Kongsgaard Chardonnay Napa Valley 2022

John & Maggy Kongsgaard are considered royalty in wine aficionado circles. Their family operation has made a remarkable contribution to the wine world, and we are truly grateful. They both grew up in Napa Valley, John's father being a Superior Court Judge with a penchant for great wine. While home on college break, it was an errand to pick up his father's prized possession of Stony Hill Chardonnay that changed the course of John's future. There, John saw what life could be like, surrounded by grapes and producing what others deem a beautiful treasure. There were mentorships (Andre Tchelistcheff and Nathan Fay), winemaking positions at Newton and Luna, a partnership in Arietta, and the planting of vines on their property that led to the historical greatness that is Kongsgaard wine. John has been called "Napa's Fortunate Son" by James Laube; in 2004, he was Food & Wine Magazine's Winemaker of the Year; in 2005, he was in The Robb Report's Best of the Best. Eric Asimov from the New York Times remarked, "Kongsgaard consistently makes the best Chardonnay in California today." John continuously receives comments from critics that their Chardonnays are reminiscent of either a particular vintage of DRC or closely compared to a Montrachet, Corton Charlemagne, or Meursault. The Syrah has been compared to an exquisite Cote Rotie - the Cabernet deemed "exquisite." Today, along with their son Alex - the second half of the two-person winemaking team - they are iconic in crafting gems that invoke the senses, going far beyond the typical wine-tasting experience. We get to be the privileged beneficiaries.

The 2022 blend of Chardonnay comprises fruit from the exemplary Hudson and Hyde Vineyards in Carneros. Both Lee Hudson and Larry Hyde have pioneered the Carneros region of Napa Valley since the late 1960s, alongside and with much assistance from the Burgundy-reminiscent Kongsgaard wines. The Chardonnay is classic, with a richly scented nose of yellow stone fruit, almond paste, tangerine, and creamy custard. The medium-to-full-bodied wine is expansive on the palate and lifted with a clean line of acidity and a backbone of minerality. Enjoying a bottle of the 2021 Kongsgaard Chardonnay means tasting and being privy to the work of Napa's most distinguished icons.