$ 39.99
96 Points
A fantastic buy in top shelf Napa Valley Chardonnay - don't miss!
96 Points Jeb Dunnuck: " I was blown away by the 2020 Chardonnay, a clean, crisp, vibrant expression of Chardonnay that has medium to full-bodied richness, wonderfully integrated acidity, and a distinct sense of minerality in its citrus, stone fruit, and white flower-driven aromatics. It's shockingly good and tastes like it cost 3-4 times its price."
Hoopes Vineyard is a small, family-owned winegrower and producer with deep roots in Napa Valley. First vineyard was planted in 1981 and first vintage was in 1984. The first vintage under Hoopes Vineyard was 1999.
The estate is now run by second-generation proprietor, Lindsay Hoopes. Raised on the farm by her wine-loving family, Lindsay learned how to cultivate grapes and promote Napa’s sense of place and terroir through her father, Spencer Hoopes. Spencer Hoopes loved farming, and developed a passion for wine as the wine industry in Napa blossomed right around him. Hoopes cares deeply about sustainability efforts, and intend to shepherd the land for multiple generations to come. All of their vineyards are Certified Organic or are undergoing certification. The vineyards are working, regenerative farms complete with animals, water recycling systems, and bio-diversity practices aimed at enhancing the overall health of their vineyard ecosystem.
Sold Out
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.
96 Points Robert Parker: "The Hyde de Villaine 2019 Chardonnay comes from vines in the Hyde Vineyard that are 25-40 years old and planted to Wente (60%) and Calera (40%) selections. Aged in about 15% new French oak, the nose is perfumed and pure, with scents of quince, apricot, beeswax, river stone and citrus blossoms. The palate offers a compelling dynamic of satiny, expansive fruits and fresh, focused acidity, and it has a long, nuanced finish. It will continue to unwind in bottle over the next 2-3 years and gain savory complexity over the next decade."
96 Points Wine Spectator: "Stunning, showing a pure beam of white nectarine, mango and ripe Bartlett pear flavors that mingle with pound cake, toasted, salted hazelnut and nutmeg on a supple, rich frame, which draws focus from a bright thread of acidity. Drink now through 2030."
HdV is a joint family venture between Hyde Vineyards and their French cousins, Aubert and Pamela de Villaine. Hyde Vineyards has become renowned for their ability to capture the Carneros terroir, while the Villaines stand among the most recognized names in Burgundy. This Old-World meets New World charmer is a cool Carneros beauty of impressive energy and opulence with lively acidity balancing the creamy texture.
$ 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.
$ 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.
$ 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.
$ 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.
$ 44.99
Great new Chardonnay release from Keenan! One of our favorite wineries on Napa's Spring Mountain.
93 Points James Suckling: "A fresh and vivid chardonnay with cooked-apple, honey and cream character. Medium-to full-bodied, fresh and bright. Tight. No malo. One for the cellar. Drink or hold."
Keenan's 2020 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 fare.
$ 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.
$ 249.99
Kistler Cuvee Cathleen Chardonnay - rare new release.
98 Points Robert Parker: "The Kistler 2020 Chardonnay Cuvée Cathleen offers exceptionally defined, layered aromas: apricot and peach are complemented by tones of dried lilacs and herbs, honeycomb, almonds, tangerine, pie spices and flinty streaks. The medium-bodied palate is satiny and seamless, with concentrated, peachy fruit, tangy acidity and a tremendously long finish driven by an appealing touch of phenolic texture. It's a rare combination of fruit density carried on an elegant, harmonious structure."
..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.."
$ 199.99
Kistler Hyde Vineyard Chardonnay - rare new release.
98+ Points Robert Parker: "Coche-Dury fans will love this Kistler 2020 Chardonnay Hyde Vineyard, which turns up the volume and expression of the characteristically tensile, flinty Chardonnay from Hyde Vineyard. Opening with tones of struck match, it takes plenty of time in the glass to unfurl its concentrated white peach, apricot, lime peel, baking spice and pie crust aromas. The palate offers a fantastically satiny texture, seamless acidity and a tremendously long 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. 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."
