April 27, 2024 - This particular bottle is at peak. If you have the 2016 I would drink up. Based on the most recent cellar tracker notes I was hoping it would be better.
April 6, 2024 - Wow
April 4, 2024 - This is spectacular…
Sight: Medium to deep golden color
Nose: Big nose of yellow Citrus, pineapple, baked yellow pear, Toasted Pie Nut, Macadamias, Popcorn, Carmel, almost reminds me of Honey Smacks cereal. Underneath the rather hedonistic aroma there is evidence of purity from the fruit and minerality.
Taste: Bam! Kongsgaard always delivers a mouthful of Chardonnay… that is clear here as it is viscous and full bodied, being considerably low in acid but a hair above what is needed to prevent falling flat. Lovely honeyed baking spice and concentrated flavors of yellow citrus with a healthy dollop of Popcorn / oak in the finish. The palate is refreshingly rich (if that makes sense) it’s not tiring which, I love, but the only thing I noticed is the alcohol starts sticking out more than I’d like at room temperature.
Overall: This Chard has always held a special place in my heart. This was a gift from a friend as a reminder of my first wine job.
John Kongsgaard is a very important figure in the Napa Chardonnay wine style, Making some of the richest chards in the Napa valley but with poise. It’s like a mix with a full sound that’s not too loud, a huge volume without making too much noise. Originally he popularized techniques of unfiltered and minimalist wines. he chose to adopt the more Burgundian style of patients with native yeast fermentations that could last up to a year, not worried about oxidization as the wines went through malolactic conversion.
He used lots of time, waiting, and elévage to let the wines comes back to life afterwards. This is clearly not the Burgundy wines of restraint but a wine of patients and time. In burgundy they are hands off and the let the wine be wine in the cellars…. and that’s what John did, now his son Alex, cheers to a great memory and wine!
(Sorry for the long write up)
January 5, 2024 - Drink up. At peak. Nice rich flavors, No acidity, Marmalade, oily
December 25, 2023 - Beautiful.
January 29, 2023 - Rich beautiful, Still some acid. Lovely pairing with sole meunière
December 18, 2022 - Nose: sweet corn, caramel, white flower, lemon peel,
Notes: relatively full bodied and a slightly sweeter palate. Kongsgaard is always thick and complex with excellent nose and a carmel plus yogurt palate. Pretty young and has further potential, I think another 5 years will bring this wine to its ideal drinking window. I always remain my view that this winery is the best US white.
Drink: 2027+
Rating: 91
October 18, 2022 - "Wow" ... I have always loved Kongsgaard, but this 16 is singing and its beautiful music!! As the last CT review, this really does resemble a baby Marcassin, and agreed the finish is much shorter, but still incredible.
Flavors of very subdued lemon and citrus, a bit of minerality and slight saline, especially as it came up closer to room temp, but a very rich and coating mouthfeel.
Absolutely no signs of age, and think these are at their best drinking window, not sure any further bottle age will be benefited, but then again at this point.. who cares!! Glad i have 3 more to sample over the next years.
No expert, but think these will stay put here for a good couple of years, but would consume over the next 5 or so years to 'get the best' of whats in bottle!! Cheers!
June 1, 2022 - .
May 18, 2022 - Geez