Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Aromas of dried apple, pear, pineapple and hints of stone. Hints of lightly toasted oak. Full body, layered and rich with lots of fruit and intensity. Savory and intense. A white wine with red wine texture. Always top
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
To give you an idea of the difference in production yields, there were 1,780 cases of the Chardonnay Mon Plaisir in 2014 versus 1,320 of the 2013. The 2014 Chardonnay Mon Plaisir comes across like a Meursault Charmes, exhibiting exotic tropical fruit (mango, peach, pineapple and citrus blossom). Intense and full-bodied, with great acidity and super-richness, this is a wine to drink over the next 7-8 years. Barrel Sample: 94-96 Points.
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.