Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
This shows tension and depth with sliced lemon and hints of ripe peach. Some cream and flan undertones. Full body, lightly oily and a flavorful finish. All here. Napa chard. Drink now
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
Over the last two decades, Rombauer and Chardonnay have nearly become synonymous. A consistent favorite in all of the wine channels—restaurant, retail and other—this wine often runs out of stock before the next vintage is released. In 2015, the winery simply made a beautiful wine. Full of sun-ripened fruits—apples, peaches, and citrus—this wine is so dinner table ready. Drinks well now. (Tasted: August 22, 2016, San Francisco, CA)
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Wine Spectator
This shows tension and depth with sliced lemon and hints of ripe peach. Some cream and flan undertones. Full body, lightly oily and a flavorful finish. All here. Napa chard. Drink now
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.
Known for elegant wines that combine power and finesse, Carneros is set in the rolling hills that straddle the southernmost parts of both Sonoma and Napa counties. The cooling winds from the abutting San Pablo Bay, combined with lots of midday California sunshine, create an ideal environment for producing wines with a perfect balance of crisp acidity and well-ripened fruit.
This cooler pocket of California lends itself to growing Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah. Carneros is an important source of sparkling wines made in the style of Champagne as well.