Winemaker Notes
Crafted with a clear vision of sophistication and poise, the Pont de Chevalier is a great signature of our Knights Valley Estate vineyard. Refreshing aromas of Meyer lemon and warm brioche combine with a seaside mineral note in this racy, mouthwatering Chardonnay that is hard to put down.
The luscious mouthfeel and seaside mineral characters of this wine make a wide range of seafood dishes shine. Try pairing with Oysters Rockefeller, lobster bisque, seared scallops or fresh sautéed abalone. Alternative options include a roasted pork loin with mustard glaze or a brown butter sage agnolotti.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2020 Chardonnay Pont De Chevalier was aged for 9 months in 50% new French oak. It is highly aromatic and sunny, with caramelized pineapple, Meyer lemon, and sweet oak spice. Soft and rounded, the wine lifts off the palate with ripe peach.
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Wine Enthusiast
This is a rich, layered and oak-driven wine, with full-bodied intensity and concentration. Crme brûlée, apple pie and lemon custard all come to mind around a complex midpalate of lifted acidity and complementary freshness.
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.