• Home
  • Blog
  • About
  • Resources
Menu

Owen Bargreen

  • Home
  • Blog
  • About
  • Resources
The 2015 Kongsgaard Chardonnay (WWB, 96) is a special occasion wine that is truly profound and entices with its incredible range and minute long finish. 

The 2015 Kongsgaard Chardonnay (WWB, 96) is a special occasion wine that is truly profound and entices with its incredible range and minute long finish. 

Kongsgaard Chardonnay

February 7, 2018

That feeling of trying a wine and feeling speechless resonates with me. One of the great wines of the world, John Kongsgaard produces some of the best Chardonnay in Napa. I had the chance to meet him a year ago and chat wine. A downright awesome and highly personable guy, John’s family has remarkably lived in the Napa area since the 1840s. John’s grandfather owned a stone quarry in Napa and John’s father was a Napa County Superior Court judge for more than twenty years. 

Following graduating high school in the late 1960’s John completed the famed UC Davis masters in enology and viticulture program. For a short time he worked at the Stony Hill winery in Napa and then worked for at Newton Vineyards as the winemaker from 1983 to 1996. John also studied under eminent wine consultant Michel Rolland. He has a Burgundian feel to all his wines and has indicated that Michel Rolland had a profound influence in his style of winemaking. In 2004 John bought a 150 acre parcel of land on Atlas Peak where vines planted sit at as far up as 2500 feet. His property has a mere five acres planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Rousanne and Viognier.

I have had the great pleasure in reviewing the past three Kongsgaard Chardonnay releases.  Last years release, his 2014 Kongsgaard ‘Napa Valley’ Chardonnay (WWB, 97), was the highest rated North American Chardonnay that I have reviewed in more than two years. This years release, the 2015 Kongsgaard Chardonnay (WWB, 96) is nearly as good. The wine takes on an exotic range of aromatics and flavors — all leading to a minute-plus long finish. This extraordinary wine will cellar marvelously for decades. Learn more about this storied winery at http://www.kongsgaardwine.com Here is the new Chardonnay release by Kongsgaard.

2015 Kongsgaard Chardonnay- This seamless and memorable wine is a stunning follow up to the downright opulent 2014 Chardonnay bottling. The nose reminds me of vanilla creme brûlée, bright lemon crushed brioche and Pazzaz apple. The palate is exceedingly plush, while maintaining a wonderful tension towards the back. Creme brûlée, butterscotch, bananas foster and roasted pineapple complete this stunning wine. The Kongsgaard saves the best for last with a minute long, Meyer lemon cream driven finish. This is another astonishing wine made by superstar winemaker John Kongsgaard. Drink 2018-2030- 96

← Latta WinesLong Shadows Added to Lineup →
 

Latest Posts

Featured
Oct 22, 2025
Cellar Selection: 2017 Chateau Pontet-Canet
Oct 22, 2025
Oct 22, 2025
Oct 22, 2025
Sleight of Hand
Oct 22, 2025
Oct 22, 2025
Oct 20, 2025
Van Duzer
Oct 20, 2025
Oct 20, 2025
Oct 20, 2025
J Vineyards
Oct 20, 2025
Oct 20, 2025
Oct 18, 2025
Beatus
Oct 18, 2025
Oct 18, 2025
Oct 18, 2025
Turnstile Cellars
Oct 18, 2025
Oct 18, 2025
Oct 18, 2025
Adelsheim
Oct 18, 2025
Oct 18, 2025
Oct 17, 2025
Review: British Airways First Class Seattle to London
Oct 17, 2025
Oct 17, 2025
Oct 16, 2025
Scharffenberger
Oct 16, 2025
Oct 16, 2025
Oct 16, 2025
Roederer Estate and Domaine Anderson
Oct 16, 2025
Oct 16, 2025
Oct 16, 2025
Valette
Oct 16, 2025
Oct 16, 2025
Oct 10, 2025
L'Ecole No. 41
Oct 10, 2025
Oct 10, 2025
Oct 10, 2025
McCollum Heritage 91
Oct 10, 2025
Oct 10, 2025
Oct 9, 2025
Clarice Wine Company
Oct 9, 2025
Oct 9, 2025
Oct 9, 2025
Moret-Brealynn
Oct 9, 2025
Oct 9, 2025
Oct 9, 2025
Domaine Carneros
Oct 9, 2025
Oct 9, 2025
Oct 9, 2025
Votto Vines New Releases
Oct 9, 2025
Oct 9, 2025
Oct 8, 2025
Ethos
Oct 8, 2025
Oct 8, 2025
Oct 8, 2025
Nine Hats
Oct 8, 2025
Oct 8, 2025
Oct 8, 2025
Ponzi
Oct 8, 2025
Oct 8, 2025