Medium gold color; pear, peach, nectarine, lime, Meyer lemon, vanilla, bread dough, crème brûlée, candied ginger, saline minerality, oak spices on the nose and palate.
Dry; no tannins, vibrant acidity (3.6 pH). Medium body, creamy, velvety texture. Impressive intensity and complexity. 100% chardonnay grapes from Napa’s coolest vineyards. The 2023 vintage saw heavy winter and spring rains, welcomed after several drought years, but the showers delayed budbreak and set up one of the latest vintages in decades. Cool spring temperatures led to an extended flowering period that led to a post-veraison thinning to achieve a balanced crop. Cool temperatures continued, requiring longer hangtime and patience.
The winery notes: “Our patience paid off, with 2023 offering one of our most unique and rewarding vintages to date!” The grapes came from Duckhorn estate vineyards, but also from independent growers in Napa—thus the Napa Valley designation. Fermentation was 90% in barrel, 10% in tank. Aged nine months in French oak, 40% new, 30% second use, 30% neutral; 40% of wine experienced malolactic conversion. 14.1% ABV
After working at Duckhorn for a decade, Renée Ary became the fourth winemaker in the 41-year history of Duckhorn in 2014. The website notes: “Renée is recognized for making some of the finest wines in the history of Duckhorn Vineyards.” Renée notes: “I am incredibly fortunate to work with some of Napa Valley’s most exceptional grapes. There is no recipe or formula. My job is to let the vineyards speak and convey the soul of the wine.”
Dan and Margaret Duckhorn founded Duckhorn Vineyards in 1976. They focused on merlot at the beginning. Today, the seven estate vineyards are located in the Napa Valley and on the slopes of Howell Mountain and produce a number of varietals in addition to the merlot core.
The company is undergoing change. Dan and Margaret divorced in 2000. Dan was named Winemaker of the Year by the San Francisco Chronicle in 2005. GI Partners, a private equity firm, purchased controlling interest in the Duckhorn Wine Company in 2007. In 2016, TSG Consumer Partners bought the brand and its wineries for a price in the range of $600 million according to published reports. Duckhorn’s portfolio includes Duckhorn Vineyards, Paraduxx, Goldeneye, Migration, Decoy, and Canvasback.
Margaret Duckhorn remained intimately involved in the business even after the sales. She died in 2022. Duckhorn president and CEO: “Margaret was an icon who changed the face of American wine. She was kind, gracious, collaborative and charitable. Margaret always led by example, and instilled this remarkable sense of camaraderie, which made her a talented leader with a gift for empowering people and building consensus. She was deeply loved and universally respected.”
Duckhorn Vineyards Napa Valley Chardonnay 2023 is an exceptional premium chardonnay. Polished, pure, complex layers presented with plush, silky mouthfeel. Skillfully managed oak delivers subtle vanilla, bread, clove. Acidity adds freshness and lift through extended finish. Pair with fish and seafood—seared scallops with brown butter sauce, lobster, crab cakes, halibut, cod, trout, swordfish. White meats—roasted chicken, chicken breast poached in butter and tarragon, turkey; slow-roasted pork tenderloin, pork loin with light mustard cream sauce. Vegetable pairing—corn, sweet potatoes; mushrooms; roasted winter squash; roasted cauliflower. Cheese—triple-crème, camembert, grutère, comté, aged gouda, chèvre, bûcheron, delice de Bourgogne, explorateur, cambozola. $38
