Freddy R. Troya

9.1

Stags’ Leap Chardonnay 2023
Napa Valley, California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
A complex and elegant Chardonnay, made with a touch of Viognier (1%), aged in a thoughtful mix of French oak (50% neutral, 25% new) and stainless steel. This approach keeps it bright and fresh, while still offering richness and depth—a classic Napa Valley balance.

Aromas & Flavors
On the nose: lemon crème, white pineapple, melon, and delicate citrus blossoms and magnolia flowers.
On the palate: Golden Delicious apple, Asian pear, lemon curd, with accents of vanilla, brioche toast, ginger, and an exotic lift of lychee.

Mouthfeel
Full-bodied and creamy, with a long, satisfying finish. The minerality adds freshness, while the oak provides subtle spice and structure.

Winemaking Notes
100% Chardonnay + 1% Viognier, aged for 4.5 months in oak & stainless steel. Native malolactic fermentation balances creaminess with acidity.

Food Pairing
Perfect with grilled scallops, lobster tail, or white sea delicacies. Can also elevate creamy pasta or roasted chicken with herbs.

Verdict
A gorgeous Chardonnay—rich, floral, and layered, but still refreshing. A wine that shows Napa’s finesse while keeping an approachable style. — 10 months ago

Eugene Loch

9.2

Bouquet of a Chinese Magnolia — 5 years ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Tasted double-blind. The nose showed white flowers; sort of a mix of magnolia, jasmine and citrus blossom. The palate came across off-dry with some potential residual sugar. Pastilles and honeysuckle. I thought this was well balanced and seemed to have higher acid. My call was a Chenin Blanc; a Vouvray, demi-sec from a recent vintage. Obviously, I was way off. I’m told the relatively higher ABV in these wines, plus the fact that they are made in stainless steel, give the perception of higher acid. Anyway, it’s nice to drink Viognier that tastes like this. Now I wish I had a dozen oysters! — 6 years ago

Ryan Guy

9.1

Purchased at the winery, a favorite on a recent visit to the RRV. Spells like fresh plum and blackcherry, with a sweetness to the fruit. Sage, dried herbs, and baking spices too. On the palate, red fruit shines - cranberry and bing cherries. There’s a crunchy minerality that leads to a bright finish. Don’t get me wrong, this is new world Pinot, but shows restraint and balance. — 6 years ago

Scott Petrus

8.9

Mineral and lime form the back bone while magnolia blossoms provide the aromatics. This tart refreshing wine hits the spot in early July. — 7 years ago

Errett Van Nice

10

Most requested wine! Ran through my allocation. When is next release? — 8 years ago

Joni Hedgpeth

10

This wine is outstanding! Amazing. Upon opening it was very floral, magnolia and rose, into a dried herbaceous dill, thyme, roasted green pepper and lemon pepper and citrus rind. On the palate, chewy tannin and alive with spritely acidity. Robust yet elegant. Reminds me muchly of what I've heard of Beautious haut medoc. With salt it softens to vanilla...with brine by turns leathery and with protein doth bring out the rusticality. So inspiring — 8 years ago

Lars Miller

9.3

Gorgeous melon on the nose, with warm pineapple and melon on the palate. Quite delish and super easy drinking! — 2 years ago

Jay Kline

9.5

Popped and poured, consumed over several hours. Initially served chilled and then allowed to come up to room temperature. It should be noted that this was lovely from the first pour but improved with air and as it warmed. The 2009 Domaine du Collier Saumer Blanc pours a bright golden color, with no signs of sediment or gas. High viscosity. On the nose, this is extremely floral…like being in a grove of magnolia trees in full bloom. The flowers are accompanied by bright citrus fruit, lanolin, alfalfa and honey. On the palate, the wine is dry with high acid. The notes from the bouquet are confirmed and accompanied by the most lovely, almost oily texture. This is oh so woolly! The finish goes long. This is my first experience with Antoine’s wine and I’m now absolutely smitten (thanks Tim). A simply gorgeous example of Chenin from a warm vintage and an alternative to Joly if you crave a natural touch…but not too natural. This is a banger now and will continue to be so for some time. Wow.
— 3 years ago

