Winemaker Notes
The rich texture and wide range of flavors of the West Block Chardonnay work well with sumptuous poultry, veal and seafood dishes. Try pairing with Halibut in sauce verte, Blanquette de Veau (Ducasse), or Meyer lemon roasted chicken and vegetables.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
This is a rich, rewarding white from the producer’s estate site, aged 11 months in 85% new French oak. Butterscotch, mango and toasted flavors dominate around a full bodied, concentrated and densely packed core of flavor and texture.
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.