Soleil Silver is a pure, clean expression of our estate-grown Santa Lucia Highlands Chardonnay. The grapes that go into this Chardonnay are of the highest quality for a number of reasons: the unique climate, our vineyard location on east-facing slopes, vine-to-vine uniformity, low-yields and grapes picked at peak ripeness.
Contact A Wine Expert: info@brix26.com | 866.427.4926
Chardonnay
Grgich Hills 2019 Estate Chardonnay, Napa Valley
$ 48.00
Grgich Hills has always been known for its outstanding Chardonnay, and the new Estate Chardonnay Napa Valley only bolsters that reputation.
Grgich Hills Chardonnay is estate grown, meaning they control everything from the vineyard to the bottle. The grapes were grown organically at their American Canyon and Carneros vineyards, where the coolness allows the grapes to develop complex flavors while maintaining a pleasing natural acidity. They do not allow the Chardonnay to undergo malolactic fermentation. This preserves the wine's crispness and acidity to balance its concentrated fruit. The full-bodied, elegant Grgich Hills Chardonnay has fresh aromas of acacia and citrus flowers, honey and a touch of mineral.
Groth 2018 Chardonnay, Napa Valley
$ 29.00
New release of a classic California Chardonnay from Groth!
Long, cool fermentation in a mixture of old and new barrels gives the Groth 2018 Chardonnay layers of fruitiness and complexity that result in a wine that is very enjoyable when young or after several years of bottle age. This method of fermentation, in conjunction with whole cluster pressing and "sur lie" aging add layers of toastiness and creaminess to the wine. Together these components meld together harmoniously to create a balanced wine that is both lively and rich in aroma and flavor."
Hestan 2014 Chardonnay, San Francisco Bay
$ 49.99
A fantastic new Chardonnay from Hestan by winemaker Thomas Brown (Shrader, Outpost)
Hestan's first wine produced by esteemed Napa Valley winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown, the Hestan Chardonnay boasts an impeccable balance of flavor and structure. Bright fruit flavors with a round, full mouthfeel, the wine offers depth and a long, elegant finish. Bottled unfined and unfiltered. Tremendous richness with a whopping 14.1% Alcohol yet so balanced that you hardly feel the sheer weight of it from start to end with its long lingering finish. Barrel fermented in French oak barrels. Planted in 1997, this vineyard is located 300 yards from the San Francisco Bay, at the very southern end of Highway 29, which runs north and south through Napa Valley. A tiny 350 cases were produced so hurry!
Hyde de Villaine HDV 2016 Chardonnay, Carneros
$ 74.99
Limited new release!
Hyde de Villaine in Calfornia's Carneros District and is a collaboration between the Hyde family (Hyde Vineyard) and the De Villaine family (DRC). They make one of the best Chardonnays in California but its limited.
95 Points James Suckling: "This is very dense and serious with freshness and powerful acidity that gives it intensity and focus. Goes on and on with so much floral and sliced-lime flavor and hints of white flowers, pear blossom and minerals. So beautiful to drink now, but will improve with age."
JAM Cellars 2019 "Butter" Chardonnay
$ 18.00
A phenomenal buy in California Chardonnay!
One of the fastest selling Chardonnays we have ever carried. This wine always sells out waaaay before the next vintage is released. If you have purchased Butter Chardonnay in the past, stock up while you can. Made by winemaker Rob Lloyd of Romabuer fame, this delivers on it promise of a rich, tropical fruit and buttery palate with a creamy texture and lots of toasty vanilla oak spice.
Owners John and Michelle (JaM) Truchard have created quite a following in a relatively short amount of time. With the name of their wine label being called JaM, they employed the help of winemaker Rob Lloyd (who spent 8 years at Rombauer) to produce a rich, jammy style of Cabernet. Well, that wine was a huge hit, and since Rob knew a thing or two about making Chardonnays, it only made sense that this white wine should be called "Butter". As the name implies, this is a rich, buttery style of Chardonnay laced with aromas of baked lemons and mandarin oranges mingle with a hint of spice and smoke. The palate begins with crisp pineapple, bright citrus and ripe melon while a soft creaminess rounds out the finish. This Chardonnay is ready for immediate enjoyment and is suited to a wide variety of foods including white fish, smoked salmon and creamy pasta dishes.
Jax 2016 Y3 Chardonnay, Napa Valley
$ 24.99
We're always on the lookout for fantastic Napa Chardonnays that sell for a song, and the Jax Y3 Chardonnay is one of the best we've found. Highly recommended.
Robert Parker: "An outstanding value is the Chardonnay Y3, which offers copious tropical fruit, orange blossom, and nectarine scents and flavors along with fresh acids and an endearing purity as well as texture. A sleeper of the vintage, it should drink nicely for several years."
Sourced from Atlas Peak and Oak Knoll district, the Y3 Chardonnay is fresh and floral with a light creamy accent. A melange of delicate pear, golden apple are underlied by a light vanilla oak. Complex and balanced with light malolactic fermentation.
Jordan 2019 Chardonnay, Russian River Valley
$ 39.99
New release of Jordan's classic Russian River Valley Chardonnay now available!
The bouquet offers delicate aromas of Fuji apple, citrus, nutmeg, honey, and lightly toasted oak. The Jordan 2019 Chardonnay delivers lively and complex flavors of Asian pear, key lime, and Marcona almond. These refined notes offer a seamless expression of rich, bold flavors with a long, elegant finish. This wine is delicious now and will continue to gain honeyed richness with an additional 3 to 5 years of aging. Serve between 55 and 60 degrees to ensure the full flavor development.
Joseph Phelps 2019 Freestone Vineyards Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast
$ 49.99
95 Points - new release
Fantastic new Sonoma Coast Chardonnay release from the legendary Joseph Phelps.
