Estate Grown Napa Valley Chardonnay

Another beauty from Hudson. So well behaved on the nose and palate. If you come across these (any vintage), scoop em up. Doesn’t quite have the complexity of the top-tier Hudson’s, but that’s to be expected.

Stunning oak regiment. Gorgeous.

I can’t believe I haven’t posted this, especially since I’ve gone through who knows how many this year. For me, Hudson chardonnay fruit is very distinctive aromatically, as I pick up clove and juicy fruit gum notes. Added notes of vanillin, Anjou pears and a touch of marzipan. Certainly rich in style and unmistakably Cali but lots of deep flavor and complexity. Honeyed Passion fruit, sea salted popcorn, and almond pastry on the palate. Good acidity as well. I’ve also found Hudson chardonnay fruit to be best enjoyed on the young side, but that may vary by producer. A consistently delicious chardonnay.

14’ Hudson Chardonnay. The 2015 has a little more balanced to it. This 14 has much more pronounced oak. Drink them up soon. Not getting any better!

Love it. Served at 55 degrees (not to be a geek - don’t serve this too cold) it was singing. Butterscotch, vanilla, brioche, peaches and almonds. This is creamy and rich without being heavy. Incredible acidity. Love this wine and this vintage is exceptional.

Ripe, rich and delicious. Lemon curd, peach, buttered popcorn, hazlenut. There is some flint, citrus and minerality but this is much more about a rich, viscous, unctuous style. Long, layered finish. Drinking well now.

14’ Hudson Chardonnay. This 14 is surprisingly accessible at such a young age.
Palate- Creaminess, orange blossom, pear, honey, very light acidity, hint of spiced oak. New world, big chard.
Unfolds slowly, once the wood integrates this should get even better. Don’t know how long these 14s from Hudson will be in a sweet spot. I’m not thinking a short time. If you’re planning on opening one soon… 15 minutes in the glass will help. Drink until 2020. IMO The best vintage so far!!

Toffee, fruit cake, butterscotch and a flicker of vanilla Yankee candle on the nose; quiet notes of roasted pear and petals of lemon rind picked off the grill in a rich bodied elixir that persists 20+ seconds.

On the nose; macerated lemon syrup, ripe golden & green apple, grapefruit, Bosc pear, golden raisins, volcanic minerals, chalky limestone, yellow lilies and jasmine. The body is thick and round...a fair amount of lee’s contact and bâtonnage. Syrupy macerated lemon heads, ripe golden & green apple, grapefruit, Bosc pear, golden raisins, butterscotch, volcanic minerals, chalky limestone, yellow lilies and jasmine. The long finish is rich and beautiful and lasts over a minute. Photos of, a Hudson Vineyard and the harvest team picking the Merlot at night. Producer notes...Christopher Vandendriessche (Winemaker shown in the right photo) was raised at White Rock Vineyards, his family's estate in the southern foothills of the Stag's Leap Range of Napa Valley. He holds degrees in Physics from UC Santa Cruz and Enology from the University of Bordeaux. Christopher spent his early winemaking years in Bordeaux, Burgundy, Spain and Argentina. Afterward, he returned to Napa as the Assistant Winemaker under John Kongsgaard at Luna. In 1999 Christopher took over winemaking at his family's winery, where he continues to produce White Rock wines, as well as Hudson wines. However, White Rock was destroyed in the recent fires in Napa/Sonoma. Hudson Ranch is owned by Lee Hudson (shown in the photo on the left). He was born and raised in Houston, Texas. Lee received his B.S. in Horticulture at the University of Arizona. After his studies at U of A, he worked Jacques Seysses of Domaine Duja located in Morey St. Denis, Burgundy. It was there he learned that great grapes from hallowed vineyard sites produce truly world class wines. Lee returned to the States to continue his graduate studies in viticulture and enology at University of California at Davis, where many of his classmates are now his clients. Lee searched for property from Santa Barbara to Mendocino, before deciding on the Carneros property in Napa Valley and founding Hudson Vineyards in 1981. They grow 17 different varietals...many you might now expect. Including; Aleatico, Albariño, Arneis, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Grenache, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Friulano, Ribolla Gialla, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, Verdejo, Vermentino & Viognier. The also sell fruit to the following producers; Arietta, Aubert, Bedrock, Robert Foley Vineyards, Failla, Keplinger, Kistler, Kongsgaard & Patz & Hall.

Rich cream, lemon meringue, balanced for the style and very well made.