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Napa Chardonnay

Overview

Buying Guide: Benchmark Napa Chardonnays
Wine Ratings

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Buying Guide: Benchmark Napa Chardonnays

With a Napa Chardonnay, expect barrel fermentation and other tricks from the winemaker's bag to be put to wise use in order to make the journey from excellent grapes to exceptional wine. A survey of the wines today would reveal that wines from the valley floor north of Rutherford can be attractive in the bold, blowsy way that was popular in the 1970s. The most ambitious of these winemakers will push all they have into their wines: malolactic fermentations, generous maturation with new oak, and ageing for extended periods on lees.

Benchmark Wines

Petroni Chardonnay Napa Valley $35

Grapes: 100% Chardonnay
Description: Crisp and dry, with concentrated flavors of lychee, peaches, and cream. Bright, tropical aromas with apple and pear.
Comment: Petroni isn’t shy about discussing the influence of white Burgundy in the creation of this Chardonnay, which is made with grapes grown in the cool, Burgundy-like areas of Carneros and Coombsville in Napa. And they shouldn’t be; this Chardonnay has the strong, tightly balanced fruit and oak character that one should expect from a wine modeled as such. Aged in 33% new French oak.
Food pairing:
When to drink: Drink on release, keep up to 3 years
Service temperature: 8°C | 47°F

Freemark Abbey Chardonnay Napa Valley $20

Grapes: 100% Chardonnay
Description: Greenish yellow in hue with banana tropical aromas, green apples, floral-lemony and honeyed butterscotch. Juicy fruit flavors of pineapples and tangerines. Crisp, clean, and dry.
Comment: The grapes are from all parts of the valley, cool as well as warm—but the main source is the cool, windy Truchard Vineyard in Carneros. This is an excellent place to grow Chardonnay, with a long ripening period much akin to that in Burgundy. The wine is matured 6-8 months in 100% French oak.
Food pairing:
When to drink: Drink on release, keep up to 4 years
Service temperature: 8°C | 47°F

Smith-Madrone Chardonnay Spring Mountain $28

Grapes: 100% Chardonnay
Description: Clear, pure flavors, in a bright, vibrant yellow robe. Has a lively acidity on the palate, with concentrated, yet elegant flavors of ripe white peach, pear, green apple and pineapple. A touch of stony mineral keeps it nicely balanced.
Comment: In the Spring Mountain appellation in Napa Valley, the 35 year old vines for this wine are dry farmed on steep, well drained slopes of volcanic soil. The harvest is 100% fermented in barrel then matured an additional 11 months prior to release.
Food pairing:
When to drink: Drink on release, keep up to 10 years
Service temperature: 8°C | 47°F

Merryvale Chardonnay Carneros

Merryvale Chardonnay Carneros $29

Grapes: 100% Chardonnay
Description: Strong varietal Chardonnay character with soft, ripe pear flavors and aromas, with caramel tinged tropical notes. A moderate treatment of oak also imparts smoky vanilla notes and a creamy texture.
Comment: From Merryvale’s highly successful Stanly Ranch and Hyde vineyards, Aged 10 months in 42% new French oak.
Food pairing: lobster
When to drink: Best at 3 years after release, keep for up to 5 years
Service temperature: 8°C | 47°F

Pine Ridge Le Petit Clos Chardonnay StagsLeap District $55

Grapes: 100% Chardonnay
Description: Strong, but perfectly balanced flavors and aromas of peach and purple flowers. Citrus notes, tropical fruit, and a warm, yeasty component comes through with a creamy texture and firm acidity. This wine is powerful, ripe, smoky, and softly sweet—emblematic of a great Stags Leap Chardonnay.
Comment: Pine Ridge’s Le Petit Clos vineyard, their special two-acre block of coveted
Stags Leap terroir, is planted with Chardonnay clones direct from Burgundy. The wine is entirely harvested by hand, then fermented with native yeast and aged in new and one year old French oak. Stirred on lees, and matured for 10 months prior to bottling.
Food pairing:
When to drink: Best at 3 years after release, keep for up to 5 years
Service temperature: 8°C | 47°F

Chateau Potelle VGS Napa Valley Chardonnay

Château Potelle VGS Chardonnay Mount Veeder $45

Grapes: 100% Chardonnay
Description: Bright yellow color, with concentrated apples, melon, and ripe white peaches. Notes also of pineapple, passion fruit, and apricot flavors balanced by refreshingly crisp acids.
Comment: They give this wine ten and a half months in French oak after a natural yeast fermentation that lasts between 80-120 days. This assures that it has enough acid and flavor complexity to develop well over a long period of time.
Food pairing:
When to drink: Drink on release, or keep up to 10 years
Service temperature: 8°C | 47°F