$ 209.99
Kistler Kistler Vineyard Chardonnay - rare new release.
97 Points Robert Parker: "The dry-farmed vines at Kistler Vineyard, about 40 years old now, produced a wine with loads of personality. The Kistler 2020 Chardonnay Kistler Vineyard unfolds its aromatic layers slowly, blossoming from flint to white peaches and lime peel, plus touches of dried sage, beeswax, almonds and pie crust. The palate is surprisingly powerful and concentrated, with hedonistic layers of stone fruit and candied citrus. All that fruit density is supported by a silky texture and seamless acidity, and a touch of phenolic texture drives its tremendously long finish.
...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.."
$ 325.00
Kistler Kistler Vineyard Chardonnay - rare new release.
97 Points Robert Parker: "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."
...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.."
$ 199.99
Limited single-vineyard Kistler Chardonnay now available.
previous vintage 96 Points Robert Parker: "The Kistler 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."
$ 199.99
Kistler Vine Hill Vineyard Chardonnay - rare new release.
95 Points Robert Parker: "The Kistler 2020 Chardonnay Vine Hill Vineyard unfurls scents of yellow apples, lemon-lime, meringue and elderflower with stony notes. The palate is satiny and mouth-coating with concentrated candied citrus flavors. It has a great interplay of creamy, meringue-like character and bright, tangy acidity, and it has a very long, ethereal finish....
...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."
$ 79.99
New release!
The Kistler Sonoma Mountain Chardonnay is a special blend of wines from Kistler's vineyards.
The Kistler Sonoma Mountain 2021 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.
$ 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."
$ 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."
$ 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."
$ 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.
94 Points Jeb Dunnuck: "All three of the Chardonnays are great, and the Lewis Chardonnay Napa Valley is well worth seeking out. Its medium gold hue is followed by a great, classic nose of ripe white peach, caramelized citrus, white flowers, and a touch of rocky, mineral-like nuances. It's actually made in a fresher, more elegant style than the richer Sonoma County release yet brings plenty of richness and texture."
The bountiful yields of 2021 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.
$ 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."
$ 64.99
94 Points - new release
Exclusive new Russian River Valley Chardonnay release from one of Napa Valley's finest producers, Lewis Cellars. Only 600 cases produced.
previous vintage 94 Points Jeb Dunnuck: "Moving to the three Chardonnays, the Lewis Chardonnay Russian River Valley offers lots of baked apple, marzipan, toast, and spice-driven aromatics. These give way to a medium to full-bodied Chardonnay revealing a terrific mix of richness and freshness as well as a gorgeous finish. This classy, concentrated beauty will evolve for a solid 4-6 years."
$ 39.99
A fantastic boutique Chardonnay from Rob LLoyd who previously made Rombauer Chardonnay. Highly recommended.
Lloyd Cellars Carneros Chardonnay is the newest vintage of our most popular wine. Sourced from the Kister, 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
$ 54.99
New release
Limited release of Santa Barbara's new Cult Pinot Noir. Winemaker Matt Dees (Jonata, The Hilt) is crafting some of the area's best wines
A small portion (100 cases total) of Mail Road's remaining Estate barrels - the cream of the crop of the vintage’s declassified production - will henceforth be utilized for their newest bottling, Mail Road Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills Santa Barbara. An expression of Mt. Carmel’s unique terroir, this wine is everything we look for in a Sta. Rita Hills bottling. Ripe and powerful, with a laser focus. This is a beautiful wine.
93+ Jeb Dunnuck: "The Mail Road Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills is terrific, with a Volnay-like floral character as well as bright strawberry and blueberry fruits and spice nuances. Medium-bodied on the palate, it has nicely integrated acidity, ripe, polished tannins, and a great finish. It's another brilliant, beautifully balanced wine from this estate that will drink nicely for 7-8 years. Despite the appellation label, the 2019 comes all from the Mt. Carmel Vineyard in the Sta. Rita Hills....I was able to taste three wines from Mail Road, which continue to be made by Matt Dees. These are pure, crystalline, focused wines that still bring beautiful depth of fruit and concentration. They’re some of the best out there."