95 Points Wine Enthusiast *Editor's Choice*: "This 100% varietal wine from the cooler outpost of Freestone is so deliciously crisp, bright in minerally lemon and fresh pear. It lingers on the palate in complex ways, elusive one moment, then exuberant the next - a celebration of ideal vintage and place."
95 Points Robert Parker: "The Phelps Chardonnay Freestone Vineyard, aged 13 months in 41% new French oak, takes its time on the nose, slowly opening to notes of saline, crushed nuts, lemon peel and quince. The palate is medium-bodied, juicy and very silky, its citrusy fruits opening to savory hints underneath, and it finishes very long and nuanced. Give it another couple years in bottle to gain in amplitude. "
...Joseph Phelps has a whopping 102 acres on the Sonoma Coast called the Freestone Vineyard, 82 acres of which is planted in Pinot Noir and the balance Chardonnay. The interesting thing about this site is the bud break can occur as early as February, and the hang time often exceeds the European model of “100 days,” often lasting as long as 120 to140+ days. All of the wines that follow, even in a great vintage such as 2012, rarely exceed 14.2% alcohol, with most coming in under 14%. Their flavor intensity and richness make them fascinating, and I suspect this relatively new operation will get better and better as the vines age, and the Phelps team in Napa continues to fine tune the vineyards and the winemaking."
Kanzler 2019 "Walker Station" Chardonnay, Russian River Valley
$ 58.00
Limited new Chardonnay from the owners of the legenday Kanzler Vineyard in the Russian River Valley.
Kanzler Vineyard’s 2019 Russian River Valley Chardonnay has a bouquet anchored by fig and nectarine with nuances of crème brûlée, papaya and cinnamon. Neither lean nor voluptuous on the palate, the wine strikes a deft balance with a silky texture and notes of peach, apricot and a kiss of toasty French oak on the mid-palate transitioning to citrus fruits as the wine glides along to finish with a soft and creamy acid backbone and pleasing flint and river stone minerality. Only 286 cases produced.
Keenan 2018 Chardonnay Spring Mountain District Napa Valley
$ 39.99
Great new Chardonnay release from Keenan! One of our favorite wineries on Napa's Spring Mountain.
91 Jeb Dunnuck: "Starting with the 2018 Chardonnay, which is all from Spring Mountain, it offers a pretty bouquet of bright citrus, tangerine, and orange blossom to go with a medium-bodied, racy style on the palate. With plenty of acidity, good ripeness of fruit, and a great finish, it's going to keep for a solid 7-8 years."
Keenan's 2018 Chardonnay was hand harvested, de-stemmed, then gently pressed. The juice was fermented and aged in French and American oak barrels. The wine was left on the lees and the barrels were stirred weekly. No secondary, or malolactic fermentation was carried out, leading to the crisp, citrus character of this wine. The wine was bottled after approximately seven months of aging in the cellar. The finished wine shows citrus, ripe pear and green apple in the nose. Hints of lush white peach are noticed as the wine opens up. The sur-lie aging has added richness and complexity, and a touch of toasty oak returns on the finish. Like all of Keenan’s wines, this Chardonnay is a food worthy wine whose crisp acidity and medium body will accompany a wide variety of food fare.
Kendall-Jackson 2018 Grande Reserve Chardonnay
$ 23.99
The rare Reserve version of Kendall-Jackson's bestselling Vintner's Reserve Chardonnay. Limited.
Handcrafted from the top 5% of all the Kendall-Jackson lots, a delicious blend of Monterey and Santa Barbara fruit. Sur lie aged with lees stirred twice monthly to integrate fruit and oak and promote a creamy mouthfeel.
Robert Parker: "The Kendall-Jackson Chardonnay Grand Reserve is scented of ripe honeydew melons, peach blossoms and rose water with a waft of honey-drizzled apricots. Medium-bodied, lively and with plenty of ripe melon and stone fruit flavors, it has nice spice and toast suggestions."
Kistler 2019 Cuvee Catheleen Chardonnay, Sonoma Valley
$ 249.99
Kistler Cuvee Cathleen Chardonnay - rare new release.
97+ Points Robert Parker: "The 2019 Chardonnay Cuvée Cathleen takes time to open up to delicate wafts of white lilac, Meyer lemon, quince peel and sea spray, with hints of beeswax and almonds. The palate offers incredible tension between surprisingly generous fruits and tangy, salty lift. Its expansive, honey-laced flavors linger for an extraordinarily long finish. Wow! It deserves another 2-3 years in bottle at least.":
..the single-vineyard wines all represent much smaller quantities of wine. There have been several noticeable changes in the Kistler wines over the last few years, as they are certainly picking the Pinot Noir at an earlier date and going for less extraction, more fragrance and delicacy. The Chardonnays are still powerful wines but they have backed off the new oak to about 40%. (About 10 years ago, it was around 60%.) Other than that they are still potent and rich Chardonnays that are meant to be drunk in their first 4-6 years of life. It is my experience that aging Kistler wine has not been generally as successful as I would have hoped.."
Kistler 2019 Hyde Vineyard Chardonnay, Carneros
$ 179.99
Kistler Hyde Vineyard Chardonnay - rare new release.
98+ Points Robert Parker: "In classic Hyde style, the 2019 Chardonnay Hyde Vineyard begins with smoky graphite tones that take some time to open to saline, shell, white peaches and floral perfume. The palate is satiny and fragrant with a shimmering mineral character, tangy lift and an incredibly long, ethereal finish. This 2019 offers incredible class and personality, and its energy and nuance suggest it will blossom in bottle for 10 or more years."
