2019 Rubia Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard

2019 Rubia Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard

with No Comment $40-$50ChardonnayKevin VogtRussian River ValleySonomaUSA

RUBIA

CHARDONNAY 2019
RITCHIE VINEYARD

2019 Rubia Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard
Margaret and Joe Valenzuela founded Rubia Wine Cellars as a tribute to their love and a deep desire to become a part of the winemaking world. They built strong friendships throughout Napa and Sonoma, allowing them access to renowned vineyards like Kent Ritchie’s Vineyard. Considered one of the top locations for Chardonnay in the Russian River Valley, Ritchie Vineyard fruit produces award-winning wines from Aubert, Ramey, DuMOL, and Paul Hobbs.
 
Furthering their dream, Margaret and Joe hired Julien Fayard as their winemaker. Julien worked for Chateau Lafite Rothschild and Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte in France before moving to the US, then became the Director of Winemaking for Philippe Melka. Rubia’s 2019 vintage Chardonnay was fermented in new French oak and kept on the lees for 16 months with a monthly batonnage creating a round, creamy mouthfeel and a long, flavorful finish.
 
RUBIA
CHARDONNAY 2019
RITCHIE VINEYARD
Retails at: $65
 
 
 
“The Rubia 2019 Ritchie Vineyard Chardonnay begins with notes of chamomile and honeysuckle with ripe peaches, apricots, marzipan, and vanilla custard. On the palate, the wine has a rich texture and creamy mouthfeel with flavors of honeydew, pear, baking spices, and toasted brioche. The roundness on the palate rolls into a smooth yet bright finish.”
93-94 Points
2021 Far Niente Chardonnay Napa Valley

2021 Far Niente Chardonnay Napa Valley

with No Comment $50-$60ChardonnayCoombsvilleKevin VogtNapaUSA

FAR NIENTE

CHARDONNAY 2021
NAPA VALLEY

2021 Far Niente Chardonnay Napa Valley
John Benson founded Far Niente in 1885, and the winery was a notable stronghold in Napa Valley until Prohibition closed the gates in 1919. Sixty years later, Gil Nickel purchased and restored the property with a vision to create a quintessential Napa Valley Chardonnay of sophistication, balance, and stature. He released the first vintage of Far Niente in the modern era, an estate-bottled 1979 Napa Valley Chardonnay that has been a namesake of the winery for over four decades.
 
The fruit for the Estate Chardonnay is grown in Coombsville, which has a similar climate to Carneros, but with less wind and well-drained gravelly loam and volcanic soils that give the wine its signature stone and tropical fruit flavors with a distinct minerality. Malolactic fermentation is avoided in the winemaking process to preserve the malic acid for a fresher sensation on the palate, increased longevity in the bottle, and a celebrated style long associated with the winery.
 
FAR NIENTE
CHARDONNAY 2021
NAPA VALLEY
Retails at: $73
 
 
 
“The Far Niente Napa Valley Chardonnay 2021 opens with concentrated notes of green apple, ripe pear, exotic tropical fruits, and spring florals. The palate follows suit, bringing vibrant acidity, levity, and intense, ripe flavors. This wine blends the perfect balance of power and elegance in a way that brings you back for sip after sip. It’s an outstanding Chardonnay, thrilling to drink now and over the next decade.”
95 Points
2019 Laird Chardonnay Cold Creek Ranch Carneros

2019 Laird Chardonnay Cold Creek Ranch Carneros

with No Comment $30 and underCarnerosChardonnayKevin VogtNapaUSA

LAIRD

CHARDONNAY
COLD CREEK RANCH
CARNEROS 2019

2019 Laird Chardonnay Cold Creek Ranch Carneros
With over 50 years of vineyard expertise farming some of Napa Valley’s prized locations, Ken Laird uses his intimate knowledge of each vineyard as the foundation of Laird wines. Ken is the third generation of his family in farming, but he swapped tobacco farming for grape growing after he and his wife purchased land in Napa Valley in 1970.
 
