• California,  Chardonnay,  Exceptional White,  Napa

    Exceptional White

    Stags’ Leap Winery 2014 Napa Chardonnay Stags’ Leap Winery, (note the placement of the apostrophe), produces the Chardonnay I will discuss today. The use of “Stags Leap” may be confusing. Another nearby winery named, “Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars” produces excellent wines as well, also note the placement of that apostrophe. Lastly, there is the Stags Leap District, which is the name of the appellation where the two aforementioned wineries are located. The Stags Leap District (no apostrophe) is renowned for producing outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, is located between the Napa River and the Stags Leap Palisades. One of California’s earliest wine estates, a unique terroir and ideal microclimate support…

  • Burgundy,  Chardonnay,  Exceptional White,  France

    Exceptional White

    Bouchard Perè & Fils 2012 Pouilly-Fuissé Founded in 1731, Maison Bouchard Père & Fils is one of Burgundy’s oldest wine merchant houses. In 1775, Joseph Bouchard acquired his first vineyard in Volnay in the famous “Les Caillerets” climate and started to develop the family’s vineyard holdings. Over the centuries, the House has been devoted to acquiring highly renowned parcels, in order to build a prestigious domaine. The famed vineyards include: Beaune Gréves Vigne de L’Enfant Jésus, Chevalier-Montrachet, Montrachet, Corton, Corton-Charlemagne, Bonnes-Mares and Clos Vougeot to name a few. In 1995 this exceptional collection was purchased by Joseph Henriot, and is today part of Maisons & Domaines Henriot. Maison Bouchard Père…

  • California,  Carneros,  Chardonnay,  Exceptional White,  Sonoma,  Viognier

    Exceptional White

    Orin Swift Mannequin 2013 Chardonnay The history of Orin Swift Cellars dates back to 1995 when on a lark, David Swift Phinney took a friend up on an offer and went to Florence, Italy to spend a semester “studying”. During that time, he was introduced to wine, how it was made, and got hooked. A few more years of university led to graduation and eventually a job at Robert Mondavi Winery in 1997 as a temporary harvest worker. Deciding that if he was going to work this hard, it would eventually have to be for himself, so in 1998 he founded Orin Swift Cellars; Orin is his father’s middle name…

  • Burgundy,  Chardonnay,  Exceptional White,  France

    Exceptional White

    Bastion De L’Oratoire Chanson Viré-Clessé 2014 Roots that stretch over several centuries, the history of Chanson is closely tied to the history of France. It perfectly reflects the evolution of the country through 260 years of existence. Every man and women who proudly bared the colors of Chanson over the centuries shared and still share a profound respect for the earth, the vine and the wine, and going on today. Gilles de Courcel and Jean-Pierre Confuron, pure Burgundians, took over from the Chanson family in 1999. Both are ardent supporters of an integrated viticulture, deeply respectful of the terroirs. The respect of vine, combined with precise and meticulous vinifications, aim…

  • California,  Chardonnay,  Exceptional White,  Sonoma

    Exceptional White

    Matanzas Creek Winery 2014 Sonoma Chardonnay Naturally defined by the three mountain peaks that envelop it, Bennett Valley existed for many years in quiet obscurity – bountifully sustaining an agricultural community that had all but forgotten the valley’s pre-prohibition vinicultural roots. It wasn’t until 1977 with the founding of Matanzas Creek Winery that the area’s winemaking potential was once again unearthed. But Matanzas Creek didn’t just breathe new life into the area, it helped revolutionize the entire industry and, in the process, put Bennett Valley back on the map. And now, over thirty years after the release of its first vintage, Matanzas Creek stands at the forefront of California viticulture.…

  • California,  Chardonnay,  Exceptional White,  Monterey County

    Exceptional White

    Wente Vineyards Riva Ranch Chardonnay 2013 The Wente Vineyards story began in 1883, when German immigrant, C.H. Wente made the voyage to America with the dream of creating a better life. After studying winemaking under Charles Krug in Napa Valley, he immediately knew he had discovered a passion and focus amongst the vineyards. He soon met and married Barbara Trautwein, and they moved to the Livermore Valley to pursue his new career. Unlike others of the time who started wine businesses as a hobby, C.H. Wente made his pursuit a lifelong commitment. His original 47 acres quickly grew to 200 acres before the constraints of Prohibition hit. To his seven…

  • Alexander Valley,  California,  Chardonnay,  Exceptional White

    Exceptional White

    Copain “Tous Ensemble” Alexander Valley 2014 Chardonnay Copain Wines is perched on a hill overlooking the serenely beautiful Russian River Valley. Winemaker Wells Guthrie discovered early on that his taste in wine gravitated toward Europe in general and France’s Rhône Valley in particular. So much so, he picked up and moved with his new bride to the region to learn from the best. For two years, Wells apprenticed for esteemed winemaker and living legend Michel Chapoutier in France’s Rhone Valley. During that time, Wells was deeply inspired by the traditions and practices of French winemaking, not to mention the European attitude that wine is an essential part of life. At…

  • California,  Chardonnay,  Exceptional White,  Russian River Valley

    Exceptional White

    Simi Russian River Valley Chardonnay 2013 Reserve In 1876, brothers Giuseppe and Pietro Simi began making wine in San Francisco from Sonoma County grapes and eventually planted vineyards near Healdsburg. Simi’s historic stone cellars were built in 1890 and are still used to age the wines. Today, Simi Winery is recognized as a leader in innovation and experimentation with a history of over 125 years of cutting-edge winemaking. Opening their Reserve Chardonnay, that was aged for 11 months in 100% French oak, the color was a bright straw yellow with aromas of stone fruits and baking spice notes.  The palate shows tart apples, pears and melon flavors with subtle toasty…

  • Exceptional White,  Hondarribi Zuri,  Spain

    Exceptional White

    Ulacia Getariako Txakolina Blanco 2014 Ulacia Getariako Txakolina Blanco is a wine from the Getaria in the Basque Country of northern Spain, just west of San Sebastian, where wine here has a history going back 1000 years. Getaria is a fishing village on the Bay of Biscay, with Getariako Txakolina being the DO for the vine growing area around it. The region as a whole is maritime with a considerable Atlantic influence, though the vines are planted in the hills surrounding it, often on the southeast facing, on steep, un-terraced slopes for maximum sunshine and protection from sea breezes. The soils are largely clay, covered with sand. Txakolina is a…

  • California,  Chardonnay,  Exceptional White,  Napa

    Exceptional White

    Heitz Cellars 2013 Napa Chardonnay In 1961, Joe and Alice Heitz purchased their first vineyard, 8 acres just south of St. Helena. Working out of their small California winery attached to the land they purchased, they put in round-the-clock sweat equity to build their business. Heitz Cellars rapidly established a reputation as home base for one of the Napa Valley’s most innovative and brilliant winemakers, and the unassuming winery soon became a prestigious destination for wine connoisseurs. In 1964, Heitz acquired 160-acre parcel in Spring Valley and began sharpening his skills on Cabernet Sauvignon, and in 1965, by chance, acquired a small vineyard in Oakville from Tom and Martha May.…