...Kistler Vineyards remains one of the absolute benchmark producers of great Sonoma Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, sitting right up there with the highest quality examples of these grapes from throughout the world. While the wines come from as wide a range of top terroirs as Sonoma can provide, interestingly nearly all of the Chardonnays are produced from a proprietary selection of Wente clones taken from a Larry Hyde block in the early 1980s. The exception is the Kistler Vineyard, which contains some original Martin Ray Mount Eden clonal material. This can be found in the straight Kistler Vineyard Chardonnay bottling, as opposed to the Cuvee Cathleen, which is mainly Wente selection. All the vineyard-designate Chardonnays are produced in precisely the same manner, meaning the differences between them are almost exclusively down to the differences in terroir. And as readers will see from my notes, the differences are striking."
Kistler 2019 Kistler Vineyard Chardonnay, Sonoma Valley
$ 209.99
Kistler Kistler Vineyard Chardonnay - rare new release.
96+ Points Robert Parker: "The 2019 Chardonnay Kistler Vineyard opens with youthful, smoky graphite and toast, offering crushed almonds and white blossoms with some time in the glass. The palate surprises with its depth of ripe, fragrant fruits and textural, expansive character balanced by mineral tones and bright acidity. It finishes long and lifted. All that intensity and lift will allow it to evolve over the next 3-5 years in bottle and hold in the cellar for 10+ years."
...the single-vineyard wines all represent much smaller quantities of wine. There have been several noticeable changes in the Kistler wines over the last few years, as they are certainly picking the Pinot Noir at an earlier date and going for less extraction, more fragrance and delicacy. The Chardonnays are still powerful wines but they have backed off the new oak to about 40%. (About 10 years ago, it was around 60%.) Other than that they are still potent and rich Chardonnays that are meant to be drunk in their first 4-6 years of life. It is my experience that aging Kistler wine has not been generally as successful as I would have hoped.."
Kistler 2019 McCrea Vineyard Chardonnay, Sonoma Mountain
$ 169.00
95 Points
Kistler McCrea Vineyard Chardonnay - rare new release.
The Chardonnay McCrea Vineyard offers up gorgeous notions of ripe peaches, honeyed toast, grapefruit and orange blossoms with touches of ginger and marzipan. Medium to full-bodied, it has a lovely satiny texture and tons of stone fruit and savory layers with a good, long spice-laced finish...
...Kistler Vineyards remains one of the absolute benchmark producers of great Sonoma Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, sitting right up there with the highest quality examples of these grapes from throughout the world. While the wines come from as wide a range of top terroirs as Sonoma can provide, interestingly nearly all of the Chardonnays are produced from a proprietary selection of Wente clones taken from a Larry Hyde block in the early 1980s. All the vineyard-designate Chardonnays are produced in precisely the same manner, meaning the differences between them are almost exclusively down to the differences in terroir. And as readers will see from my notes, the differences are striking."
Kistler 2019 Trenton Roadhouse Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast
$ 199.99
Limited single-vineyard Kistler Chardonnay now available.
96 Points Robert Parker: "The 2019 Chardonnay Trenton Roadhouse is plush, open-knit and gregarious, offering immediate appeal in a portfolio of cellar-worthy 2019s. The nose is toasty and gregarious with a fragrance of golden apples, roasted almonds and beeswax. The full-bodied palate features loads of expansive fruits and savory tones streaked with graphite and finishing very long and energetic."
...Kistler Vineyards remains one of the absolute benchmark producers of great Sonoma Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, sitting right up there with the highest quality examples of these grapes from throughout the world. While the wines come from as wide a range of top terroirs as Sonoma can provide, interestingly nearly all of the Chardonnays are produced from a proprietary selection of Wente clones taken from a Larry Hyde block in the early 1980s. The exception is the Kistler Vineyard, which contains some original Martin Ray Mount Eden clonal material. This can be found in the straight Kistler Vineyard Chardonnay bottling, as opposed to the Cuvee Cathleen, which is mainly Wente selection. All the vineyard-designate Chardonnays are produced in precisely the same manner, meaning the differences between them are almost exclusively down to the differences in terroir. And as readers will see from my notes, the differences are striking."
Kistler 2019 Vine Hill Vineyard Chardonnay, Sonoma
$ 199.99
Kistler Vine Hill Vineyard Chardonnay - rare new release.
98 Points Robert Parker: "The 2019 Chardonnay Vine Hill Vineyard begins with singular touches of seaweed and candle smoke that give way to preserved citrus, white peaches, beeswax and lush jasmine perfume. The palate is dynamic, with a crescendo of honeyed fruits, gently tangy acidity and shimmery mineral character uplifting the finish. It's Vine Hill Vineyard with the volume turned up!"
...the single-vineyard wines all represent much smaller quantities of wine. There have been several noticeable changes in the Kistler wines over the last few years, as they are certainly picking the Pinot Noir at an earlier date and going for less extraction, more fragrance and delicacy. The Chardonnays are still powerful wines but they have backed off the new oak to about 40%. (About 10 years ago, it was around 60%.) Other than that they are still potent and rich Chardonnays that are meant to be drunk in their first 4-6 years of life. It is my experience that aging Kistler wine has not been generally as successful as I would have hoped.."
Kistler 2020 Sonoma Mountain Chardonnay
$ 79.99
New release!
The Kistler 2020 Sonoma Mountain Chardonnay is a special blend of wines from Kistler's vineyards.
The Kistler Sonoma Mountain Chardonnay is of the same high quality as Kistler's single vineyard chardonnays but, through blending, they are able to create a high quality wine, with a consistent flavor profile. Rich, complex smoky aroma of perfect ripe fruit with a delicious noisette note, in a pleasing, Meursault-like style. In the mouth the wine is very delicious, displaying intense, fruit flavors underpinned with toasty oak and smoky flavors. The crisp acidity in the wine highlights the delicious fruit and makes it an excellent accompaniment to a wide range of foods. It is richly textured with a long, lingering finish.