The family’s Cold Creek Ranch is on the Sonoma side of the Los Carneros district and exposed to thick fog and cold marine winds, providing balanced fruit flavors with bright acid and excellent concentration. The 2019 vintage saw 46% malolactic fermentation giving a bit of creaminess to the body without overwhelming the wine, and the result is absolutely delicious. 
 
LAIRD
CHARDONNAY
COLD CREEK RANCH
CARNEROS 2019
 
 
 
“The Laird 2019 ‘Cold Creek’ Chardonnay begins with an inviting nose of honeysuckle, apricot, peach, toast, and vanilla. On the palate, the wine has a rich texture balanced by fresh acidity and flavors of nectarine, salted caramel corn, Werther’s Original caramels, and old-fashioned peaches and cream. This wine offers friendly approachability, ready to be enjoyed right now.”
92 Points
2021 Brewer-Clifton Chardonnay Sta. Rita Hills

2021 Brewer-Clifton Chardonnay Sta. Rita Hills

with No Comment $30-$40Central CoastChardonnaySanta BarbaraSanta Rita HillsUSA

BREWER-CLIFTON

CHARDONNAY 2021
STA. RITA HILLS

2021 Brewer-Clifton Chardonnay Sta. Rita Hills
Greg Brewer founded Brewer-Clifton in 1996 to showcase the unique geographic, geologic, and climate of the Santa Rita Hills appellation in Santa Barbara County. He began vinification training in 1991 at Santa Barbara Winery, and through his work at Brewer-Clifton, Melville, and Diatom wineries, Greg proved without any doubt that Sta. Rita Hills is a world-class wine-growing region, and in 2020 he was named winemaker-of-the-year by Wine Enthusiast. 
 
Sta. Rita Hills is one of the coolest grape-growing regions on the west coast, providing fruit with purity and a firm structure that’s the calling card of Brewer-Clifton wines. The 2021 Chardonnay was whole-cluster fermented in neutral barrels to achieve a harmonious balance between the terroir-specific minerality and bright fruit flavors, keeping the focus fresh and clear.
 
BREWER-CLIFTON
CHARDONNAY 2021
STA. RITA HILLS
Retails at: $40
 
Your Price: $36
 
 
“The Brewer-Clifton 2021 Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay opens with fresh notes of honeysuckle, apricot, pineapple, brioche, and beeswax. Flavors of peach, nectarine, lemon poppy seed muffin, and roasted almond are complemented by a vibrant acidity on the palate. The wine is elegantly textured, and the soft mouthfeel lingers into the finish.”
93-94 Points
2021 My Favorite Neighbor Blanc Chardonnay San Luis Obispo

2021 My Favorite Neighbor Blanc Chardonnay San Luis Obispo

with No Comment $30-$40Central CoastChardonnayKevin VogtUSA

MY FAVORITE NEIGHBOR

MFN BLANC CHARDONNAY
SAN LUIS OBISPO 2021

2021 My Favorite Neighbor Blanc Chardonnay San Luis Obispo
Eric Jensen’s original “favorite neighbor,” Stephan Asseo of L’Aventure, is a close friend and mentor that helped shape him as a grower and winemaker. What began as an homage to Stephan in 2006 with the launch of the My Favorite Neighbor Cabernet-based wine has turned into a line of carefully crafted wines that can unabashedly stand up to many award-winning, cult-style wines. They’ve been getting lots of well-deserved attention ever since their initial release.
 
Eric believes that great wine begins in the vineyard, so every site that contributes to MFN gets farmed using organic or biodynamic practices for vines that live up to their full potential. The 2021 Blanc/Chardonnay has already earned a blockbuster 97-point score from Wine Advocate, calling it “an old-school style reminiscent of Napa” because of its rich, voluptuous mouthfeel and ripe stone fruit aromatics. At around $40, this wine is a big win for Cali-style Chardonnay fans.
 
