While Chardonnay’s history in Burgundy harkens back to the 12th century, its timeline in California is significantly shorter, having been cultivated there for less than 175 years. Both Chardonnay and California wine’s popularity have steadily risen in the last 49 years, and at the same time the quality of the offerings and number of producers in the state has grown considerably as well. Although any grape you can name is planted somewhere in California, Chardonnay remains the top variety across the state.
With a lot of research and an equal amount of consideration we have chosen the 50 Greatest California Chardonnays of the 21st Century So Far. Cakebread 2021 Reserve Chardonnay is aged for 10 months in 33 percent new French oak barrels, 19 percent concrete eggs, 5 percent puncheons, and 43 percent multiple use neutral French oak barrels, which are blended to make this delightful wine. It has aromas of green apple, Anjou pear, and vanilla that transition to full bodied flavors of honeydew melon, Fuji apple, and mandarin peel.
Excerpt Taken From: Robb Report
Author: Mike DeSimone and Jeff Jenssen
