2018 Karo-Kann Reserve Chardonnay Napa Valley 750 ml

Britt Nichols Strikes Again!

When winemaker Britt Nichols strolled in with a famous bottle of Chardonnay in her hands, it wasn’t exactly what we were expecting—it was better. With her signature, knowing smile, Britt revealed the source of the 2018 Karo Kann Reserve Chardonnay: One of Napa Valley’s top estates, which regularly sells for $60, if you’re lucky enough to find it.

Britt just kept smiling while we looked at each other, simultaneously dumbfounded and delighted. Through a combination of family relationships and personal friendships, Britt had gotten access to two barrels worth of Chardonnay from this lusted-after producer to craft the wine we’d been dreaming of—from an excellent vintage, and a stunning vineyard to boot. Today, we’re thrilled to announce our latest Napa Valley bargain, the 2018 Karo-Kann Reserve Chardonnay, a stunning, golden wine bursting with golden apple, cream, and warm baking spices that’s a match for everything from formal weddings to casual afternoons by the pool. Only on Wine Access, and ⅓ the cost of this iconic winery’s standard Chardonnay, while our two barrels last.

Grown primarily in Coombsville, this Chardonnay benefits from the cooler climate that has made it one of the most exciting appellations in all of Napa, its wines bursting with energy and acidity alongside the sort of generous fruit that you’d expect from the region. It’s guarded by the hills east of downtown Napa, and the terroir—a unique combination of volcanic ash and gravelly loam—typically creates Chardonnays that walk the line between lushness and energy with impeccable balance.

Last month, once Britt had finished bottling our exclusive Karo-Kann 2018 Reserve Chardonnay, she came back to the office with a fresh sample for our team. We all fell in love immediately: Golden apple and fresh pear are joined by baked apple and a hint of melon, all of which find counterparts in the honeysuckle and sweet spice notes of Britt’s deft touch with French Oak.

“How did you do this?” Head of Wine Vanessa Conlin asked.

Britt had hit a home run, combining the depth of white Burgundy with the fruit of Napa Chardonnay, creating a unique, pedigreed wine worth far more than the $25 price.

“I just let the Chardonnay do the talking,” she said.

We all knew she’d done more than that, but we were too busy savoring the last few precious drops in our glasses. With so little of it produced, we knew that this was likely one of the only times we’d have a chance to enjoy it.

And we were okay with that: Chardonnay this delicious deserves to be shared. Snap it up while there’s still some left.