Winemaker Matt Dees: "Dark, sultry, and inviting. Cocoa powder. Blackberry, ripeblood orange, and black pepper. Silky fruit on the attack. Powdery tannins slowly envelop the palate with a gentle coating. Chalky and refined. Freshness and green herbs. Powerful fruit with a light touch and long lingering elegance. Such a pleasure to drink over the next five years."
Mount Carmel Vineyard is the exclusive purveyor to Mail Road Wines. Mount Carmel Vineyard is located on a steep, south-facing cliff, north of the Santa Ynez River. Established in 1990 by Ron and Nancy Piazza, the vineyard is planted to a variety of own-rooted, organically and principally dry farmed, heritage Pinot Noir and Chardonnay clones. The vineyard is at 800 to 1000 feet elevation, with botella clay, limestone, diatomaceous earth, calcerous deposits and sandy loam soils.
$ 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."
$ 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."
$ 39.99
96 Points
A fantastic new Chardonnay from Melville, one of our favorite Santa Barbara producers!
96 Points Jeb Dunnuck: "Starting with the appellation cuvée, the 2019 Chardonnay Sta. Rita Hills reveals a medium gold hue as well as classic Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay notes of salted citrus, orchard fruits, toasted nuts, and brioche, with ample chalky, flinty minerality. Clean, pure, medium-bodied, and brilliantly balanced, it stretches out beautifully on the finish and is a thrilling Chardonnay that's unquestionably in the same realm as the single vineyards."
94 Points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "The 2019 Chardonnay Estate is positively stellar. Rich and ample, the 2019 Estate shows just how compelling the vintage is for Chardonnay. Chad Melville coaxes unreal complexity from his vineyards. The 2019 is ample, concentrated and full of personality. Lemon confit, almond, flowers and tropical accents linger. The Estate spent 11 months in steel with no stirring or racking, except to bottle."
$ 18.99
$ 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."
$ 64.99
$ 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.
$ 59.99
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."
$ 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.
$ 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.
$ 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.
$ 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
$ 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."
$ 58.00
$ 84.99
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.
$ 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.
$ 54.99
The Pahlmeyer "Jayson" Chardonnay is the second label of the "Industrial Strength" Pahlmeyer Chardonnay and an amazing buy.
92 Points Robert Parker: "The Jayson Chardonnay rolls out of the glass with seductive scents of ripe apricots, honeydew melon, apple pie and poached pears with hints of cedar, honey toast and crushed cashews. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is chock-full of spicy apple and pear-inspired flavors with a satiny texture and refreshing burst on the finish. 1,400 cases were made."
The Jayson Chardonnay is layered and dynamic: The mountain fruit of our Pahlmeyer vineyards contributes intensity and crisp acidity, while our lower-elevation blocks offer freshness, tropical notes, and lovely aromatic lift. We hand-harvested each vineyard at optimal ripeness, picking in the predawn hours. Each whole cluster was meticulously hand sorted at the winery before pressing. The wine was gently whole-cluster pressed, naturally settled, and barrel fermented. It was racked from barrel for blending, then aged as a blend for 8 months before racking for bottling.
$ 69.99
e
Limited new release of a small-production Chardonnay from Patria.
Right away its crystal clear that this is the more forward of the two Patrisa Chardonnays. Explosive aromas of Roasted hazelnut, apple pie filling, orange blossom and lemon oil are followed on the palate with expansive flavors of roasted apple, pineapple husk, lime zest and marzipan. Of the two I would crack into the Ritchie first to enjoy its youthful precociousness.
Patria is one of the newest cult wines we've discovered in Napa Valley. Between the pedigree behind the wine and the quality of what is in the bottle, this production is poised to be on the radar of collectors and connoisseurs alike. Anthony (Tony) Biagi, former Winemaker of Plumpjack wines and still consultant at Cade Winery, is the mastermind behind Patria. Bringing years of experience to the table, Tony crafts these rich, dense and chewy style of Cabernet Sauvignon that we've come to love over the years and the 2014 is another excellent vintage.