Stony Hill Chardonnay Napa Valley $36

Grapes: 100% Chardonnay
Description: Bracingly mineral, with a crystal clarity that brings to mind a Premier Cru or Grand Cru Chablis. Dry and crisp, with flinty citrus and nectarine tones.
Comment: The vines at their vineyards are now between 15 and 26 years of age, although the vineyards themselves go back to the late 1940s. The grapes are fermented in seasoned French oak barrels (some up to 37 years old), and then matured an additional 10 months in seasoned French oak.
Food pairing:
When to drink: Drink on release, or keep for up to 5 years
Service temperature: 8°C | 47°F

Newton Unfiltered Chardonnay Napa Valley

Newton Unfiltered Chardonnay Napa Valley $55

Grapes: 100% Chardonnay
Description: Rich, dusk yellow, and richly flavored with butterscotch and vanilla notes. Fresh, lightly toasted nuts and apples, with hints of soft white peach also comes with some pleasingly floral tropical fruit flavors. Full-bodied and creamy.
Comment: Newton’s Chardonnay grapes are grown in the cool Napa region of Carneros on 30 year old vines. Harvested entirely by hand and fermented with naturally occurring local yeasts, the wine receives 20 months of maturation time in French oak. It is then bottled unfiltered to retain its exceptional texture and fruit essences.
Food pairing: lobster
When to drink: Drink on release, or keep for up to 8 years
Service temperature: 8°C | 47°F

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On the Market: Napa Chardonnay

86 Pavilion Chardonnay Yountville $10
86 Gina Chardonnay Napa Valley $10
85 Leaping Lizard Chardonnay Napa Valley $10
85 Le Bon Vin de la Napa Valley Chardonnay Napa Valley $10
84 Aquinas Chardonnay Napa Valley $10
83 Magistrate Chardonnay Napa Valley $10

90 Robert Mondavi Chardonnay Napa Valley $20
90 Freemark Abbey Chardonnay Napa Valley $20
90 Folie à Deux Chardonnay Napa Valley $18
89 Franciscan Chardonnay Napa Valley $18
88 Two Tone Farm Chardonnay Napa Valley $13
87 Zahtila Chardonnay Napa Valley $18
87 Waterstone Chardonnay Carneros $18
87 St. Supéry Estate Oak Free Chardonnay Napa Valley $18
87 Napa Creek Chardonnay Napa Valley $12
87 Hess Collection Chardonnay Napa Valley $19
87 Hendry Unoaked Chardonnay Napa Valley $17
87 Atlas Peak Chardonnay Atlas Peak $16
86 William Hill Estate Chardonnay Napa Valley $20
86 Whitford Haynes Vineyard Chardonnay Napa Valley $20
86 Screw Kappa Napa Chardonnay Napa Valley $14
86 Quail Ridge Chardonnay Napa Valley $12
86 Merryvale Starmont Chardonnay Napa Valley $20
86 Hoopla Chardonnay Yountville $18
86 Egret Chardonnay Carneros $15
85 Rutherford Ranch Chardonnay Napa Valley $15
85 Raymond Reserve Chardonnay Napa Valley $20
85 Pepi Chardonnay Napa Valley $14
85 Harbinger Chardonnay Napa Valley $14
85 Cameron Hughes Lot 57 Chardonnay Carneros $12
85 Beaulieu Vineyard Chardonnay Napa Valley $15
84 Sterling Chardonnay Napa Valley $17
84 Napa Valley Vineyards Reserve Chardonnay Napa Valley $18
84 Napa Dan Pool Yard Chardonnay Napa Valley $18
84 Hawkstone Barney's Heritage Cuvée Chardonnay Napa Valley $17
84 Courtney Benham Chardonnay Napa Valley $16
84 Bighorn Chardonnay Napa Valley $16
84 Big Ass Chardonnay Napa Valley $15
84 Beaucanon Chardonnay Napa Valley $15
83 Rutherford Vintners Chardonnay Napa Valley $12

92 Smith-Madrone Chardonnay Spring Mountain $28
92 Merryvale Reserve Chardonnay Carneros $29
91 Molnar Family Poseidon's Vineyard Chardonnay Carneros $22
91 Flora Springs Barrel Fermented Chardonnay Napa Valley $25
91 Dillon Barrel Fermented Chardonnay Yountville $23
91 Cali 351 Chardonnay Napa Valley $27

