Reviews & Ratings

2014 Hess Collection Chardonnay "Napa Valley"

Winery: Hess Collection

Vintage: 2014

Wine Name/Vineyard: "Napa Valley"

Wine Category: Chardonnay

Grape blend: 100% Chardonnay

Bottle size: 750 ml

Region: Napa Valley

State or country: CA

Price: $22

Cases produced: 24,590

KWG Score: 89 (based on 2 reviews)

Ken's Wine Rating: Very Good+ (90)

Review date: July 24, 2016

Wine Review: This pale straw colored Chardonnay opens with an apple and mild oak bouquet. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, delicate and nicely balanced. The flavor profile is a gentle oak and mild pear blend with a hint of minerality and touch of lemon and green apple. The finish is dry and it drifts away nicely. This Chard is super food friendly and elegant. It would pair perfectly with Gibbet Hill Grill’s crispy potato-crusted haddock served over a sweet corn and bacon chowder. Yum! - Ken

Winemaker Notes: This is a wine I love sharing with people because it’s the very definition of versatile. It's wonderful on its own, with appetizers, or as an integral part of nearly any menu. The Su'skol vineyard is carefully farmed to emphasize fruit with wonderful acidity and balance, crisp and clean and clearly showing the impact of the moderate temperatures influenced by nearby San Pablo Bay. The multiple clones, including the aromatic musque, result in a wine that shows aromas and flavors of apple, white pear and a slight touch of tropical fruits, accented by aromas of honeysuckle. We ferment only a small portion in new French Oak, and allow just a portion (28%) to undergo secondary fermentation, showcasing fruit and a round, rich mouthfeel from battonage over several weeks. There’s a reason Chardonnay is a popular wine, and this is it.

Buy it: Use 1000 Corks to find stores that sell Hess Collection 2014 Napa Valley Chardonnay.