Kongsgaard

Napa Valley Albariño 2023

9.2

2023 vintage. Light-medium body. Ridiculous mineral qualities in the 55-65 degree range. A refreshing Napa white change. As with their syrah, apparently *hush hush* from the Hudson Vineyard. 11.01.24. — 2 months ago

Jan, Daniel and 10 others liked this

Kongsgaard

The Judge Napa Valley Chardonnay 2014

Wes Hough

9.8

With Yung on our 40th

— 7 months ago

Kongsgaard

Napa Valley Rosé Blend

Grant Simpson

9.4

First ever rose from kongsaard delicious full throttle expression. No red wines produced in 2020 — 3 years ago

Grant and Brandon liked this

Domaine de la Bongran

Cuvée E.J. Thévenet Viré-Clessé Chardonnay 2014

Shay A

9.3

My first experience with this producer, and wow! White burgundy is very hit or miss for me, but this was a total hit.

In the glass, someone could have told me they poured me Kongsgaard and I’d of believed them. Deep golden color. Even aromatically and initially on the palate it was as though someone blended Kongsgaard (very Hudson like), with mersault. There is a bitter honey/truffle honey note up front alongside overripe peach, honey roasted cashews, and orange marmalade. On the palate, it’s certainly rich but not so much from oak...honeycomb, honey covered cotton candy, caramel dipped golden delicious apples, almond shavings and a kiss of lanolin on the finish. This only improved in the bottle after 2-3hrs of being open. Drinking wonderfully right now. I need to hunt down some bottles! Thanks for the heads up here, @David T . — 4 years ago

Alex, David and 39 others liked this

David T

Beautiful wine. Even better price point. Just gets better & better the more it opens up.

Jan A

Have only one bottle left from my case, Indeed a great effort! And from a very good year

Jan A

BTW this is unoaked so you got that one right in your description

Kongsgaard

Napa Valley Chardonnay 2019

Mike Evans

9.3

By far the best Kongsgaard Chard I’ve had (and I’ve had a lot) with an unexpected brightness and acidity. — 2 months ago

Shay and Ira liked this

Ira Schwartz

@Mike Evans I have not had one in a very long time Oak toned down?

Mike Evans

@Ira Schwartz The oak wasn’t too prominent, which was surprising since I’ve historically found Kongsgaard Chards to be too heavy and oaky for my taste. This one was much more balanced with good acidity, really enjoyable. I don’t know if it is a change in style or an outlier but I hope for the latter since I have friends on the list who subject me to Kongsgaard from time to time.

Aston Estate

Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2012

Ron R

9.5

Outstanding example of Cali Pinot. Even more so since this is 2012 vintage. Overripe cherries and coffee notes explode on the nose. The palate displays crunchy black fruits along with syrop de cassis. Superb grainy tannins combine with bright acidity. A reference point in Sonoma/Cali.

Here are my top 2023 tastings by type. Let me know what your favorites are…

2023 Wines of my Year
Sauvignon Blanc - Modus Operandi (2021) - $45
Chablis - Domaine Genot-Boulanger Puligny Montrachet (2020) - $85
Chardonnay - Kongsgaard (2020) - $120
Pinot - Aston Estate (2012) - $70
Cabernet - Sinegal (2019) - $75 &
Cabernet - Lewelling (2019) - $59 — a year ago

with Anne-marie

Tom, Bob and 33 others liked this

Ron R

@Jody Scharf, let’s connect. Happy Christmas 🎅🏾

WC Fields

Year isn’t over! Got 2 more days. Detecting low expectations for the next two days? 🤪

Ron R

@WC Fields, well, I had lined up wines wines that we had quaffed previously, and because of that, the die was cast. Besides, I rarely tasted a wine once and come to such conclusions. I think a good product must also display consistency. 🥳

Ruinart

Brut Rosé Champagne

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Onto something we love after the Kongsgaard palate burn.

Never disappoints, consistent, rich, ripe deep red fruits with just the right amount of minerality & chalkiness.

Some acid to pair with vinaigrette salad.

375ml

Photos of, the House of Ruinart, painting of Founder Dom Thierry Ruinart, their caves & Grand Cru Vineyards. — 5 years ago

Bob, Severn and 25 others liked this

Hudson

Estate Grown Napa Valley Chardonnay 2011

Tom Garland

9.3

Hudson ranch & vineyard wine tasting

2013 estate syrah
2014 old master (60%cab franc & merlot)
2016 Phoenix (60% merlot, and cab franc)
2011 estate chardonnay
2016 little bit chardonnay
2021 estate cabernet (1st release)
2021 estate grenache

Fun tasting and tour around this classic 2,000 acre Carneros property(200 acres in vines). Grapes sold to more than 25 different wineries like Aubert, Kongsgaard, Kistler, Ramey,etc. — 6 months ago

with Brenda

Brenda, Jan and 9 others liked this

Ron R

I love their chards. Especially the high-end stuff… even the regular chard is exceptional, but at $75, also not cheap.9

Tom Garland

@Ron R Agree. Hard to find unless on their mailing list, so whenever I get the chance, I close my eyes and hand em my credit card. Cheers!

Ron R

That’s what I do, @Tom Garland. I’ll save my duckets elsewhere 😀

Paper Planes

Russian River Valley Pinot Noir Rosé 2018

Rob Mayes

9.5

Unbelievable. More white than rosé. Notes of Kongsgaard. — 4 years ago

David, Alex and 8 others liked this

Morgado

Steiner Vineyard Chardonnay 2016

Shay A

9.3

WNH Morgado Virtual Wine Tasting with winemaker Kimberley Hatcher and mentor Russell Bevan.

Coming from Steiner Vineyard in Bennett Valley (not familiar with the vineyard at all), this 2016 is, for me, in the same vein as a Kongsgaard or Hudson Chardonnay. When poured in the glass, it was golden and appeared oxidized. I anticipated it to be heavy and overly rich, but it wasn’t. Aromatically it showed honey roasted nuts, touch of orange marmalade, and herb crusted yellow fruits. On the palate, there is really nice acidity followed by more herbal yellow fruits, lemon cream pie crust and a finish showing a mix of cotton candy and lanolin. This goes through a similar “death and resurrection” type winemaking process (if I’m not mistaken), a process that John Kongsgaard made famous. It has a very Hudson/Carneros feel to it. Very enjoyable now. — 4 years ago