2017 Silverpoint Chardonnay Petaluma Gap

2017 Silverpoint Chardonnay Petaluma Gap

with No Comment $30-$40ChardonnayKevin VogtNapaPetaluma GapUSA

SILVERPOINT

2017 CHARDONNAY
PETALUMA GAP

2017 Silverpoint Chardonnay Petaluma Gap
Silverpoint’s master plan is to remain small and focused on producing tiny quantities of meticulously made wines. Their strategy parallels winemaker Don Van Staaveren’s patient and minimal intervention approach of winemaking. Don is a seasoned winemaker responsible for authoring the Chateau St. Jean wines that made history when his 1996 Cinq Cepages was the #1 wine on the Spectator Top 100 list. This wine proves that when a winemaker perfectly aligns his style with the proprietor’s goals, great things happen, and with a mere 91 cases made, don’t hesitate to secure yours.
 
Silverpoint Cellars sources their Chardonnay fruit from the renowned Rodgers Creek Vineyard, which sits in the heart of the cool-climate Petaluma Gap AVA. The site has maritime winds and heavy fog influences, along with chalky volcanic ash soils, which create an ideal environment for Chardonnay to develop expressive flavors and maintain natural acidity.  
 
Don barrel-aged the 2017 release for nine months sur lie, which played a crucial role in contributing to the wine’s creamy mouthfeel and opulent textures. With just 91 cases made, this pedigreed and micro-produced Chardonnay guarantees to impress.
 
SILVERPOINT
2017 CHARDONNAY
PETALUMA GAP
Retails at: $45
 
 
 
“Rich and pale gold color with a creamy texture balanced by a lively acidity. Hints of melon and white peach. Voluptuous. A long juicy finish lets you linger with this Chardonnay. 91 cases produced”
2018 Maison Jessiaume Burgogne Chardonnay White Burgundy

2018 Maison Jessiaume Burgogne Chardonnay White Burgundy

with No Comment $30 and underBurgandyChardonnayFranceKevin Vogt

MAISON JESSIAUME

BOURGOGNE CHARDONNAY
2018 WHITE BURGUNDY 

2018 Maison Jessiaume Burgogne Chardonnay White Burgundy
Maison Jessiaume values organic viticulture and a gentle touch to winemaking. This combination means their team intervenes as little as possible during the winemaking processes, ferments with natural yeasts, and relies on gravity to transfer the wine into tanks. The cumulative result is a pure and balanced interpretation of the varietal, location, and vintage, and at just $28, it’s also a stupendous value.
 
Jessiaume is a historic estate constructed in 1850, located in the Santenay region in the Côte de Beaune. The winery has 10 hectares of vines spread over the municipalities of Santenay, Auxey-Duresses, Beaune, Volnay and Pommard. 
 
Santenay has soils rich in limestone, and their Chardonnays often have palpable minerality, floral characteristics, and fresh fruits. Domaine Jessiaume’s 2018 Bourgogne Chardonnay is a perfect representation of the area’s values, and with very little imported in the US, don’t hesitate to secure your case. 
 
MAISON JESSIAUME
BOURGOGNE CHARDONNAY
2018 WHITE BURGUNDY
 
Your Price: $28
 
“Nose of apricots, white flowers. Great mouthfeel, pure, rich, balanced, great structure and expressiveness. Flavors of orange stone fruits, orange citrus, ginger and spice. Hand harvested, aged for 10 months in neutral oak barrels and 2 months in stainless steel tanks before bottling.”
2019 Martin Ray Chardonnay Dutton Ranch Vineyard Concrete Fermented