Winery Notes: The Kistler plantings on Sonoma Mountain, situated on a hillside bench perfectly suited for growing world class Chardonnay, are interlaced with the rare combination of red volcanic and fine grained chalky soils. The vineyards are planted to California Heritage clones that were selected specifically over the last 30 years to ripen to our balanced wine standards. They are some of the oldest Chardonnay vineyards in Sonoma County. When coupled with the selections in the vineyard the textbook growing conditions afford a wine that is decidedly Sonoma Mountain in character. Annually some of our earliest vineyard pickings each year, this is a wine driven by a grounded, focused mineral core yet lifted by striking ethereal tones of vibrant light fruit raised at elevation.
Kosta Browne 2020 One Sixteen Chardonnay, Russian River Valley
$ 99.99
Limited new Russian River Valley Chardonnay release from Kosta Browne.
previous vintage 97 Points Jeb Dunnuck: "A beautiful Chardonnay from the Russian River Valley brought up in 34% new French oak, the Chardonnay One Sixteen sports a medium gold color as well as a rich, powerful bouquet of caramelized citrus, white currants, toasted hazelnuts, and brioche. Deep, rich, medium to full-bodied, and beautifully textured, it has flawless balance, bright acidity, and is a profound Chardonnay that will stand beside the finest white Burgundies."
With idyllic weather from start to finish, 2020 was one of the finest growing seasons of the past decade. Each wine within the Appellation Series embodies the unique qualities we cherish from the regions we work with. The marine influence that follows the Russian River inland from the Pacific coast is a powerful attribute of this region. The fog helps keep nights cool and offers the vines a well-deserved break from daytime temperatures. The collection of famous Chardonnay vineyards that we work with for this wine are located in the coolest parts of the Russian River Valley. Here, fruit can mature gracefully on the vine, which we find offers us more intensely focused flavors.
Leeuwin 2016 Prelude Vineyard Chardonnay, Australia
$ 34.99
Our favorite Chardonnay from "Down Under"! Any California Chardonnay fan will love Leeuwin's Prelude Chardonnay. Limited in production and not much is imported to the US so try it while its still available!
91 Points Wine Spectator: "Fresh and lively, with vibrant acidity to balance the ripe pear and floral flavors, hinting at clotted cream as the finish lingers. Drink now through 2015. 500 cases imported."
Leeuwin 2017 "Art Series" Chardonnay Margaret River, Australia
$ 79.95
96 points - limited
Our favorite Chardonnay from "Down Under"! Any California Chardonnay fan will love Leeuwin's Art Series Chardonnay. Limited in production and not much is imported to the US so try it while its still available.
96 Points Wine Spectator *Highly Recommended*: "The Leeuwin 2017 Art Series Chardonnay opens rich and lush, with grilled pineapple, ripe pear and fleshy apricot flavors. Details of mineral, lime peel and Meyer lemon add a fresh thread of acidity and a sense of precision, finishing with a note of sesame seed. Drink now through 2030. 800 cases imported."
Lewis Cellars 2019 Russian River Valley Chardonnay
$ 54.99
92 Points - new release
Exclusive new Russian River Valley Chardonnay release from one of Napa Valley's finest producers, Lewis Cellars. Only 600 cases produced.
92 Points Wine Spectator: "Lusciously rich, with concentrated spice and pastry notes to the ripe pear, apple and peach cobbler flavors. Features a juicy, finely textured finish. Drink now through 2021."
Lewis Cellars 2020 'Barcaglia Lane' Chardonnay, Russian River Valley
$ 78.00
92 points - limited
Exclusive new Reserve Chardonnay release from one of Napa Valley's finest producers, Lewis Cellars. One of favorite California Chardonnays every year!
92 Points Wine Spectator: "Ripe and rich, with concentrated baked apple, pear and mango flavors. Butter and cream details linger on the plush, pillowy finish. Drink now through 2023. 350 cases made."
Winery Tasting Notes: "From Dutton Ranch vineyards, our 2019 Barcaglia Lane Chardonnay is a beach party in a bottle, with showers of citrus and sweet tropical blossoms, crème brulee, and Tahitian spice. The palate is a tsunami of tropical fruit with tons of native acidity to keep the Aloha flowing. 450 cases produced."
Lewis Cellars 2020 Chardonnay, Napa Valley
$ 54.99
Exclusive new Napa Valley Chardonnay release from one of Napa Valley's finest producers, Lewis Cellars. One of our favorite all time Napa Chardonnays.
previous vintage 92 Points Wine Spectator: "Offers a core of ripe apple, honeydew and light citrus flavors, joined by light oak nuances. The richness and mix of toast and smoke elements add to the pleasure as this unfolds. Drink now through 2022."
The bountiful yields of 2020 had tons of character too, as seen in the superb Lewis Napa Valley Chardonnay. Creamy pear, lime and caramel apple fruit basks in brioche, clove and sweet mineral spices. Loads of tree-ripened fruit form a dense, silky core rooted in natural acidity that gives the wine balance and sound structure. Flecks of gun metal, flint and whetstone add complexity to the long leesy finish.
Lewis Cellars 2020 Reserve Chardonnay, Napa Valley
$ 78.00
Exclusive new Reserve Chardonnay release from one of Napa Valley's finest producers, Lewis Cellars. Limited.
previous vintage 94 Points Wine Spectator: "This white exhibits a broad, rich array of layered flavors, extending from pear, peach, tangerine, fig and honeydew to subtle, graceful, vanilla-scented oak and nutmeg nuances. This finishes as it starts, with a broad, expressive mix of flavors. Drink now through 2019. 550 cases made."
Lloyd 2020 Chardonnay, Carneros
$ 39.99
A fantastic boutique Chardonnay from Rob LLoyd who previously made Rombauer Chardonnay. Highly recommended.
