2011 Kongsgaard Chardonnay

Pungent, high-toned aromas of pineapple, hazelnut and butterscotch. Big and rich but with powerful salty acidity framing the lemon cream and stone fruit flavors. Not yet particularly complex but solid as a rock. Initially the tannins accentuated the impression of acidity but the wine harmonized nicely in the glass with a bit of air. Finishes with a wave of flavor.

One of the most pleasant surprises of the year, the 2011 Chardonnay is wonderfully nuanced and delineated. Crushed rocks, white flowers and white stone fruit, Chamomile and honey all flesh out in the glass. In 2011, the Chardonnay is bright and focused. This is the first vintage made solely from Hudson. In 2011, the rains proved to be too much for the Hyde fruit.

The 2011 Chardonnay displays a creamy richness, with oodles of buttered hazelnut and tropical fruit in a medium to full-bodied, textured, complex and evolved style. I would drink it over the next 3-4 years. These all look like impressive wines, but they are so limited in availability, I’ve kept my tasting notes short. The brilliant John Kongsgaard – part winemaker, part opera devotee, and part mystic – has a few new items up his sleeve for release. Of course, he is still offering his Chardonnays and Syrahs, which are among the very best made in California. Over recent years Kongsgaard has branched out to produce Cabernet Sauvignon from Atlas Peak. He has two cuvees now that come from these volcanic soils, cropped at very tiny yields of one ton of fruit per acre. The wines come from relatively old vines for Napa Cabernet Sauvignon, 35 years of age as of 2012. Kongsgaard’s newest baby, which he started making in 2009, is only two to four barrels of co-fermented Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon in a 50/50 blend from the Atlas Peak site. Fax (707) 226-2936