2019 Martin Ray Chardonnay Dutton Ranch Vineyard Concrete Fermented

with No Comment $30 and underChardonnayKevin VogtRussian River ValleySonomaUSA

MARTIN RAY

2019 CHARDONNAY
DUTTON RANCH VINEYARD
CONCRETE FERMENTED 

2019 Martin Ray Chardonnay Dutton Ranch Vineyard Concrete Fermented
Chardonnay is highly-expressive and transparent in both the terroir and fermentation method. Most Chardonnays are either barrel or stainless steel tank fermented, but there’s been a resurgence in Concrete Egg fermentation, and for a good reason. The convex shape of a Concrete Egg creates a vortex that persuades the natural lees to be suspended throughout the vessel, resulting in more body, flavors, textures, and softer acidity. Martin Ray’s Dutton Ranch Chardonnay is a brilliant example, and with a 95 point score and priced at just $25, I highly recommend it.
 
Dutton Ranch Vineyard is in the Green Valley sub-appellation of the greater Russian River Valley. The Goldridge sandy loam soils and near-proximity to the Pacific provide the ideal growing conditions for premium Chardonnay grapes. Luminaries Kistler, Patz & Hall, & DuMOL have all sourced grapes from it. 
 
With a 95 point score and priced at just $25/btl, Martin Ray’s Concrete Fermented Dutton Ranch Chardonnay offers detailed tropical fruits, perfect balance, and stony minerality. They aged this incredible wine for ten months sur lie and inside concrete eggs, contributing to the beautiful textures, flavors, and body. 
 
MARTIN RAY
2019 CHARDONNAY
DUTTON RANCH VINEYARD
CONCRETE FERMENTED
Retails at: $35
 
Your Price: $25
 
“This is a Dutton Ranch chardonnay, showing cooked-apple, lemon and peach character with praline and vanilla undertones. Opulent, yet in check. Full-bodied and layered. Very long and flavorful. No wood here. Fermented and aged in concrete eggs. Such a beautiful and pure single-vineyard Sonoma white. Drink or hold. Screw cap.”
95 Points
 
“Vibrant Eureka lemon zest, fresh peach and racy minerality with touches of Acacia flower. Layers of subtle pear and underripe nectarine beneath mouthwatering acidity, over a clean, linear palate.”
2017 Peter Franus Chardonnay Napa Valley

2017 Peter Franus Chardonnay Napa Valley

with No Comment $30 and underCarnerosChardonnayKevin VogtNapaUSA

PETER FRANUS

2017 CHARDONNAY
NAPA VALLEY

2017 Peter Franus Chardonnay Napa Valley
Wine is a sensual experience for Peter Franus, and he crafts his with this guiding principle. Richness, complexity, harmony, and balance are all key elements that shape his wines, along with a strong sense of place. Robert Parker wrote, “A long-time veteran of the Napa Valley wine scene, Peter Franus continues to make a bevy of intelligent, elegant wines.” His Chardonnay is classy, clean, and well-balanced, and it also happens to be a remarkable value.
 
Peter sources his Chardonnay from the Stewart Vineyard in Carneros, where the clonal selection, soils, and microclimate combine to make it a unique property, perfect for producing high-quality Chardonnay with a distinctive identity. 
 
At the winery, grapes are whole-cluster pressed and barrel fermented and inoculated with a yeast strain chosen for its ability to ferment slowly and not generate much heat, which he believes is critical in preserving aromatics and adding complexity. The results speak for themselves, and at our price, the value is abundant… 
 
PETER FRANUS
2017 CHARDONNAY
NAPA VALLEY
Retails at: $38
 
 
“Some dried apples and lime zest here with a touch of vanilla and herbs. Flint, too. Full-bodied with fresh acidity and lively fruit character, as well as a phenolic finish. Hint of stone. Drink now.”
91 Points
 
“Floral and youthful in lively acidity, this is a nicely made, balanced and moderately weighty white. Stone, mineral and a thread of apple skin provide a measured level of fruity fleshy flavor that holds onto some nuance and complexity.”
90 Points
 