Lloyd Cellars 2020 Carneros Chardonnay is the newest vintage of our most popular wine. Sourced from the Kiser, Home and Green Acres Blocks from Sangiacomo Vineyard, as well as a small amount of fruit from the Truchard Vineyard, this is a fantastic expression of big, rich California Chardonnay. Layers of tropical fruits, pear and apple are supported by rich notes of vanillin leading into a powerful and succulent finish
100% Chardonnay sourced predominately from Sangiacomo Vineyards, Kiser, Home and Green Acre Blocks with a small amount of fruit from the Truchard Vineyard. Barrel fermented and aged for 10 months in American oak. Left on the lees right until bottling
Louis Latour 2018 Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru
$ 224.99
97 points - limited
#6 WINE SPECTATOR TOP 100 OF 2021
The Domaine Louis Latour Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2018 is a powerful, complex wine. Its nose is intense, with notes of white stone fruits such as white peach, fresh hazelnut, vanilla, almond paste and roasting. The wine is full-bodied for the palate, and the vanilla is complemented by aromas of fresh almond and lime blossom. The experience ends with a very fine aromatic aftertaste that has subtle saline notes.
97 Points James Suckling: "Open and aromatic with honeysuckle flowers, dried apples and mangoes, as well as white peaches and stone. Full-bodied, this grows slowly on the palate with an intense, powerful finish. Lots of cream, cooked apples, lemons and light oak at the very end. Tight and right."
95 Points Wine Spectator *Top 100 Wines of 2021, Collectibles*: "Fresh and fruity, with aromas and flavors of lemon, pear, white flowers and stone, showing great tension and an underlying mineral component that gives this energy and length. The lemon theme continues on the lingering aftertaste, along with butter and pastry accents. With nearly 25 acres of estate vines in Burgundy’s Corton-Charlemagne—almost one-third of the appellation—Louis Latour is an important producer of this grand cru Chardonnay, with its version being the one Americans are most likely to find in restaurants and at retail shops. The vines average 30 years of age. Harvested by hand, the grapes are pressed and fermented in 100% new French oak barrels. The wine ages eight to 10 months before racking, assembling and bottling. 2018 was a ripe vintage; the timing of the harvest was crucial to strike the right balance. Latour’s Corton-Charlemagne shows great tension and an underlying mineral component that lends energy and length."
Macauley 2015 Bacigalupi Vineyard Chardonnay, Russian River Valley
$ 49.99
A tiny production Chardonnay from Macauley from the legendary Bacigalupi vineyard! Limited.
From the region's iconic Chardonnay grower comes a fresh 2016 with notes of lemon, light marshmallow and trailing wafts of honey. The mouth shows layers of fruit cocktail, melon and citrus fruit. Another crisp and stunning Chard from the vines that put California on the map.
Martinelli 2019 Lolita Ranch Chardonnay, Russian River Valley
$ 61.00
Rare new release from Martinelli and their Lolita Ranch Vineyard. Limited.
previous vintage 94 Points Robert Parker: "The Martinelli Chardonnay Lolita Ranch has pure aromas of roasted almonds, saline, white peaches and honeysuckle with an underlying mineral character. The palate is satiny, seamlessly fresh and transparent, with bright, citrusy fruits at this youthful stage and a long, mineral-driven finish. 193 cases produced."
Robert Parker: "...One of the great families of Northern California, and of course, one of the highest quality producers, the Martinellis – and rather remarkably so – only estate-bottle 15% of their production from over 300 acres of beautifully situated vineyards in the Russian River Valley and Sonoma Coast. No doubt Helen Turley, who worked at Martinelli and mentored its winemaking team, left a profound influence on the quality of the Chardonnays, Pinot Noirs, Syrahs and Zinfandels, a fact that can’t be overstated. The Chardonnays all go through full malolactic fermentation and tend to see about 50% new oak. The Pinot Noirs are always 100% destemmed and largely spend no longer than ten months in about 60% new French oak."
Meiomi 2017 Chardonnay, California
$ 22.00
The latesst release from Belle Glos! A fantastic new Chardonnay under the Meiomi label, always one of California's best buys.
Unifying three of California's most notable coastal areas from the maritime mist of Sonoma, to the chilly fog of Santa Barbara, and the howling winds of Monterey in between - these Chardonnay vineyards lay the foundation for one dynamic blend. With a soft hand in the cellar and aged in French barrels, the wine evolves into an elegant balance of spice and fruit, weight and restraint. The Meiomi Chardonnay opens with luxurious aromas of apple, pear, and white flowers. Creamy and lush on the palate, it possesses ripe flavors of golden apple, bright pear, and honeysuckle that all weave together naturally in the soft, creamy finish.
Melville 2018 "Estate" Chardonnay, Santa Rita Hills
$ 37.00
93+ Points
A fantastic new Chardonnay from Melville, one of our favorite Santa Barbara producers!
93 Points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "Melville's 2018 Chardonnay Estate is open-knit and inviting from the very first taste. Apricot, orange jam and passionfruit give the 2018 a decidedly exotic feel. This mid-weight Chardonnay has a ton to offer. Even with all of its intensity, the 2018 remains gracious and understated. It is such a classy and polished wine."
93 Points Jeb Dunnuck: "There are two Chardonnays from Chad Melville. Looking first at the Melville 2018 Chardonnay Estate Sta. Rita Hills, its medium gold color is followed by a spicy, salty bouquet of crushed citrus, iodine, honeyed minerality, and white flowers. With good richness, bright acidity, and a medium-bodied mouthfeel, it's going to keep nicely for 10-12 years."
Mer Soleil 2019 "Silver" Unoaked Chardonnay, Santa Lucia Highlands
$ 18.99
Mer Soleil 2020 Reserve Chardonnay, Santa Lucia Highlands
$ 19.99 $ 27.00
Mer Soleil is a beautiful Chardonnay produced by Chuck Wagner of Caymus Vineyards and his son Charlie.
Mer Soleil Chardonnay is made in a complex, barrel-fermented style reminiscent of the white wines of Burgundy but with the generous sun-ripened flavors of California. They grow fruit at the Mer Soleil Vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlandsn near Monterey on an east-facing lower slope which provides a barrier from the Pacific Ocean. This Chardonnay has Mer Soleil’s signature aromas of tropical fruit and toasted spice.
