CHARDONNAY
95 Cuvaison 2020 ATS Estate Grown Chardonnay (Carneros-Napa Valley). Heady aromas, complex flavors, a great concentration of fruit and oak spice components lift this wine well above the pack. Everything from toasted baguettes to grated ginger, poached pears and marzipan play across the palate as a full body and lush texture carry them forward to a lingering finish. Editors’ Choice. —J.G.
abv: 14.5% Price: $75
95 Mira 2017 Hyde Vineyard Chardonnay (Napa Valley). For full review see page 87.
abv: 14.6% Price: $95
95 Morgan 2021 Highland Chardonnay (Santa Lucia Highlands). For full review see page 87.
abv: 14.1% Price: $30
95 Newton 2020 Beckstoffer Carneros Lake Vineyard Chardonnay (Napa Valley). Toasty, spicy flavors, full body and a creamy texture come together beautifully in this detailed and well-balanced wine. Attractive oak notes of toasted baguette slices and roasted almonds meet Bosc pear, vanilla and hints of lemon, while a silky, elegant texture leads to a lingering finish. Best–2030. Cellar Selection. —J.G.
abv: 14% Price: $120
94 Caraccioli 2020 Escolle Vineyard Chardonnay (Santa Lucia Highlands). For full review see page 87.
abv: 13.4% Price: $40
94 Fennell 2019 Chardonnay (Sta. Rita Hills). This bottling balances the Burgundian complexity of richness with minerality and acidity, offering aromas of lime peel, struck stone, macadamia nut and light buttercream. Lively citrus, chalk and ash elements give deep character to the palate, which evolves into a buttery brioche finish. —M.K.
abv: 14.7% Price: $NA
93 Castello di Amorosa 2021 Reserve Chardonnay (Napa Valley). For full review see page 90.
abv: 14.8% Price: $59
93 Cuvaison 2020 Hedon Estate Grown Chardonnay (Carneros-Napa Valley). This lavish, deep and complex wine starts with a rich gold color, sends up generous scents of ginger, spiced pears, butter and toast, and delivers ripe, mouth-filling fruits and more oak spices on the palate. It is broad and lush, nicely viscous and offers a lingering finish. —J.G.
abv: 14.6% Price: $60
Even the aromas of this. —S.B.
