2023 Kongsgaard, The Judge Chardonnay, Napa Valley 1x75cl

Kongsgaard: “Artisanal wines at their finest” – Robert Parker

California’s Kongsgaard is one of the Napa Valley’s most exciting and interesting wineries. The winery was founded in 1996 and quickly achieved cult status thanks to the world-class nature of the wines made here.

The wines, both red and white, are made in a non-interventionist style by the brilliant John and Maggie Kongsgaard, and now their son Alex. All are tremendous in quality, with a style well summed up by Robert Parker, who called them “reds and whites that represent the essence of their varietal, vintage and vineyard”.

Cult-Collectable Napa Reds and Whites

Kongsgaard is perhaps most famous for its white wines. The Kongsgaard Chardonnay is a benchmark for California and often an instant sell-out on release. Consequently, there is never much available on the market to buy. The Judge Chardonnay is the jewel in the crown when it comes to the whites. It comes from a small vineyard, and just a couple of hundred cases are made in a typical vintage. These cases are some of the Napa Valley’s most sought-after.

The Kongsgaard reds are also outstanding. Kongsgaard Syrah is the flagship red and comes from a tiny 2-acre plot. This translates to just a few hundred cases of a Syrah that can rival the very best made anywhere in the world.

Also worth looking out for is the Kongsgaard Cabernet Sauvignon. This comes from the Eastern side of the Valley from a plot at 2,300 feet. Very ‘old world’ in style, it is classically structured and very age-worthy.