Beringer Private Reserve Chardonnay 2023

Beringer Private Reserve Chardonnay, Napa Valley, California, 2023  

Grape: 100% Chardonnay, barrel fermented, aged for 8 months in French oak (50% new), with a bi-monthly stirring of the lees and a full malolactic fermentation. 

Producer Tasting Note:

This Chardonnay opens with lovely, perfumed aromas of bright citrus, including lemon zest and a touch of orange and tangerine marmalade — enlivened by a delicate white flower musk. Subtle hints of white tea, white chocolate and honeycomb add warmth and complexity. The palate is mouthwatering and fresh, showing vibrant acidity balanced by a full-bodied weight and a round, rich character. The flavor evolves beautifully, showcasing layers of Asian pear, lemon meringue and sweet pineapple. Spiced undertones interlace with the fruit, adding notes of jasmine, hazelnut and vanilla, all creating a nuanced depth. The finish is unctuous, highlighting beeswax, fresh hay, and lanolin, with a pleasing viscosity that coats the mouth rounding out this expressive and elegant Chardonnay.

Critic's Tasting Note:

"Aromas of lemon confit, yellow apples, baking spices and grilled pineapple. The palate is full-bodied with a creamy texture and bright acidity, giving flavors of grapefruit, lanolin, apple tart and honeysuckle. Quite a powerful wine that is carried by pure acidity and freshness."

96/100 points, James Suckling, January 2025

Gamble Ranch is Beringer’s northernmost Chardonnay vineyard, the source for Private Reserve, located near the town of Yountville, in the Oakville AVA, where daytime temperatures slowly climb as the cooling morning fog recedes south to San Pablo Bay. This significant diurnal shift allows the grapes to maintain their acidity, which is essential to balancing the ripe, rich flavours as they develop during warm afternoons. Older vines featuring the Wente Clone 4 are dominant in this wine.

For 2023, close to 18% of the blend was crafted from Big Ranch vineyard in Oak Knoll, which imparts a cooling influence being more centrally located within Napa Valley. Here the fruit retains more acidity and minerality, an influence from being closer to the San Pablo Bay. A higher selection of Burgundy clones also provides an elegant complexity and weight.

Food Match: Chicken or fish in cream/butter-based sauces, grilled fish (halibut, cod), shellfish (lobster, shrimp, crab, scallops), butternut squash and sweet potatoes, risottos and cream-enhanced soups & pasta dishes.