“A tantalizing hint of gold announces this is Chardonnay. Consistent with its predecessors, our 2017 offers intriguing and complex aromas of caramelized apple, vanilla, hazelnut, and orange blossom. The background of toasty sweet oak lifts the nose offering additional structure to the wine. Appropriate acidity awakens the palate and keeps the wine refreshing. The hallmark of excellent wine? It keeps drawing you back for more.”
2017 Heitz Cellar Chardonnay Napa Valley

2017 Heitz Cellar Chardonnay Napa Valley

with No Comment $30-$40ChardonnayKevin VogtNapaSaint HelenaUSA

HEITZ CELLAR

2017 CHARDONNAY
NAPA VALLEY

2017 Heitz Cellar Chardonnay Napa Valley
Heitz Cellar crafts their Napa Valley Chardonnay in a clean and refreshing style that highlights the fruit’s purest expression. They’ve been perfecting their craft for nearly 60 years, and back in the 60s and 70s, they labeled their Chardonnay “Chablis.” In the 80s, they began bottling single-vineyard Chardonnays from Trailside and Heitz Vineyard. Their 2017 is a timeless classic that harkens to the old days of Napa Chardonnay with delicate details and outstanding balance. 
 
The 2017 release combines fruit from Oak Knoll, Rutherford, St Helena, and Yountville. It highlights the rich, ripe fruit characteristics of the warmer climates up-valley and balances them with the structure and acid from the cooler Oak Knoll District. 
 
Aged for an impressive three years in a combination of stainless steel, French oak, and in the bottle before release, the 2017 vintage is fresh and lively, offering vivid island fruits, Meyer lemon, toasted hazelnut, and Key lime. I strongly recommend a case of this classic Napa Chardonnay for your cellar.
 
HEITZ CELLAR
2017 CHARDONNAY
NAPA VALLEY
Retails at: $38
 
Your Price: $35
 
“This is one of the last bastions of Napa Chardonnay that retains the ethos of winemaking from the 1970s and ’80s. A blend of mainly Rutherford and Oak Knoll fruit, it undergoes no malolactic fermentation and is aged for 12 months in French oak barrels. Aromas of lemon meringue, key limes and orchard fruit blossoms lead to an angular, focused and pure palate. An authentic example of a past time. Drinking Window 2020 – 2035”
92 Points
 
“The Palate expresses hints of Meyer lemon, pineapple, and freshly baked sweet apple tarts. The fresh fruit aroma is complemented by subtle notes of toasted hazelnut, honey suckle, and white floral characteristics. Its fresh, bright acidity pleases the palate while balanced by a smooth richness that we obtain through sur-lie aging.”
2016 Chateau De Messey Burgogne Chardonnay Vieilles Vignes

2016 Chateau De Messey Burgogne Chardonnay Vieilles Vignes

with No Comment $30 and underBurgandyChardonnayFranceKevin Vogt

CHATEAU DE MESSEY

BOURGOGNE CHARDONNAY
2016 VIEILLES VIGNES 

2016 Chateau De Messey Burgogne Chardonnay Vieilles Vignes
It’s not easy finding $26 domestic Chardonnays that are powerful, concentrated, and well-balanced, but in Burgundy, we sometimes uncover great values in the broad Bourgogne classification. Bourgogne covers an extensive area and can include any Pinot Noir or Chardonnay produced in Burgundy. Located in the Maconnais region within Burgundy, Chateau de Messey is well-known for producing extraordinary values in Chardonnay, and their Vieilles Vignes (Old Vines) Bourgogne Chardonnay is a brilliant example of a value white Burgundy.  
 
Chateau de Messey was initially constructed as a fortress in the 10th century, and their Chardonnay vineyards are located in the villages of Chardonnay and Cruzille, in the Macon Appellation. 
 
The wine team barrel fermented the 2016 vintage on the lees to give it more richness. It offers concentrated white and citrus fruits intertwined with minerals, white flowers, bright acidity, and a cleansing salinity on the finish. At $26, I wouldn’t miss it. 
 