93 Points Wine Enthusiast: "Year in and year out, Mer Soleil's Chardonnay is one of the biggest, most distinctive ones in California. Rich in apricot jam, pineapple custard and new oak butterscotch flavors, but for all the opulence, it's entirely dry, and has zesty Monterey acidity. Almost a food group in itself, it will challenge chefs to rise to the occasion."
Merryvale 2018 "Silhouette" Chardonnay, Napa Valley
$ 64.99
94 Points
The flagship wine from Merryvale, the Silhouette is one of California's best Chardonnays.
94 Points Robert Parker: "Their flagship wine, the Merryvale Chardonnay Silhouette has a greenish hue to its light gold color and offers up orange peel, tangerine, citrus, apple blossom, crushed rocks and a touch of spicy oak. It is full-bodied, backward, but beautifully delineated and vibrant. It could pass for a grand cru from Burgundy’s Côte d’Or in a blind tasting. Drink it over the next decade."
Metzker 2016 Ritchie Vineyard Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast
$ 64.99
A fantastic boutique discovery in small-production Chardonnay from the legendary Ritchie Vineyard from Metzker Family Estates.
93 Points Wine Spectator: "Very rich, with brioche notes to the succulent ripe pear, apple pastry and dried apricot flavors. Shows fine density and texture, with a long finish loaded with hints of spice and honey. Drink now through 2022. 275 cases made."
The 2016 Chardonnay from Ritchie Vineyard has aromas of honeysuckle, melon and lemon rind. There is an underlying layer of nuttiness reminiscent of smoked hazelnuts that gracefully comes through. With its full body and lavish mouthfeel, this wine is balanced by the minerality and acidity characteristic of these 40-year-old vines on the Ritchie Vineyard property.
Miner 2017 Wild Yeast Chardonnay, Napa Valley
$ 54.99
One o f our favorite Napa Valley Chardonnays from Miner Family. Limited.
Why "wild" ? The grapes for the Miner Wild Yeast Chardonnay are fermented using only indigenous yeast cultures found on the skins of the grapes themselves, in the vineyards and within the walls of the winery. Gracefully sailing through full malolactic, the wine retains its vital acidity along with incredible freshness and richness. Aromas of vanilla and pear are followed by effusive ripe fruit flavors and subtle toastiness on the palate. Citrus and caramel notes add to the intrigue of this smooth, supple and unabashedly sexy chardonnay.
previous vintage 95 Points Connoisseur's Guide: "Miner Wild Yeast Chardonnay has complex notes of ripe apples, creme brulee, toasted bread and savory spices are combined in the deeply framed, rich aromas of this full-bodied, mouthfilling and well-balanced wine. It follows on the palate with ripe and wide-ranging flavors and has both the range and depth to be a great mealtime choice to accompany well-seasoned roasted chicken served with fancy reduction sauce or for the fleshy fishes with fusion-influened sauces. It does not need long aging but is certain to reward a few years of patient cellaring."
Morgan 2019 "Highlands" Chardonnay, Santa Lucia Highlands
$ 26.00
Morgan Highlander Chardonnay is fantastic Chardonnay for the price from one of our favorite California wineries, this is the perfect wine to enjoy now while cellaring others.
91 Points Wine Enthusiast: "Those familiar with Morgan’s more expensive Chardonnays, such as the Double L (which comprises 55% of this blend) will find some true value in this regional wine. It shows similar power and authority in a showy Chablis-style wine whose acidic, minerally structure frames intense citrus and oak flavors.
Morlet 2019 'Ma Princesse' Chardonnay, Russian River Valley
$ 105.00
98+ Points - limited
Morlet makes some of the most coveted wines in Sonoma and all of California. These are some of the top-scoring wines of the vintage. Limited.
98+ Points Robert Parker: "Ma Princesse comes from the Ritchie vineyard in Russian River, planted to Old Wente clone selection, from vines that are 50+ years old. A barrel sample to be bottled in February 2021, the 2019 Chardonnay Ma Princesse needs a little swirling to unlock gorgeous scents of lemon meringue pie, lime cordial and honeydew melon with wafts of toasted almonds, brioche and nutmeg. The medium to full-bodied palate has a decadent oiliness to the texture with just enough freshness to lift the ripe, rich melon and toast flavors with a long finish. 400 cases are due to be made."
97+ Points Jeb Dunnuck: "The 2019 Chardonnay Ma Princesse comes from the Russian River Valley (Ritchie Vineyard), and it's another terrific Chardonnay. Stunning stone fruits, white flowers, green almond, chalky mineral, and a beautiful sense of salty, mineral, marine-like character all define the bouquet, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a tight, backward mouthfeel and a great finish. It needs at least another year in the cellar, but it’s going to deliver the goods through 2033."
In St. Helena, the heart of the Napa Valley, Luc and Jodie Morlet handcraft vins de terroirs and unique cuvées from the surrounding Napa Valley and Sonoma Coast. Meticulously farmed vineyards and low-intervention winemaking techniques produce powerful yet refined wines displaying personality, complexity and graceful aging capability. By taking Old World principles and adapting them to California, the Morlet style results in wines which are harmonious in their intensity, richness and refinement. Unwavering commitment to quality leads to small yields, attentive sorting, and the highest standard when blending. Thus, a very limited amount of each wine is produced.
Mount Eden 2017 Estate Chardonnay, Santa Cruz Mountains
$ 59.99
95 points
One of the longest continuous estate bottled production Chardonnays in North America! This wine is considered one of the longest-lived white wines produced in California. Very limited.
