Napa Valley Chardonnay

I have a thing for Davis Estates Chardonnay. It’s the quality & the $36 price point that does it. We like it even better with Jasper Hill Farms Harbison soft white cheese. We never seem to tire of it.

This is a Chardonnay that you want to enjoy at a temperature slightly cooler than standard room temperature. 60-64 degrees.

The nose shows reveals; honeysuckle, green & golden apple, slightly sour lemons, overripe pineapple, lime zest, underripe green melon, marmalade, honeycomb, vanilla, overripe stone fruit, melted, brown butter, gentle white spice & chalky volcanic minerals, just a whiff of eucalyptus, salted & melted caramel, limestone, almond skin, hints of the good parts of Lemon Pledge, with candied, yellow lilies/flowers, jasmine & mixed floral greens.

The body is full, waxy, touch gluey with nice viscosity. Beautiful mouthfeel & texture. Honeysuckle, green & golden apple, slightly sour lemons, overripe pineapple, lime zest to candy, apple Jolly Rancher, underripe green melon, marmalade, honeycomb, overripe stone fruit, melted, brown butter, vanilla, gentle white spice & chalky volcanic minerals, touch of the good parts of Lemon Pledge, just a whiff of eucalyptus, salted & melted caramel, limestone, almond skin, fresh Provence herbs, gentle application of oak giving it soft barrel shavings, with candied, yellow lilies/flowers, jasmine & mixed floral greens. Big phat, round, beautiful acidity. The long, full, round, lush, waxy, well balanced & polished finish glides gently and long sets with mid intensity spice & minerality on the long set.

Photos of; their tasting room with kitchen in the back, signage as you come up the driveway with either barn or guest house behind it, Harbison cheese and the Estate as view from their terrace balcony.

Previous notes apply. Rock solid on its own and with soft white cheeses. One of the best CA Chardonnay’s & values.

Come on 9ers. Cheers! 🍾🥂

It has been awhile since we’ve had the 2014 and it’s evolving nicely.

My suggestion is you chill down the Davis Chardonnay, take it out of chill mode a half-hour to forty-minutes prior to enjoying. Then, get this soft white cheese from Harbison Cellars - Spruce Bark Wrapped Bloomy Rind and the Firehook crackers and enjoy them all together. They are a Heavenly pairing together.

As for the 2014 Davis Chardonnay, the nose reveals, more honey notes, overripe; pineapple flesh, golden apple, sour Meyer lemons. Apricots, peach, lime candy, green apple, beeswax, honeycomb, tangerine notes, saline, excellent, soft chalkiness, limestone & grey volcanic minerals, a little white spice, yellow lilies, fruit blossoms, jasmine with a touch of mixed greens.

The body is full, thick, lush and rich. The texture is gorgeous and sexy...beautifully delicious over the palate. Lots of honey notes, over ripe; pineapple flesh, golden apple, sour Meyer lemons. Apricots, peach, lime candy, more green apple, beeswax, honeycomb, tangerine notes, caramel, a touch of toffee, butter, cream, saline, excellent, soft chalkiness, limestone & crushed, grey volcanic minerals, a little white spice with a touch of heat, yellow lilies, fruit blossoms, jasmine with a touch of mixed greens. The acidity is excellent, round and phat. The long, rich, lush, gorgeous, sexy, well balanced finish persists nicely for minutes.

Pound for pound, dollar for dollar, you’ll be hard pressed to find a better CA Chardonnay for the money. $36 member price and $48 non-member price.

You want to enjoy this just below room temperature to get all it has to offer.

Photos of, the right side view from their terrace with their signature windmill, the center direct view of the valley floor through to the other side, the Harbison soft white cheese & Firehook crackers to a pair with the Davis Chardonnays.

Their Chardonnays show varying nuisances year to year but, are very consistent in quality year to year.

We started enjoying Davis Estates Chardonnay with their 2014 vintage and now starting to drink their 2016 vintage. Each has been really good with excellent QPR.

We don’t drink a lot of CA Chardonnay as most are over structured and oaked. We prefer White Burgundy on most occasions. The Davis Estates Chardonnay’s are the exception to that rule.

As for this 2016, it’s their best of three vintages we have come to know. It is spectacular!

A number of people love Aubert Chardonnays. We like them too but, for the money, give me this 2016 all day over the Aubert’s. It’s less than half the price! I find some Aubert characteristics & style in each glass of all three Davis Chardonnays vintages we’ve had.

The nose reveals; butterscotch, honey, green apple, slightly sour lemons, lime candy, overripe pineapple, ripe, green melon, white peach, cream, beeswax, vanillin, caramel, toffee notes, light white spice, beautiful, understated chalkiness, hints of saline, soft volcanic minerals, tree bark with drips of sap, mixed greens, spring flowers, yellow lilies and jasmine.