$ 54.95
Another beauty from the Chardonnay masters at Patz & Hall - sourced from the Hyde Vineyard made famous by Kistler!
Hyde Vineyard has justifiably become one of the superstar vineyards in Carneros. The Patz & Hall 2012 Hyde Vineyard Chardonnay is perhaps the most sought after fruit in the pantheon of great California vineyards.
92 Points Robert Parker: "The 2013 Chardonnay Hyde Vineyard (1,100 cases produced) is made from the Hyde-Old Wente clone. From sandy, clay, loam soils, it offers up aromas of honeysuckle, white peach, delicate pineapple and subtle oak. Medium to full-bodied with great acidity as well as beautiful purity and freshness, it should drink nicely for 5-7 years, perhaps longer...Patz and Hall has long been a model for how to run a high-quality négociant business, buying fruit from top vineyards and crafting it into wines that can compete with the finest from estate vineyards.."
$ 41.99
Great new Chardonnay release from Patz & Hall - dont miss.
91 Points Robert Parker: "The Chardonnay Sonoma Coast offers aromas of honey-drizzled peaches, poached pears, musk melon and butterscotch. Medium to full-bodied with a pleasant oiliness to the texture and plenty of butter-laced stone fruit flavors on offer, it has great harmony and persistence"
In addition to reflecting the dazzling quality of the 2018 growing season, the Patz & Hall Sonoma Coast Chardonnay includes grapes from an exceptional new vineyard that was planted specifically for us by renowned winegrower Mark Sanchietti. Though it comes from a who’s who of world-class Sonoma Coast vineyards, the core of this Chardonnay is from Sanchietti Vineyard Pleasant Hill and Gap’s Crown, with the Sanchietti fruit adding richness and texture and the Gap’s Crown grapes providing minerality and vibrant acidity. Blended with grapes from acclaimed vineyards like Parmalee Hill, Dutton Ranch and Durell Vineyard, this wine is beautifully complex with aromas and flavors of pineapple, guava, honeydew and lime zest, as well as secondary notes of toasted almond macaroon, cinnamon and sugar cookies. On the palate, it is plush and mouthfilling, flowing to a long, layered finish"
$ 26.99
A great new Chardonnay from one of California's most celebrated winemakers Paul Hobbs. Crossbarn is his new label and a fantastic value in high-end Chardonnay.
90 Points Robert Parker: "The 2019 Chardonnay is fresh and bright, offering aromas of green pears, baker's yeast, crushed stone and white blossoms. The palate is medium-bodied, silky and uplifted with crisp fruits and a mineral driven finish."
Paul Hobbs's Crossbarn label has long been lauded for beautiful Sonoma County Pinots and Chardonnays, while also producing delicious Cabernets from Napa Valley and Sonoma County. As Antonio Galloni has said, "Paul Hobbs's Crossbarn label is a great place to look for values."
$ 64.99
Another fabulous Chardonnay from Paul Hobbs. Get the new release while it's available.
94 Points Robert Parker: "The barrel sample of Paul Hobbs Chardonnay is exuberant with baked apples and guava aromas loaded with honeyed undertones. The medium-bodied palate is rounded and very fresh, its gregarious fruits lifted by juicy acidity that carries the long finish. This is currently resting in stainless steel and is due to be bottled in January 2021."
94 Points Jeb Dunnuck: "Leading off the Chardonnay from Paul Hobbs, the Paul Hobbs Chardonnay Russian River Valley reveals a light gold hue as well as a classic, cleanly perfumed bouquet of honeyed citrus, crushed stone, white flowers, and brioche, with just a hint of toasted almond emerging with time in the glass. Medium-bodied, fresh, and lively on the palate, it gains more and more minerality as it sits in the glass. It’s flawlessly balanced, with an incredible mix of rich, ripe fruit and racy, bright acidity as well as outstanding length. This white is well worth searching out, and I would rank it with one of the top, base appellation blends in the vintage."