91 Petroni Chardonnay Napa Valley $30
90 Charles Krug Family Reserve Chardonnay Napa Valley $24

90 Taylor Chardonnay Stags Leap District $22
90 Hagafen Kosher Chardonnay Oak Knoll $21
89 Hendry Blocks 19 & 20 Dijon Clones Chardonnay Napa Valley $25
88 Trefethen Chardonnay Oak Knoll $30
88 Stags' Leap Winery Chardonnay Napa Valley $24
88 Molnar Family Poseidon's Vineyard Chardonnay Carneros $24
88 Martin Ray Reserve Chardonnay Yountville $25
88 M. Cosentino Chardonnay Napa Valley $22
88 Kent Rasmussen Chardonnay Napa Valley $28
88 Keenan Chardonnay Spring Mountain $27
87 William Hill Estate Reserve Chardonnay Napa Valley $26
87 Peju Chardonnay Napa Valley $28
87 Montona Chardonnay Napa Valley $30
87 Miner Chardonnay Napa Valley $30
87 Liparita Chardonnay Yountville $24
87 Cosentino Chardonnay Napa Valley $28
86 O'Brien Chardonnay Napa Valley $24
86 Hess Su'skol Vineyard Chardonnay Napa Valley $25
86 Frog's Leap Chardonnay Napa Valley $24
86 Flora Springs Barrel Fermented Chardonnay Napa Valley $26
86 Elkhorn Peak Vineyard Select Chardonnay Napa Valley $28
86 Chappellet Chardonnay Napa Valley $29
86 Amici Chardonnay Napa Valley $25
85 Louis M. Martini Reserve Chardonnay Napa Valley $25
85 Clos du Val Chardonnay Napa Valley $21
85 Calistoga Cellars Chardonnay Napa Valley $22
85 Bell Chardonnay Napa Valley $25
85 Andretti Chardonnay Napa Valley $24
84 Koves-Newlan Napa Valley Chardonnay Napa Valley $25
84 Dillon Stainless Steel Chardonnay Yountville $23
84 Crichton Hall Chardonnay Napa Valley $28
84 Black Box Chardonnay Napa Valley $24
83 Silverado Chardonnay Napa County $23
83 Markham Chardonnay Napa Valley $21

95 Pine Ridge Le Petit Clos Chardonnay Stags Leap District $50
94 Château Potelle VGS Chardonnay Mount Veeder $45
93 Vineyard 7&8 Vineyard 8 Reserve Chardonnay Spring Mountain $50
93 Merryvale Silhouette Chardonnay Napa Valley $45
92 Stony Hill Chardonnay Napa Valley $36
92 Robert Mondavi Reserve Chardonnay Napa Valley $38
92 Nickel & Nickel Truchard Vineyard Chardonnay Carneros $45
92 Monticello Vineyards Home Ranch Vineyard Chardonnay Napa $45
92 Joseph Phelps Ovation Chardonnay Napa Valley $48
92 Hess Su'skol Vineyard Late Harvest Chardonnay Napa Valley $50
91 Sbragia Gamble Ranch Vineyard Chardonnay Napa Valley $40
91 Salexis Chardonnay Napa Valley $36
91 Merryvale Chardonnay Carneros $35
91 Flora Springs Select Cuvée Chardonnay Napa Valley $35
91 Cosentino CE2V Chardonnay Napa Valley $40
90 Peju Lianna Late Harvest Chardonnay Napa Valley $45
90 El Molino Chardonnay Rutherford $45
90 Cakebread Chardonnay Napa Valley $39
90 Beringer Private Reserve Chardonnay Napa Valley $35
89 Mi Sueño Chardonnay Carneros $35
89 Beringer Sbragia Limited Release Chardonnay Napa Valley $40
88 Signorello Vieilles Vignes Chardonnay Napa Valley $38
88 Nickel & Nickel John's Creek Vineyard Chardonnay Napa Valley $50
88 M. Cosentino CE2V Chardonnay Napa Valley $40
88 Grgich Hills Estate Chardonnay Napa Valley $40
88 Corley Reserve Estate Chardonnay Oak Knoll $40
88 Clos du Val Reserve Chardonnay Napa Valley $42
88 Alpha Omega Chardonnay Napa Valley $38
87 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Arcadia Vineyard Chardonnay Napa $45
87 Prix Reserve Late Harvest Chardonnay Napa Valley $36
87 Oakville Ranch Chardonnay Oakville $46
86 Sterling Reserve Chardonnay Napa Valley $50
86 Patz & Hall Chardonnay Napa Valley $36
86 Falcor Genny's Vineyard Chardonnay Napa Valley $35
85 Frank Family Chardonnay Napa Valley $32
84 Sbragia Gamble Ranch Vineyard Chardonnay Yountville $40
84 Miner Wild Yeast Chardonnay Napa Valley $50
84 LaTour Chardonnay Napa Valley $39
83 Tamber Bey Deux Chevaux Vineyard Chardonnay Yountville $40
83 Hollywood & Vine 2480 Chardonnay Napa Valley $45

91 Newton Unfiltered Chardonnay Napa Valley $55
91 Far Niente Chardonnay Napa Valley $52
90 Signorello Hope's Cuvée Chardonnay Napa Valley $60
87 ZD Reserve Chardonnay Napa Valley $55