Winemaker Notes
Pont de Chevalier is a wine of great energy. The entry elevates the delicate aromas of Chardonnay—citrus, chamomile and linden flower—above the underlying notes of fresh croissant pastry. The palate is delineated and refined with textural elements that echo gorgeous flavors of white peach, Meyer lemon, and white fig, finishing with a distinctive mineral element.
The perfect introduction to a fine meal shared with friends and family, try with oysters in champagne mignardises or salmon rillettes. The wine’s freshness and vibrancy make it versatile enough to pair with casual fare such as Vietnamese pork spring rolls or buttermilk coated fried chicken.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The aromas of the 2017 Chardonnay Pont de Chevalier slowly unfurl to reveal salted grapefruit, orange oil, kiwi tart, lime peel and lemon curd with touches of saline, stone and warm peaches. Medium to full-bodied with a satiny texture, it fleshes out to perfumed, savory layers in the mouth. It's powerful but refreshed by lively acidity and finishes energetic and minerally. This is a lovely, singular expression.
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.
A small and picturesque valley separating Napa Valley on its south border and Alexander Valley to its north, Knights Valley excels in similar varieties as the two aforementioned appellations, namely red Bordeaux varieties and blends, as well as Sauvignon blanc. Originally established by Beringer Vineyards, today several outstanding producers claim acreage here. The circadian cooling effects of the nearby Pacific Ocean create a nighttime respite for vineyards during the hot growing season.