2016 Vine Cliff Proprietress Reserve Chardonnay Los Carneros 750 ml

Even in a Valley known for luxurious Chardonnays, the 2016 Vine Cliff Proprietress Reserve shows uncommon richness, class, and prismatic complexity.

The juicy, butterscotch- and hazelnut-tinged 2016 rolls into the glass like a limo, drawing stares with its deep gold core and captivating floral bouquet. Its windswept Carneros origins, expressed by master winemaker John Wilson, exude the swagger and poise that have earned Napa its crown—and its hefty price tags. 

Typically, the Proprietress Reserve goes for $65, if you can find it. Or, if you’re at The French Laundry, where Vine Cliff Chardonnay has been poured, prepare to shell out $125 or more. But we got our hands on this 2016 Reserve for a phenomenal price, offered to us because of our longstanding relationship with the winery and our multiple Vine Cliff Chardonnay sellouts. 

Wine Access members are well aware of Vine Cliff's Chardonnay heroics. Just last year, the 2016 Los Carneros bottling—the little brother to today’s Reserve—became one of the best-selling white wines in Wine Access history. The “little” 2016 earned rave reviews from members such as, “best Chardonnay tasted to date,” and “it has it all.”

Grown from the same Carneros site as its sibling, just a stone's throw from the breezy San Pablo Bay, the 2016 Proprietress Reserve is a selection of the best vineyard lots, chosen from 13 separate blocks. The Reserve was hand-picked early in the morning to maintain the freshness and racy acidity of the perfectly ripe Chardonnay grapes. 

Winemaker John Wilson, who cut his teeth under Ted Lemon of Littorai and Thomas Rivers Brown of Outpost, Round Pond, and Maybach, pressed the grapes slowly, in the style of Champagne. This minimized phenolic extraction—in other words, squeezed out all of the fruit purity and none of the stemmy bitterness—elevating finely delineated notes of Asian pear, lemon zest, and a hint of pineapple. 

Aging in French oak put the finishing touches on the 2016 Proprietress Reserve, adding silky polish and a touch of clove and cinnamon spice to the broad palate and lengthy finish. 

Balancing elegance and decadence with style may be the greatest feat of Napa’s top Chardonnays, and the 2016 Proprietress Reserve does so with ease. Finding value in Napa isn't always easy, but today, the Proprietress Reserve graciously offers the whole package. Go all in on this one.