MY FAVORITE NEIGHBOR
MFN BLANC CHARDONNAY
SAN LUIS OBISPO 2021
Retails at: $50
 
Your Price: $39.99
 
 
“The 2021 Chardonnay is very ripe in style with scents of banana chip, apple pie, jasmine, allspice and brown sugar. The full-bodied palate is packed with ripe, spicy fruits and plenty of refreshing acidity, and it finishes long with a satiny, mouth-coating texture. It’s an old-school style reminiscent of Napa that fans of ripe, oaked Chardonnays will enjoy.”
97 Points
2019 Sojourn Chardonnay Sonoma Coast

2019 Sojourn Chardonnay Sonoma Coast

with No Comment $30-$40ChardonnayKevin VogtSonomaSonoma CoastUSA

SOJOURN

CHARDONNAY 2019
SONOMA COAST

2019 Sojourn Chardonnay Sonoma Coast
Sojourn Cellars was founded in 2001 as a first-class artisanal winery with a competitive drive to make limited bottlings from some of California’s most expressive and distinctive vineyards. The winery produces highly acclaimed Pinot Noirs, Chardonnays, and Cabernet Sauvignons from Napa and Sonoma counties that seamlessly showcase the brilliance of each specially selected location.
 
The Sonoma Coast Chardonnay is a blend of Sangiacomo Vella Ranch, Durell Vineyard, Sangiacomo Roberts Road, and Gap’s Crown Vineyards, all known for their laser-focused expression of cool-climate characteristics. The 2019 growing season was similar to 2018, with mild weather, but yields were lower, which increased the overall concentration of the fruit, creating wines with impressive depth and complexity.
 
SOJOURN
CHARDONNAY 2019
SONOMA COAST
 
Your Price: $38
 
 
“The 2019 Chardonnay Sonoma Coast is a beauty that gives up a fresh, lively, medium-bodied style as well as textbook Chardonnay ripe orchard fruits, white flowers, and honeyed toast. I like its overall balance on the palate, it has good acidity, and outstanding length.”
93 Points
2020 Domaine Guerrin Saint Veran Le Clos Vessats White Burgundy

2020 Domaine Guerrin Saint Veran Le Clos Vessats White Burgundy

with No Comment $30-$40BurgandyChardonnayFranceKevin Vogt

DOMAINE GUERRIN

SAINT-VERAN 2020
LE CLOS VESSATS
WHITE BURGUNDY

2020 Domaine Guerrin Saint Veran Le Clos Vessats White Burgundy
Nestled in the protected area between the Roche de Solutré and the Roche de Vergisson, Domaine Guerrin lies West of Mâcon in Southern Burgundy, in a region known for exceptional value. Founded in 1926, today the Estate is run by the fourth generation of the family with a passionate, respectful, and responsible philosophy that promotes the terroir from their vineyards in Pouilly-Fuissé, Saint-Véran, and Mâcon-Vergisson.
 
Saint-Véran is known for its Chardonnay with a harmoniously round and fresh balance of stone fruit, floral, and mineral notes similar to its neighbor, Pouilly-Fuissé. The 2020 “Le Clos Vessats” comes from a unique plot on clay-limestone soils giving ripe, rich fruit aged in stainless steel to preserve the fruit’s purity and is meant to be enjoyed now and for the next four to five years.
 
DOMAINE GUERRIN
SAINT-VERAN 2020
LE CLOS VESSATS
WHITE BURGUNDY
 
Your Price: $38
 
 
“The Domaine Guerrin & Fils 2020 Saint-Véran ‘Le Clos Vessats’ opens with decadent notes of orange blossom, acacia, honeydew melon, toast, roasted almonds, and wet stones. On the palate, the wine has a seamless, rich texture balanced by crisp acidity, with flavors of golden apple, pear, pineapple, and vanilla. This wine is excellent with or without food, on a cold or hot day, any time of the day.”
94 Points
2020 Maison Harbour Bourgogne Chardonnay Cote D'Or

2020 Maison Harbour Bourgogne Chardonnay Cote D’Or

with No Comment $40-$50BurgandyChablisChardonnayFrance

MAISON HARBOUR

BOURGOGNE CHARDONNAY
COTE D’OR 2020

2020 Maison Harbour Bourgogne Chardonnay Cote D'Or
Colleen and Nick Harbour are North American natives who met while studying abroad in Luxembourg and returned to Europe in 2008 after university studies. They found themselves immersed in the local wine scene, leading to a passion for wine but a waning interest in their daily jobs. Nick and Colleen officially moved to Burgundy in 2011, where Nick attended wine school in Beaune while Colleen pursued an internship at Maison Champy, making lifelong friends that connected the couple with small growers’ vineyard parcels.
 
