$129.99 on 3+ bottles (use code 3saves10)

96 pts Vinous

Drinking Window 2027 - 2038
The 2023 Chardonnay (Napa Valley) is a total stunner. Lemon confit, white flowers, tangerine peel, baked apple tart and lightly honeyed notes fill out the layers effortlessly. This large-scale, layered Chardonnay is exceptionally elegant and polished. Readers will find a Chardonnay of tremendous textural breadth and pedigree. - By Antonio Galloni on November 2025

Kongsgaard remains one of Napa Valley’s most revered, small-production estates, and the 2023 vintage is a standout—combining density, precision, and remarkable aging potential. Often compared to a “mini Judge,” this bottling delivers Grand Cru-level intensity at a (relatively) more accessible tier.

One of California’s most coveted and age-worthy Chardonnays, the 2023 Kongsgaard captures the estate’s signature style—powerful yet precise, opulent yet mineral-driven. Crafted from elite vineyard sources in Carneros and Coombsville, this is a benchmark Napa Valley Chardonnay that marries Old World sensibility with New World richness.

Winemaking & Terroir

Sourced primarily from renowned sites including Hudson and Hyde vineyards in Carneros, with additional fruit from Coombsville, the 2023 reflects a cool-climate influence balanced by Kongsgaard’s hallmark richness. Long barrel aging with minimal intervention enhances texture, complexity, and age-worthiness while preserving freshness and site expression.

Since the 1996 inaugural vintage, the Chardonnay has been primarily sourced from the Carneros growers Lee Hudson and Larry Hyde.  Beginning in 2020 they have been able to include fruit from the spectacular Coombsville vineyard planted by Warren Winiarski (the original Stag's Leap Wine Cellars founder who's Arcadia Chardonnay has been a personal favorite).  In line with the previous bottlings, the wine is defined tension of mineral energy and opulence, honoring its Burgundian antecedents. 

Tasting Notes

The 2023 Kongsgaard Chardonnay opens with an expressive bouquet of Meyer lemon, white flowers, and crushed stone, layered with ripe orchard fruits, citrus oil, and subtle hazelnut and brioche nuances.

On the palate, it is full-bodied and texturally expansive, offering a seamless interplay of lemon curd, baked apple, pear, and chamomile, underscored by a distinct mineral tension and vibrant acidity. The finish is long, saline, and finely structured, with lingering notes of honey, almond, and citrus zest.

Style & Drinking Window

• Style: Rich, layered, mineral-driven Chardonnay
• Body: Medium to full
• Drink Window: 2025–2035+
• Decanting: Recommended (30–60 minutes) for full expression

Food Pairing

Ideal with rich, elegant dishes such as:

• Butter-poached lobster
• Roast chicken with truffle jus
• Seared scallops
• Cream-based pasta or risotto