CHATEAU DE MESSEY
BOURGOGNE CHARDONNAY
2016 VIEILLES VIGNES 
 
Your Price: $26
 
 
 
“Pale yellow color with greenish yellow high- lights. The complex nose offers white flowers, grapefruit, peach and mineral aromas. The palate is straightforward, generous with fresh fruits and grapefruit hints. This Chardonnay shows a good intensity with a long length.”
2018 Hunter Glenn Chardonnay RRV

2018 Hunter Glenn Chardonnay RRV

with No Comment $30 and underChardonnayKevin VogtRussian River ValleySonomaUSA

HUNTER GLENN

2018 CHARDONNAY
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY

2018 Hunter Glenn Chardonnay RRVWhen you find a tiny producer making stratospherically high-quality wines from great vineyards, AND, they price them like they’re making them for friends and family, enjoy it while you can… Hunter Glenn sources their 150 case production Chardonnay exclusively from the Starscape Vineyard, located near icons Ritchie and Kistler. The Vineyard was previously known as Floodgate, and Gary Farrell fans likely recognize it. At $30, this micro-produced Chardonnay is ridiculously good. 

The Shifflett family’s home ranch neighbors icons Dominus and Trethefen in Napa Valley, but they source their grapes from Starscape for their Chardonnay. The Vineyard’s maritime influence and Pájaro Clay Loam soils make it perfect for ripening Chardonnay to the peak of perfection. 
 
Proprietor Jeff Shifflett isn’t just a talented grower, but he’s also a gifted winemaker. Jeff worked harvest in Australia before spending time at both Cakebread and Elyse. His Chardonnay has vibrant, opulent fruit that is perfectly balanced, and an absolute joy to drink. 
 
HUNTER GLENN
2018 CHARDONNAY
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY
 
Your Price: $29.99
 
 
 
 
“Sunny pale yellow in color, with aromas of crisp, sweet apples and wet river rocks. A vein of minerality runs from the nose through the palate, supporting a creamy mouth of subtle tropical fruits combined with lemon curd and stone fruit. A pleasing, lingering finish is ripe, without being any bit oakey or buttery. This is the Chardonnay for everyone!” 
2016 Matias Chardonnay Rosella's Vineyard

2016 Matias Chardonnay Rosella’s Vineyard

with No Comment $30 and underChardonnayKevin VogtMontereySanta Lucia HighlandsUSA

MATIAS 

2016 CHARDONNAY
ROSELLA’S VINEYARD

2016 Matias Chardonnay Rosella's VineyardHow much would you expect to pay for a Chardonnay from one of the top vineyards in California? Chardonnays from Rosella’s Vineyard average around $50 per bottle, and producers like ROAR, Saxon Brown, and Loring all make Chardonnays from it. Matias perfectly articulates the vineyard’s best qualities, and at $55, the quality is ridiculously high. Of course, few other California Chardonnays can compete.  

Rosella’s vineyard was planted by Gary Franscioni, who’s one of California’s most distinguished growers, having also partnered in iconic sites like Pisoni, Garys’, Sierra Mar and Soberanes. Rosella’s vineyard sits on the Santa Lucia Mountain Range benchlands, and they chose it for its healthy maritime influenced climate and Arroyo Seco sandy loam soils. 
 
Dan Fitzgerald, who got his start working at Williams-Selyem authored this stunning California Chardonnay. The style is unabashedly Californian with super-rich, opulent flavors that span buttered pineapple, candied ginger, lemon meringue, and bright acidity.
 