95 points Wine Enthusiast: "One of the greatest Chardonnays made in California each vintage, this bottling blends riper elements of yellow peach and honey with the tension of tangerine rind and pink-grapefruit pith on the nose. The palate is very energetic and tangy, with orange peels, crushed sea shells and a touch of salt hanging from an extremely well-chiseled structure."
94 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "Pure silk on the palate, the 2013 Chardonnay Estate offers textbook notes of buttered apples, brioche, toasted bread and hints of minerality to go with medium to full-bodied richness, beautiful purity of fruit, no hard edges and impeccable balance. It's beautiful today, but should evolve gracefully for at least 5-6 years. Looking at the 2013s from Jeffrey Patterson, these are serious wines that need to be on your short list for purchasing, and both the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are in the top handful of wines in the appellation."
Taut and vibrant, the 2013 Chardonnay is one of this winery’s finest. The lifeblood of owners Jeffrey and Ellie Patterson, this tiny winery in Saratoga is one of California’s underappreciated treasures. Mount Eden is a labor of love, producing small amounts of Cabernet, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The Chardonnay comes from two shy-bearing parcels on the mountaintop, giving a mix of ripe and structured cuvées that spend a year in French oak and undergo full malolactic fermentation. The wines are styled to age for 10 years or longer.
Mount Eden 2019 Edna Valley Chardonnay
$ 23.99
Mount Eden's Edna Valley Chardonnay is one of our best value Chardonnay discoveries - get it before this vintage sells out!
94 Points Robert Parker: "The Mount Eden Chardonnay Wolff Vineyard from Edna Valley is pure, energetic and fresh this vintage. The nose is lovely, loaded with floral perfume and ripe citrus fruits. The palate is silky and expansive with a shimmering mineral character and a long, pure finish. It improved over the two to three days it was open and will benefit from a long decant."
92 Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "The Mount Eden Chardonnay Wolff Vineyard is bright, nuanced and so expressive. Lemon peel, tangerine oil, dried flowers, chamomile and orchard fruit accents give it a striking sense of translucence. Bright and sculpted, the 2018 is outright fabulous. This old-vine, low-yielding site produces a Chardonnay of real distinction. Harvest took place in late October."
After many years of drought impacting yields, the historic Wolff Vineyard is back into full swing and once again Mount Eden's Edna Valley bottling bears it's name and the old vine designation.
For those wine drinkers who gravitate toward moderate alcohol, trim, focused, earth-driven flavors and brightness in the finish, this is your kind of wine and it has been awarded one of the "Year's 100 Best Buys" by Wine and Spirits Magazine. Jean-Pierre Wolff farms 55 acres of Chardonnay vines in the bucolic Edna Valley, outside the town of San Luis Obispo. Originally planted in 1976 by Edna Valley wine pioneer Andy Macgregor (Wolff purchased the property from Macgregor in 1999), the vineyard is the oldest in the Edna Valley. We have made Chardonnay from these vines since 1985. These mature vines typically yield two to four tons per acre
Newton 2018 "Unfiltered" Chardonnay, Napa Valley
$ 59.99
93 Points
The Newton "Unfiltered" Chardonnay has just been released - always one of California's finest Chardonnays! Newton Vineyards is one of the great vineyard estates of Spring Mountain with neighbors like Cain, Pride Mountain and Paloma. Their highly-rated Unfiltered Chardonnay sells out every year.
93 Points Robert Parker: "Newton’s unfiltered Chardonnay has been a consistent winner since it was first launched in the early 1980s, when the fruit was coming from what is today John Kongsgaard’s Judge cuvée. Newton is still making this wine unfiltered, and the Chardonnay Unfiltered is rich and displays beautiful white peach, honeysuckle and tropical fruit, some nice, crisp wet pebble minerality in the background and a full-bodied mouthfeel. Deep, layered and complete, this is a big-time winner.....
...This cuvée has been one of California’s great classic Chardonnays for over two decades. It also has remarkable aging potential. In the early years, much of the credit went to some of the talented people who worked here, including John Kongsgaard, Luc Morlet and Michel Rolland."
Nickel & Nickel 2020 Truchard Vineyard Chardonnay, Carneros
$ 58.00
Delicious new Chardonnay release from Far Niente's single vineyard Nickel & Nickel winery. Only 250 cases produced.
With fragrant orange blossom and floral aromas, juicy tropical fruit and pear top notes, and a subtle minerality, the Nickel & Nickel Truchard Vineyard Chardonnay continues our tradition of crafting 100%-varietal wines from outstanding single-vineyard sites. It's a cornerstone of our single-vineyard Chardonnay collection.
The Truchard Vineyard in Napa Valley’s Carneros region benefits from beautiful sun exposure and cool morning and evening fog. Stiling and Medina Vineyards are each located in Russian River Valley, just a half-mile apart. Both vineyards are planted in Goldridge loam and yield distinct wines with classic minerality and fresh fruit flavors that help make some of the best chardonnays including this classic from Nickel & Nickel.
Nid Tissé 2019 Bacigalupi Vineyard Chardonnay, Russian River Valley
$ 84.99
Rare boutique Chardonnay from the legendary Hyde Vineyard - limited.
96 Points Jeb Dunnuck: "In the same ballpark quality-wise, yet in a very different style, the 2019 Chardonnay Bacigalupi Vineyard comes from the Russian River and offers a bigger, richer style in its notes of ripe melon, pear jam, flower oil, and toasted bread. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it has a beautifully balanced mouthfeel, nicely integrated acidity, plenty of mid-palate depth, and a great finish. It's another beautiful wine from this winemaker that merits serious attention. Drink bottles any time over the coming 10-12 years."
Marie-Laure Ammons founded Nid Tissé, the name itself translates to “woven nest”, in French. A native of France, she studied wine in Burgundy and Bordeaux. Nid Tisse evokes traveling to a new place and making a home - hers being in Napa Valley for nearly 20 years, 18 of them working with Philippe Melka. Nid Tisse reflects a marriage of the old and new world -California sunshine with freshness, texture and ability to gracefully age that are rooted in the tradition of old world wines. Great wines come from great vineyards and she is excited be working with the historic vineyards and some of the great grape growing families in the region, Bacigalupi and Hyde.