Nick and Colleen’s winemaking revolves around expertly farmed fruit from distinct parcels and a hands-off approach in the cellar, allowing the glorious Burgundian terroir to shine through in their wines. The 2020 Bourgogne Chardonnay Côte d’Or comes from vines just below the village of Puligny-Montrachet, matured for 16 months in neutral 228-liter barrels and stainless steel, promoting the purity of the fruit and the essence of this iconic vineyard location.
 
MAISON HARBOUR
BOURGOGNE CHARDONNAY
COTE D’OR 2020
 
Your Price: $48
 
 
“Bright, fresh, clean, and pure, showing minerality, energy, focus and tension. Midweight, balanced and structured, with flavors of pears and nectarines, great acidity and a long, cleansing finish. From vines just below the village of Puligny-Montrachet, this Bourgogne seriously over delivers. Aged for 16 months in neutral oak barrels and stainless steel tanks before bottling.”
2020 Maison Jessiaume Rully White Burgundy

2020 Maison Jessiaume Rully White Burgundy

with No Comment $40-$50BurgandyChardonnayFranceKevin Vogt

MAISON JESSIAUME

RULLY 2020
WHITE BURGUNDY

2020 Maison Jessiaume Rully White Burgundy
Maison Jessiaume’s historic estate, established in 1850, is located in the Santenay region in the Côte de Beaune, with thirty-seven acres of vines planted and wines produced from 15 different appellations. They farm their vineyards organically, and the winemaking approach is minimal, with as little intervention as possible utilizing hand harvesting, hand sorting, ambient yeast fermentation, gravity flow, and natural clarification.
 
Rully is an AOC in the northern Côte Chalonnaise, giving soft, generous whites with “both the coolness and the polish of marble,” according to the Bourgogne Wine Board. Maison Jessiaume fermented the grapes for the 2020 Rully in oak, aged them on the lees for 12 months, and then transferred them to stainless steel for four to six months before bottling, resulting in a pure, focused wine with complex flavor intensity and delightful drinkability.
 
MAISON JESSIAUME
RULLY 2020
WHITE BURGUNDY
 
Your Price: $45
 
 
“The Maison Jessiaume 2020 Rully opens with fresh floral notes of honeysuckle and acacia, ripe yellow apple, quince, bread dough, saffron, and wet rocks. The palate is crisp and clean with flavors of tangerine, lemon, and pineapple balanced with round flavors from lees aging. The finish is long and soft but leaves your mouth watering from bright acidity.”
96 Points
2019 Sophie Cinier Macon-Fuisse Les Perrieres

2019 Sophie Cinier Macon-Fuisse Les Perrieres

with No Comment $30-$40BurgandyChablisChardonnayFranceKevin Vogt

SOPHIE CINIER

MÂCON-FUISSÉ
LES PERRIÉRES 2019

2019 Sophie Cinier Macon-Fuisse Les Perrieres
Sophie Cinier took over her family’s small estate near Fuissé in 2000, immersing herself in farming while selling grapes to local producers. Five years later, Sophie’s passion for her vineyards extended into the cellar, and realizing the immense quality of her fruit, she produced her first vintage. 
 
The region of Mâcon-Fuissé lies at the end of the most extended range in the Mâcconais, positioned on either side of Pouilly-Fuissé, lying within a topographical bowl of reef-like composites of limestone. Sandwiched in the middle of several Pouilly-Fuissé vineyards, Les Perrières contains vines averaging nearly 30 years, producing fruit with remarkable intensity and sophistication. Sophie fermented this wine using native yeasts before aging it in neutral oak for 22 months for an exquisite combination of richness and vibrancy, offering immense value.
 
SOPHIE CINIER
MÂCON-FUISSÉ
LES PERRIÉRES 2019
 
Your Price: $36
 
 
“Dried-apple and fresh-pear aromas with a touch of spice. Medium body with a bright, spicy-fruit palate that pushes long. Solid chardonnay. Drink now.”
92 Points