Although this vintage was marked by fires, we harvested slightly earlier than usual so there was no impact. Caramel, gala apple & pear fruit on the nose. The palate shows bright acidity, round texture, apple, pear, lemon drop and a creamy finish. Pleasant and lingering. Classic Burgundian in style, round and inviting with perfectly balanced weight and acidity. A classic, elegant, Sonoma County Chardonnay. A real stunner!  68 cases handcrafted.

• Varietal: 100% Chardonnay

• Appellation: Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County

• Pick date: August 27, 2020  

• Aging: 18 months in used (3-4 times) French Oak barrels

92 Points - Gold, North Coast Wine Challenge

The 2021 vintage of van Z Vineyards® Estate Chardonnay was exemplary, by most standards. We had a beautiful growing season with moderate weather and no return of the fires that affected the previous year. Fuji apple and Bosc pear on the nose. Oak toast, caramelized apple & pear fruit on the palate. Bright acidity and richly textured. 118 cases handcrafted.

• Varietal: 100% Chardonnay

• Appellation: Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County

• Pick date: September 6, 2021

• Aging: 18 months in used French oak barrels (3-4 times used)

96 POINTS-DOUBLE GOLD, SUNSET INTERNATIONAL WINE COMPETITION

2018 was a very European vintage for the Napa Valley, with a perfect summer yielding beautiful fruit and great flavors. Oak toast, clove spice, black cherry, blackberry, and currant aromas on the nose. Round, melted tannins, dark, complex black and red fruit. Incredibly long, lingering finish. A great vintage that resulted in a superb example of a rich, handcrafted, and opulent Cabernet Sauvignon. 146 cases handcrafted.

• Varietal: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon

• Appellation: Napa Valley

• Pick date: September 24, 2018

• Aging: 36 Months in 50% New French Oak

2017 was a very challenging vintage, marked by extreme heat around Labor Day and horrific fires in October. Fortunately, this vineyard avoided both these disasters, because it is always picked very early due to it being dry farmed. Oak toast, cigar box, black currant, brambly fruit aromas on the nose. Firm, dense tannins envelop the dark, complex black currant and blackberry fruit. Incredibly long, lingering finish.  98 cases produced.

• Varietal: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon

• Appellation: Napa Valley

• Pick date: September 6, 2017

• Aging: 36 months in 50% New French Oak

2015 was an intense vintage - the third year of extreme drought which made for very low soil moisture resulting in restricted berry set and low crop yields. Harvest comes early to this vineyard because dry-farming leads to sugars accumulating rapidly at the end of the season.  The 2015 is everything that a Cab lover is looking for: ripe with roasted dark fruit, cigar, integrated oak, and light spice with pronounced acid.  It is a superb example of a rich, handcrafted, and opulent Cabernet Sauvignon.  70 cases produced.

• Varietal: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon

• Appellation: Napa Valley

• Pick Date: September 2, 2015

• Aging: 36 months in 100% New French Oak