Winemaker Notes
Crafted in celebration of Duckhorn Vineyards' 50th anniversary, this Chardonnay opens with captivating aromas of caramelized pineapple, white stone fruit, ripe pear and a whisper of mango crème brûlée. The palate is rich yet bright, with lifted acidity that lends elegance and subtle hints of key lime pie. Nuanced notes of fruit, delicate florals and refined minerality add depth and grace, extending into a long, polished finish worthy of this milestone vintage.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A well-balanced, generous chardonnay with aromas of lemon confit, salted nuts, wet stones and spices. The palate is mid-weighted with bright acidity and a textural, rounded mouthfeel.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
The 2024 Duckhorn Vineyards CHARDONNAY emerges with a brilliant yellow color and opens with intriguing aromas of sandalwood and dried Babcock peach skin. Juicy and expressive on the palate, this Chardonnay unfolds with core fruit flavors framed by just the right amount of oak, delivering admirable balance and polish. Layered and engaging throughout, it finishes with a rich zippiness that keeps the wine fresh, lively, and beautifully composed. Pair with butter-poached lobster, roasted chicken with thyme and lemon, or a decadent Dungeness crab risotto. (Tasted: May 14, 2026, San Francisco, CA)
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Wine Spectator
Strikes a vivid balance between its juicy fruit flavors of lemon curd, tangerine and ripe melon and its touch of chewy dried apricot, plus toasty, spicy nuances. Salted butterscotch, black cardamom and gingersnap notes linger on the harmonious and creamy finish.
One of the most popular and versatile white wine grapes, Chardonnay offers a wide range of flavors and styles depending on where it is grown and how it is made. While it tends to flourish in most environments, Chardonnay from its Burgundian homeland produces some of the most remarkable and longest lived examples. California produces both oaky, buttery styles and leaner, European-inspired wines. Somm Secret—The Burgundian subregion of Chablis, while typically using older oak barrels, produces a bright style similar to the unoaked style. Anyone who doesn't like oaky Chardonnay would likely enjoy Chablis.
One of the world's most highly regarded regions for wine production as well as tourism, the Napa Valley was responsible for bringing worldwide recognition to California winemaking. In the 1960s, a few key wine families settled the area and hedged their bets on the valley's world-class winemaking potential—and they were right.
The Napa wine industry really took off in the 1980s, when producers scooped up vineyard lands and planted vines throughout the county. A number of wineries emerged, and today Napa is home to hundreds of producers ranging from boutique to corporate. Cabernet Sauvignon is definitely the grape of choice here, with many winemakers also focusing on Bordeaux blends. White wines from Napa Valley are usually Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
Within the Napa Valley lie many smaller sub-AVAs that claim specific wine characteristics based on situation, slope and soil. Farthest south and coolest from the influence of the San Pablo Bay is Carneros, followed by Coombsville to its northeast and then Yountville, Oakville and Rutherford. Above those are the warm St. Helena and the valley's newest and hottest AVA, Calistoga. These areas follow the valley floor and are known generally for creating rich, dense, complex and smooth red wines with good aging potential. The mountain sub appellations, nestled on the slopes overlooking the valley AVAs, include Stags Leap District, Atlas Peak, Chiles Valley (farther east), Howell Mountain, Mt. Veeder, Spring Mountain District and Diamond Mountain District. Napa Valley wines from the mountain regions are often more structured and firm, benefiting from a lot of time in the bottle to evolve and soften.