For years when I was in graduate school I admired the drinkability of Bochaine wines. A winery with serious history, set in the southern end of the Napa Valley, Bouchaine Vineyards is the oldest continuously operating winery in the Carneros district. Land here was first cultivated in the 1880s, and later transformed Gerret and Tatiana Copeland in 1981, evolving into a sustainably farmed producer of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
The wines were really good across the board. I love the 2024 ‘Carneros’ Gewurtztraminer (OB, 92) which is viscous with great flavor range. Learn more at https://bouchaine.com/ and here are my reviews of the new releases by Bouchaine.
2024 Bouchaine ‘Carneros’ Gewurtztraminer- The 2024 Bouchaine ‘Carneros’ Gewurtztraminer is fragrant and beautifully-textured stuff. Pink grapefruit and papaya flavors mingle well with green melon notes on the palate. Drink 2026-2032- 92
2024 Bouchaine ‘Alsatian Blend’ White Wine- The 2024 Bouchaine ‘Alsatian Blend’ White Wine shows star jasmine and white peach on the nose with hints of gooseberry. The palate is soft and fat with a smooth mouthfeel. Drink 2026-2031- 91
2024 Bouchaine ‘Vin Gris of Pinot Noir’ Rose- The 2024 Bouchaine ‘Vin Gris of Pinot Noir’ Rose shows orange blossom on the nose alongside delicate red fruits and hints of red rose petals. The palate is fresh and smooth with a terrific texture and tension. Drink 2026-2030- 91
2023 Bouchaine ‘Estate’ Chardonnay- Sourced from the Carneros district, the 2023 Bouchaine ‘Estate’ Chardonnay offers brioche and pineapple notes that combine with stony minerals on the palate. Medium-bodied and fresh, enjoy now and over the next six plus years. Drink 2026-2032- 91
2023 Bouchaine ‘Reserve’ Chardonnay- Showing slightly more depth than the ‘Estate’ the 2023 Bouchaine ‘Reserve’ Chardonnay shows off juicy peach and pear flavors alongside salty nuances on the palate. Medium-bodied with nice diatom nuances, enjoy now and over the next six plus years. Drink 2026-2032- 92
2023 Bouchaine ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 Bouchaine ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir offers cola and red rose petals on the nose alongside tart cranberry notes. The palate is lithe and smooth on the mouth with a terrific mouthfeel, with medium-bodied, tart red fruits. Drink 2026-2032- 91
2023 Bouchaine ‘Swan Clone’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 ‘Swan Clone’ comes from the estate vineyard in Carneros. Cloves and cardamom combine with shades of white pepper and wild blackberry on the nose. The palate is elegant and lifted with a great tension and light to medium-bodied red fruits with salty minerals. Drink 2026-2034- 91
2023 Bouchaine “Dijon Clone’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 ‘Dijon Clone’ shows better concentration than the ‘Swan’ offering dense black fruits with sea salt dusted cola flavors alongside rocky nuances. Medium-bodied with a lush mouthfeel, enjoy now and over the next eight plus years. Drink 2026-2034- 93
2023 Bouchaine ‘Pommard Clone’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 ‘Pommard Clone’ shows wild mushroom and red florals on the nose with Mandarin orange zest. The palate is fresh and neatly-textured with cola accents. Already nicely evolved, enjoy over the next seven plus years. Drink 2026-2033- 92
2022 Bouchaine ‘Estate’ Syrah- The 2022 ‘Estate’ Syrah shows off white pepper and brisket flavors that mingle well with wild blackberry compote flavors. Fresh and nicely-textured, enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2026-2033- 92