- Home/
Kongsgaard Napa Valley Chardonnay 2018
96+ Points - Rare One of California's most sought-after Chardonnays! Extremely limited Kongsgaard's 2017 Chardonnay Napa Valley is a blend from blocks of the Hudson and Hyde vineyards in the cool Napa Carneros. The Hudson vines provide the extravagant richness and the peach pit and almond aromatic intensity. The Hyde vineyard contributes to the mineral depth of the wine and the super high tones in the aroma. The unusually long barrel-ageing regime encompasses the slow fermentation and the subsequent very gentle exposure to oxygen, which both prepares the wine for graceful bottle ageing and unifies the wine’s diverse character into one complex voice. 95 Points Robert Parker: "A barrel sample, the 2018 Chardonnay bursts from the glass with bold notes of warm peaches, spiced pears and applesauce with hints of candied ginger, honeycomb and lime cordial. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has electric intensity, with a refreshing line of racy acid cutting through the tightly wound stone fruit and spicy layers, finishing long and honey laced. 95 Points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "The 2018 Chardonnay is fresh, delicate and airy, with striking aromatic lift and energy, but a bit less oiliness than is often the case. Citrus confit, white flowers and white pepper add brightness, but it is the wine's energy and tension that are so distinctive today. This is such a pretty and promising wine."
Ratings on Delectable
Delectable Wine 
Follow to learn about our favorite wines & people.
The 2018 Chardonnay is a gorgeous, luscious Chardonnay loaded with character. Plush fruit and soft contours bring out all of the natural richness of various Wente Clone Chardonnay selections. Almond paste, dried flowers, butter, chamomile, apricot and tropical fruit all build into a striking crescendo of flavors and textures. This is an especially oily, weighty style of Napa Valley Chardonnay. As always, the Napa Valley Chardonnay is a blend of fruit from Hudson and Hyde. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, March 2021)
The 2018 Chardonnay is a gorgeous, luscious Chardonnay loaded with character. Plush fruit and soft contours bring out all of the natural richness of various Wente Clone Chardonnay selections. Almond paste, dried flowers, butter, chamomile, apricot and tropical fruit all build into a striking crescendo of flavors and textures. This is an especially oily, weighty style of Napa Valley Chardonnay. As always, the Napa Valley Chardonnay is a blend of fruit from Hudson and Hyde. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, March 2021)
9.4
Brian S
Pineapple, Lemon, lime zest, mandarin, peach, green apple, creme brûlée, butterscotch.
Pineapple, Lemon, lime zest, mandarin, peach, green apple, creme brûlée, butterscotch.
9.2
Shana B
Summer
Summer
9.3
Martin Sher
Kongsgaard - always a privilege and pleasure. Such complexity even in its youth. Full on Burgundian textures multi layered palate with flinty entry and beautiful full bodied orchard fruits on the palate. Virtuoso stuff.
Kongsgaard - always a privilege and pleasure. Such complexity even in its youth. Full on Burgundian textures multi layered palate with flinty entry and beautiful full bodied orchard fruits on the palate. Virtuoso stuff.
9.5
Raul Puga
Wow. Just wow
Wow. Just wow
9.7
Ben Christen
Oak, beautiful fruit, body, all integrating.
Oak, beautiful fruit, body, all integrating.
9.3Gunja Gargeshwari
Not the judge but still enjoyable
Not the judge but still enjoyable
9.2Martin Sher
Not many better domestic Chardonnays than Kongsgaard. Huge stone fruit with all kinds of complications and a very slight and hidden bitterness lurking. Gorgeous. Too young but damn so good.
Not many better domestic Chardonnays than Kongsgaard. Huge stone fruit with all kinds of complications and a very slight and hidden bitterness lurking. Gorgeous. Too young but damn so good.
9.5
Eddie Grystar
Another good bottle of this tho this one seemed to have a lot of really tight phenol type wax up front overpowering the fruit
Another good bottle of this tho this one seemed to have a lot of really tight phenol type wax up front overpowering the fruit
Stanley Barrios
@Stanley Barrios i could never figure out what all the hype was about on this one.
@Stanley Barrios i could never figure out what all the hype was about on this one.
9.2
See all reviews and ratings on Delectable WARNING: DRINKING DISTILLED SPIRITS, BEER, COOLERS, WINE AND OTHER ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES MAY INCREASE CANCER RISK, AND, DURING PREGNANCY, CAN CAUSE BIRTH DEFECTS.