Nid Tissé 2019 Hyde Vineyard Chardonnay, Carneros
$ 74.99
Rare boutique Chardonnay from the legendary Hyde Vineyard - limited.
97 Points Jeb Dunnuck: "The Nid Tissé 2019 Chardonnay Hyde Vineyard comes from a well-known site in Carneros, in the southern part of Napa Valley. This is pure class all the way and has a vivid perfume of citrus blossom, honeyed minerality, green almond, and a touch of charcoal. It shows more richness on the palate and is medium-bodied, has a beautifully layered mouthfeel, integrated acidity, and one heck of a great finish. I don't think there's much of this to go around, but it's up there with the crème de la crème of California Chardonnay. It needs lots of air to show at its best today and will benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age and shine over the following decade."
Marie-Laure Ammons founded Nid Tissé, the name itself translates to “woven nest”, in French. A native of France, she studied wine in Burgundy and Bordeaux. Nid Tisse evokes traveling to a new place and making a home - hers being in Napa Valley for nearly 20 years, 18 of them working with Philippe Melka. Nid Tisse reflects a marriage of the old and new world -California sunshine with freshness, texture and ability to gracefully age that are rooted in the tradition of old world wines. Great wines come from great vineyards and she is excited be working with the historic vineyards and some of the great grape growing families in the region, Bacigalupi and Hyde.
O'Shaughnessy 2016 Chardonnay, Napa Valley
$ 54.95
Rare new Chardonnay from one of our favorite small Napa wineries! The O'Shaughnessy 2012 Chardonnay is the new release from one of our favorite boutique Napa producers.
92 Points Antonio Galloni: "Understated, polished and classy, O'Shaughnessy 2016 Chardonnay is done in a bright, focused style that emphasizes citrus and floral notes. Blocked malolactic fermentation gives the wine a good bit of energy to match its mid-weight feel. The Chardonnay is done in a combination of oak and stainless steel. ."
Founding winemaker, Sean Capiaux, has established an impressive and notable career over the past twenty six years at prominent wineries around the globe. He graduated from California State University, Fresno (BS, Enology; minor in Chemistry) in the late-80’s and began his career at Jordan Winery in Sonoma County’s Alexander Valley. Sean traveled to Perth, Australia to work on the winemaking team at the Houghton Winery and later returned to the United States to become the assistant winemaker at Pine Ridge Winery in the Stags Leap district. Peter Michael Winery tapped him to become their assistant winemaker where he worked for four years. Sean spent several years as a bicoastal winemaker attending to wines both on Long Island and in California before coming to O’Shaughnessy.
Odette 2018 Reserve Chardonnay, Napa Valley
$ 79.99
94 Points
The Odette 2018 Reserve Chardonnay is the new release from the newest winery from PlumpJack. Extremely limited.
94 Points Jeb Dunnuck: "Rocking levels of caramelized apples, pineapple, brioche, honeysuckle, and toasty nuances emerge from the Ogette 2018 Chardonnay Reserve, and this medium to full-bodied beauty has a round, supple, plush mouthfeel and a great finish. I don't think it's going to make old bones, but it's one seriously delicious Chardonnay that should keep for 2-4 years."
This wine is crafted from the famed Hudson Ranch off of Henry Road in the Carneros AVA of Napa Valley. 2018 marks the first year with the addition of Block 6S paired with our select rows in Block 5BS. This unique new block planted in sandy soil, adds to the overall depth and complexity bringing verve and energy to the palate. The adjacent blocks are both planted to Odette Estate Winemaker Jeff Owens’ favorite clone, “old shot wente”, also referred to as “chicks and hens”.
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Robert Parker: "...Tucked into the dramatic palisades of the Stags Leap District, sits Odette Estate on 45 voluptuous acres. As the newest addition to the beloved region, Odette looks to serve as a "breath of fresh air" to the historic District. Contemporary architecture and design, paired with a contemporary stance on environmental responsibility, Odette is symbolic of the future of Stags Leap. With its two sister properties, PlumpJack and CADE (located in Oakville and Howell Mountai respectively), Odette rounds out the trio of wineries committed to producing full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignons that are notable for the combination of power and elegance, while simultaneously showcasing the unique properties of the AVA."
Pahlmeyer 2018 "Jayson" Chardonnay, Napa Valley
$ 49.99
The Pahlmeyer "Jayson" Chardonnay is the second label of the "Industrial Strength" Pahlmeyer Chardonnay and an amazing buy.
92 Points Wine Spectator: "A touch of creamy oak adds a nice textural dimension, joining vibrant apple, pineapple and tropical fruit flavors. Ends with a dash of butterscotch. Drink now through 2022."
After a meticulous selection process in assembling the final blend of the Pahlmeyer Chardonnay, the winery assigned the remaining lots of wine to the "Jayson" label. The Pahlmeyer Jayson Chardonnay was hand crafted with the same care and attention that is given to all of their wines and the fruit comes from the same vineyard as the $85 version . It is an excellent value at a fraction of the price of regular Pahlmeyer Chardonnay.
Pahlmeyer 2020 Chardonnay, Napa Valley
$ 99.99
New release of Pahlmeyer's famous Chardonnay. Limited.
94 Points Robert Parker: "Almost entirely Old Wente clone (or, more properly, selection), Pahlmeyer's 2020 Chardonnay continues to be among Napa's most noteworthy efforts with the variety. All barrel fermented in all new oak from François Frères, there are overtones of smoke, mocha and popcorn, notes of honey and toast but also a deep core of pear and melon notes. Full-bodied and generous on the palate, it's also long and citrusy, with classy notes of pencil shavings on the lingering finish."
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