Expert Reviews – Vintage 2023

James Suckling.com by Jim Gordon writes 93 Points | A nicely rich, suave and spicy white that blends luxurious poached apple and pear flavors with notes of marzipan, lemon meringue, toasted almonds, hazelnuts, brioche and butter. Full-bodied, broad in mouthfeel, well layered and plush.

The Wine Spectator 89 Points | Offers a snappy, buttery mix of peach, poached pear and fresh apple flavors, with notes of lemon blossoms, ginger and lemon meringue pie that linger. Drink now. 4,182 cases made.

Winemaker Description

Sequoia Grove Napa Valley Chardonnay is hand-harvested in the cool morning hours. Upon arrival at the winery, the Chardonnay is whole-cluster pressed to tank and racked with all lees to barrel to begin native fermentation. The wine finishes primary fermentation in 100% French oak barrels, with one third in new French oak. The Chardonnay is then aged for 10 months on the lees where it undergoes btonnage (lees stirring) every two weeks until malolactic finishes completing the full natural process of the wine.

Nearly half of this Napa Valley Chardonnay is sourced from Haire Vineyard in Carneros. Haire has 30-year-old Wente and Robert Young clones planted specifically for Sequoia Grove. The other half is Dijon clones 95 and 96 from Cunat vineyard in Oak Knoll District. The combination of these clones and vineyard sources creates complexity in the finished wine.