Kongsgaard
The Judge Napa Valley Chardonnay
Napa Valley, California, USA
This was opened for my good friend, and winemaker for Montagu & Silver Ghost, Weston’s birthday. Our local group has long had many opinions on if Kongsgaard’s Judge is worth the up-charge due to expected lifespan. With Kongsgaard’s “death and resurrection” winemaking style, we’ve come across more overly oxidized bottles of Judge within 10yrs than we’d expect. And the regular Chardonnay bottling at less than half the price drinks just as good, if not better, at all stages. That being said, when the Judge is in that magical spot, it is simply spectacular.
My hopes here were fairly low in terms of vibrancy, but at first pour, I knew I was in for something special. Had that green tinge I come across ever so often (which normally leads to young wine and/or wine not exposed to oxygen…neither of those apply here). Steely and tart initially before turning quickly to a more powdered lemon bar, exotic tropical ripe fruits like nutmeg dusted white peach and juicy stone fruit (a bit Peter Michael Point Rouge like on the nose). Salted honey roasted cashews, pineapple, rich honeycomb and a lanolin type twang on the mid palate. Finish here is astoundingly lengthy. While this was likely profound 2-3yrs ago, it’s fantastic today (assuming you don’t experience bottle variation)! Drink up!
This was opened for my good friend, and winemaker for Montagu & Silver Ghost, Weston’s birthday. Our local group has long had many opinions on if Kongsgaard’s Judge is worth the up-charge due to expected lifespan. With Kongsgaard’s “death and resurrection” winemaking style, we’ve come across more overly oxidized bottles of Judge within 10yrs than we’d expect. And the regular Chardonnay bottling at less than half the price drinks just as good, if not better, at all stages. That being said, when the Judge is in that magical spot, it is simply spectacular.
My hopes here were fairly low in terms of vibrancy, but at first pour, I knew I was in for something special. Had that green tinge I come across ever so often (which normally leads to young wine and/or wine not exposed to oxygen…neither of those apply here). Steely and tart initially before turning quickly to a more powdered lemon bar, exotic tropical ripe fruits like nutmeg dusted white peach and juicy stone fruit (a bit Peter Michael Point Rouge like on the nose). Salted honey roasted cashews, pineapple, rich honeycomb and a lanolin type twang on the mid palate. Finish here is astoundingly lengthy. While this was likely profound 2-3yrs ago, it’s fantastic today (assuming you don’t experience bottle variation)! Drink up!
Searing acidity matched with great nuttiness and creaminess
Searing acidity matched with great nuttiness and creaminess
Feb 19th, 2015Reminiscent of pineapple candy wrapped in caramel.
Reminiscent of pineapple candy wrapped in caramel.
Jan 27th, 2018
Color:orangish yellow, Aroma:plum like, First Impression:matured plum flavor, Taste:enough acid, Others:complexity, high viscosity, Is it the taste for vintage Chardonnay? First time. No, regret to say, totally different. It should be too much fermented. @, -Popina, 170611
Color:orangish yellow, Aroma:plum like, First Impression:matured plum flavor, Taste:enough acid, Others:complexity, high viscosity, Is it the taste for vintage Chardonnay? First time. No, regret to say, totally different. It should be too much fermented. @, -Popina, 170611
Jun 11th, 2017
What a wine. Golden in color. Drinking for days with @David Cohn
What a wine. Golden in color. Drinking for days with @David Cohn
May 9th, 2016
Still young, very powerful style, some alcohol present. Needs more time.
Still young, very powerful style, some alcohol present. Needs more time.
Dec 12th, 2015Preferred the younger judges
$575 at Joel Robuchon
Preferred the younger judges
$575 at Joel Robuchon
Honored to be included in consuming this wine. Hard not be be influenced by the price which is in GC burgundy territory. Not much nose beyond a strange petrol note. Flavors overwhelmed by vanilla oakyness. Fat and oily. Not balanced and a bit of heat on the finish. Too much money for what it delivers.
Honored to be included in consuming this wine. Hard not be be influenced by the price which is in GC burgundy territory. Not much nose beyond a strange petrol note. Flavors overwhelmed by vanilla oakyness. Fat and oily. Not balanced and a bit of heat on the finish. Too much money for what it delivers.
Aug 30th, 2014Butterscotch. Slightly tight. Hints of sea salt and oak.
Butterscotch. Slightly tight. Hints of sea salt and oak.
May 29th, 2014Butterscotch, sea salt, candied lemon, benefits greatly from decanting for about an jour before drinking. Delicious!
Butterscotch, sea salt, candied lemon, benefits greatly from decanting for about an jour before drinking. Delicious!
May 29th, 2014