Byron C Mayes

9.0

This 100% Viognier is a star bright green gold. Old bananas and fresh white flowers on the abundant nose. Full bodied complex palate yields all sorts of stuff: banana, magnolia petal, underripe and overripe tropical fruits, white pepper, white peach, and on and on. Finish is medium long and doesn’t fade into that darkness typical of many white Rhône varieties. Medium minus acidity, of course. This is classic Viognier. Very varietally typical in every way. Enjoy on its own or with rich “white wine” dishes , especially cream sauces or roasts poultry. Drink now through 2022. — 6 years ago

David Kline

9.3

Active peach-gold and inscrutably, near opaque, with an arrogantly vaulted, whited foam tower, unblemished by human tears; clinging lacing like dish soap suds, tear raggedly to silhouettes of prehistoric headbutts. Soapy breastmilk and citrus rising on yeast, grapefruit pith peeled thinly, clover rolls just browning, and leather fringes. Lively mouthfeel as expected. Lime pith and grapefruit with papery ginger slices, orange zest, magnolia, carrot bread, straw, zucchini spirals, ginseng, and banana peel. Complex rusticity. .
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#vieilleprovision #saisondupont #brasseriedupont #belgianale #belgianbeer #belgianfarmhouseale #belgium #beer #bier #biere #birra #cerveza #cerveja #ale #farmhouse #farmhouseale #farmhousestyle — 6 years ago

with Courtney

Jay Kline

9.3

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Champagne may be the best wine pairing with the traditional Thanksgiving meal and this NV from Paul Dethune was sublime. Pulled from the fridge and opened about 30min prior. Straw colored with an impressive mousse. About as affable as they come with a bouquet of white peaches, magnolia blooms and a whiff of brioche. On the palate it was stone fruits, citrus and minerals. Every bite of the meal begged for another sip and every sip begged for another bite. What a delight. — 8 years ago

Emma Criswell

PR Manager, Maisons Marques & Domaines / Louis Roederer

9.3

We want this in a candle. Magnolia and jasmine on the nose, Hawaiian flowers and wet stone on the palate. — 8 years ago

David Kline

9.4

Rich style from a vintage made for whites! Champagne beurre Blanc, grilled pineapple, lemon panna cotta, brioche soaked in olive oil, magnolia, honeysuckle, yuzu, mirin, and noshi pear give it a Japanese aspect; ginkgo follows mold. Creamy mouthfeel kept honest by nice acid and lime padding with pith the pile lining. Lemon oil, lemon panna cotta and beurre blanc soaked brioche complete the picture from a stellar wine!



#maisonchampy #meursault #appellationmeursaultcontrolée #whiteburgundy #whiteburg #bourgogneblanc — 3 years ago

with Courtney

Adam Kincaid

9.4

Exceptional wine. Incredibly complex nose of spice and floral arrangement: rose, lavender, and magnolia. Beautiful tart cherry and earth, good warm spices and a show of white pepper. All this alongside a rounding umami feel. Tannins are perfectly balanced. Totally smitten. — 4 years ago

with Jillian

Byron C Mayes

8.9

Star bright yellow gold. Abundant, bosomy nose of yellow apples and magnolia blossom. Medium palate yields the same though the flowers show more as birch and citrus rind. Firm, almost tannic acidity — decanting recommended — that softens with some air but makes for a perfect seafood wine. Lengthy finish. 2015 was one of those classic years across Europe. Here’s a perfect entry into Bourgogne Blanc from that year. Drink now through 2030 when you don’t want to spring for Mersault or another paled higher end quaff. — 5 years ago

Byron C Mayes

8.9

Star bright pale yellow. Abundant nose of white flowers and white peach. Medium full palate yields peach, coconut, magnolia petal, and dark quince. Medium plus acidity through the lengthy, slightly dark finish. While this would make a good wine for a big-bodied summer sipper, it (naturally) shines brightest with food. The bright acidity combined with the Rhône-typical layers of flavor will compliment heartier spring and summer fare as well as medium to soft cheeses. Classic white Rhône experience. I don’t foresee any significant development, but it should satisfy well into 2026. — 6 years ago

Nora Scheller

9.1

Full bodied wine. Great for dinner. — 7 years ago

K

9.6

ジャミーでスモーキー
尚子さんの評判良し — 7 years ago

Danielle Shea

9.3

This chard is out of this world. Pungent nose of pear and magnolia. Mouth feel is creamy and dense without going buttery. The complexity of the fruit shows more reserved with higher acid. Little oak flavor. Absolutely spectacular with king crab legs. — 8 years ago