4.4 Vivino Stars (90+ Stars)

Enjoy California Chardonnay? Thank James Zellerbach. The founder of Hanzell planted Chardonnay vines at a time when there were around 100 acres planted in California, and he introduced techniques winemakers take for granted today, like the use of French Oak barrels and temperature-controlled stainless steel fermentation. Hanzell winemaker Michael McNeill leans on these innovations—not to mention his own desire to create significant Chardonnays—to create this stunning, layered expression of estate-grown fruit. Zellerbach wouldn’t just approve—he’d thoroughly enjoy.

Napa’s 2016 harvest was modest compared to the epic trilogy of 2013, 2014, and 2015. Nonetheless, a mild growing season and dramatic diurnal temperatures produced elegant Chardonnay grapes packed with concentrated intensity (though, cool conditions in the spring meant very limited fruit-set, and hence, low, low yields). McNeill plucked the best fruit from the estate’s 32 acres of vines and gently guided them through Hanzell’s pioneering tactics to coax out as much character as possible. The result? Amazing scores.

Wine Enthusiast 95 Points and Cellar Selection
This impressive white delivers a core of quince, lemon rind and apple that blends with accents of white flower and lemongrass. Crisp acidity drives the freshness on the textured palate, offering elegance and plenty of layers of intrigue. This will do well in the cellar.

Wine Advocate 93+ Points
The 2016 Chardonnay offers subdued notes of pear blossom, cheese rind, cremini mushroom, fresh apples, hay and clover honey with baker’s yeast hints. The light to medium-bodied palate begins minerally before fleshing out to honeyed fruits lifted by juicy acidity and finishing long and nutty. This took a long time to come around after being open, so give it more time in bottle or a long decant.