MATIAS 
2016 CHARDONNAY
ROSELLA’S VINEYARD
Retails at: $55
 
 
 
 
 
“The 2016 Matias Rosella’s Chardonnay offers vivid aromas of green apples, sweet passionfruit, dried flowers and liquid minerals. The palate is full, rich and sultry with flavors of candied pineapple, exotic tropical fruits, key lime pie, butterscotch and sweet vanilla, without being heavy or flabby. These flavors and aromas combine to lead to a very long, balanced, mouth quenching finish.” 94 Points, Kevin M. Vogt, Master Sommelier
2017 Rapp Ranch Chardonnay Napa Valley

2017 Rapp Ranch Chardonnay Napa Valley

with No Comment $30-$40CarnerosChardonnayKevin VogtNapaUSA

RAPP RANCH

2017 CHARDONNAY
NAPA VALLEY 

2017 Rapp Ranch Chardonnay Napa Valley

 

Some of the most memorable Chardonnays offer a brilliant play between tension and elegance. Rapp Ranch’s 2017 Napa Chardonnay is a stunning example and arose from two different sites that work beautifully together, and harmoniously accentuate the best qualities from one another. This liquid gold was also made by Rudy Zuidema, whom you might recognize as the winemaker for Mastery.

 
The 2017 vintage intertwines fruit from the Truchard Vineyard, which lies just up the hill from Lee Hudson’s Vineyard, as well as the Poseidon Vineyard, which sits directly on the Napa Valley Marina. The Truchard block sits between Far Niente and Nickel and Nickle’s rows and contributes the incredibly opulent and expressive fruit. 
 
The Poseidon Vineyard is planted in clay soils and contributes an electric acidity that lifts the richer fruit from Truchard. It’s the power and muscle behind the pure and delicious Truchard fruit. This beauty is simply one of my favorite Napa Chardonnays that I’ve tasted this year. With 232 cases made, don’t wait to stake your claim. 
 
RAPP RANCH
2017 CHARDONNAY
NAPA VALLEY 
Retails at: $40
 
Your Price: $36
Click to Order
 
 
 
“The Rapp Ranch Chardonnay is a beautiful expression of grace and elegance from the Los Carneros region of Napa Valley. Golden straw in color, the aromas of Asian pear, oats and French vanilla ice cream remind you of an inviting warm cobbler. The rich and round mouthfeel coats your palate with flavors of candied citrus, macadamia nuts, and cinnamon. A beautiful balance of weight and acid, this wine is sure to disappear quickly!”
2017 Maldonado Chardonnay Los Olivos Vineyard

2017 Maldonado Chardonnay Los Olivos Vineyard

with No Comment $30-$40ChardonnayKevin VogtNapaUSA

MALDONADO 

2017 CHARDONNAY
LOS OLIVOS VINEYARD

2017 Maldonado Chardonnay Los Olivos VineyardMaldonado Chardonnay is the delicious result of nearly four decades spent immersed in Napa Valley agriculture, including managing iconic vineyards like Newton Cellars. The results speak volumes, and fruit from their remarkable vineyard has attracted top producers like Venge and B Cellars to craft Chardonnay from it. The Maldonado’s passion for the grape is transparent in their flagship Los Olivos bottling, which is made in a richly layered style with beautiful weight, balance, and gloriously defined fruit. 

The Los Olivos Vineyard is near the Southeastern edge of Napa Valley, in a cool, windswept region that experiences strong maritime influences from the Pacific Ocean and the San Pablo Bay. These influences funnel through the Coastal Mountain ranges, and allow the grapes a long growing-season, with temperatures cool enough to maintain acidity and structure. 
 
Maldonado perfectly balances nectar-like texture with balanced acidity and detailed candied lemon, tropical fruits, and vanilla bean. The wine team barrel ferments the grapes, and then the wine is aged sur lie, which contributes to this wine’s incredible richness and buttery aromas. 
 
MALDONADO 
2017 CHARDONNAY
LOS OLIVOS VINEYARD
Retails at: $42
 
Your Price: $39.99
Click to Order
 
 
“Inviting aromas of maple, Meyer lemon curd and ripe nectarine. Bright and clean with spiced maple, green apple, citrus, wet slate and subtle hint of oak. A classic style Chardonnay, yet re-imagined!”