The body is thick, full, round and waxy. It’s simply delicious as it guilds over the palate. Loads of butterscotch, honey, green apple, some golden apple, slightly sour lemons, lime candy, overripe pineapple, ripe, green melon, white peach, haunting banana now & again, cream, beeswax, vanillin, caramel, toffee/creme brûlée notes, light white spice with just the right amount of heat, beautiful, soft, chalkiness, hints of saline & flintiness, soft volcanic minerals, tree bark with drips of sap, mixed greens, spring flowers, yellow lilies and jasmine. The acidity is round and near perfect. The long finish is, lush, ripe, soft, flat out elegant, well balanced and persists minutes. Beautiful CA Chardonnay in every way. Paired with soft white cheese.

Happy Labor Day Weekend everyone! Cheers! 🥂

@Ron R You gotta get some of their 16. Like a case!

Photos of; their Estate vines as viewed from their terrace, tasting room with their kitchen for food pairing in the back, entrance and their rotating water ball just of their terrace.

Monthly 4th Friday is post Thanksgiving this year, so lots of Thanksgiving style wines!

There is definitely a sweetened lemon cream note on the nose, which turns more honeyed cashew, honeycomb, honeysuckle and wax. Tart tropical fruit on the palate with a hint of granite/limestone and guava as well as lemon. My first introduction to this producer courtesy of @David T and based on price, around $40, this is a wonderful QPR Chardonnay. Will definitely seek this out.

Combination after wedding party combined with two early Birthdays. Love this Chardonnay. Love it even more for its value. Happy Birthday Julie & Sofia. See previous notes.

@AZ Oasis

Chardonnay pairing with Saffron Fettucine with Saffron Cream, Pancetta,
Summer Corn, Parsley and Pecorino Romano.

Green apple, juicy pineapple flesh, green melon, cream, butter, light honey notes, some lime candy, rich, waxy and well polished. One of a handful of CA Chardonnay’s I enjoy because of their light wood influence. At steal at $36 member price.

Not the best pair I’ve had but, it worked ok.

Photos of, their terrace view, Saffron Fettucine with Saffron Cream, Pancetta, Summer Corn, Parsley and Pecorino Romano, the rotating ball waterfall and hand blown glass that decorated their cellar halls.

For the most part, I prefer White Burgundy over California Chardonnay. It’s just a palate preference. However, there are good California Chardonnays that I enjoy and this is one of them. I enjoy it because it reminds me of one pricey Chardonnay that I also like but, this is a third of the price at $36, member price. The producer it reminds me of Aubert. Specifically, “Sugar Shack.”

The nose reveals, bright, green & golden apple, juicy ripe pineapple, Meyer lemon, lime candy, green melon, butter, cream, soft chalkiness, some saline, Jasmine, white lilies with Israeli Ruscus.

The body is full, round and beautiful. The palate juicy. Texture is thick and creamy. Green & golden apple, juicy ripe pineapple, Meyer lemon, lime candy, green melon, honey notes, butter, cream, soft chalkiness, hint of fresh herbs, slightly gritty volcanic minerals, some saline, Jasmine, white lilies with Israeli Ruscus. Soft wood use. The acidity is round and beautiful. The well polished, rich, finish lasts minutes.

Photos of, the side view off the back of their terrace patio, the halls of their cellar, rotating ball waterfall and the entrance into their Phase V Cellars...another wine they produce.

Our second course was Hedy's Cauliflower Cured Spinach w/ Crispy Croutons. That’s her with her husband Jeff. Thank you hosting the event at your fabulous house and this amazing soup. My initial thought was to do white Burgundy with this creamy soup. However, when I found out it was accented with cured spinach, I switched the pairing to this Davis Estates Chardonnay. I don’t drink many CA Chardonnay’s as so many are over worked or over oaked or both. This is gently worked and oaked because at the heart of it is beautiful fruit. I still like my whites for their fruit and not hammered with oak & butter. This is a very well made Chardonnay and very fairly priced.

One of the few and new to me California Chardonnays I find enjoyable. From the Hudson Vineyard. It’s not over oaked, over worked & not buttery. On the nose; green and golden apple, candied lemon/lime, fresh pineapple green melon, touch of cantaloupe and a slight buttered popcorn quality, volcanic soils, yellow lilies and jasmine. The body is full, thick and creamy. The fruits; more green than golden apple on the palate, candied lemon/lime, guava & fresh pineapple. Soft chalky minerals, sea spray, very good acidity with a round, rich, thick, balanced, well textured and well polished finish. Paired well with the Roasted Chestnut Bisque with Nutmeg prepared by the Chef at Davis Estates and shown in the photos. Other photos are, the view from their terrace and tasting room.