93 Points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "The Paul HobbsChardonnay (Russian River Valley) is fabulous. Creamy, open-knit and so expressive, the 2019 has a ton to offer. Apricot, baked apple tart, pastry and light tropical accents all run through this wonderfully inviting Chardonnay."
...Paul Hobbs is undoubtedly one of the world’s finest consultants, and as Americans we’re lucky to have this New York State-born winemaking guru right in the heart of the Russian River, turning out a bevy of wines from both Napa and the following items from their estate vineyards in Sonoma as well as from purchased fruit. Hobbs has a separate entity now, which is aimed at producing good value wines under the Cross Barn by Paul Hobbs moniker. There’s some juicy, high-quality stuff in these cuvées."
$ 54.99
95 Points - limited
Discover this up-and-coming Sonoma Coast superstar while its still available! One of the our favorite small-production, high end Chardonnays from Peirson Meyer.
94+ Points Robert Parker: "The Peirson Meyer Chardonnay Sophia's Vineyard is scented of orchard fruits, white flowers and beeswax with a youthful framing of matchstick-like reduction. The palate is silky, lifted and ripe, with mineral character adding tension and a long finish laced with floral perfume. It's tensile and lively and will age well in bottle. 150 cases were made."
93 Points Robert Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "The Peirson Meyer Chardonnay Sophia's Vineyard is a bit brighter than most of the Chardonnays in this range and also has more phenolic edge, which helps shape the wine. Lemon confit, chamomile, dried flowers and apricot all open in the glass. Readers will want to open the 2018 well in advance. This is one of the most impressive wines I have tasted from Alan Peirson and Robbie Meyer."
This beauty comes from Robbie Meyer, former assistant at Peter Michael winery. Super-small production and one of the best Chardonnays we've found in California!
$ 58.00
Limited
New release of Plumpjack's Reserve Chardonnay - limited.
The PlumpJack Reserve Chardonnay 2020 is a fantastic Napa Chardonnay. Aromas of white peaches, pear, orange blossom and warm apple pie filling are followed on the palate with flavors of Fuji apples, cinnamon stick and lemon curd. Very pleasant to drink now but the acidity gives it room to age.
Plumpjack opts not for the typical profile of Napa Chardonnay with this bottling, but for the "alternative," without malolactic fermentation, and the attendant buttery palate profile. The winery's vintage note explains: "The cooler Carneros site imparts this wine with fresh green apple and Bartlett pear on the nose, while the warmer St. Helena site lends to some tropical notes. The Carneros vineyard also gives this wine a beautiful, bright, lively acidity, which is balanced by the creamy, rich texture of the St. Helena fruit. A touch of oak gives the wine traces of vanilla, flint, and spice."
$ 36.00
An outstanding value in Napa Valley Chardonnay from the folks at Far Niente!
This is the second vintage of the Post & Beam Chardonnay from the highly experienced team at the Far Niente family of wineries. Post & Beam refers to the beauty of simplicity, and this Chardonnay is exactly that. This Chardonnay displays the ripeness of Napa Valley with vibrant citrus peel, mango, and ripe apple and peach. On the palate the acidity is lively and refreshing providing a rigid backbone to support the ripe tree fruit, candied citrus peel and well balanced oak.
Named for the simple yet elegant barns that dot the American landscape as an enduring reminder of our history, Post & Beam represents craftsmanship, tradition, legacy, and purity. There’s nothing unnecessary or overly complicated about a post and beam barn. It just works beautifully. The same can be said for our wines. They are simple, elegant, pure expressions of each grape in its finest form.
Tasting Notes: An alluring perfume of mango and fresh gardenia with whispers of candied citrus rind and spices open onto a round, full palate layered with fresh citrus and stone fruit flavors. Bright acidity provides structure and a mouthwatering juiciness and the finish has a captivating briny minerality that will make it a delight with fish, oysters and seafood. Enjoy this ripe and mineral Chardonnay with steamed lobster or roasted chicken and rich creamy cheeses like camembert.