Shay A

9.3

Annual birthday WWC hosting. As normal, 1 sparkler, 3 whites, 4 reds, 1 dessert, all presented blind.

As part of my white wine flight theme, I wanted to compare Hyde and Hudson side by side, then finish with Kongsgaard, since it is a blend of both.

Similar to the Hudson before it, I normally like to drink Kongsgaard on the young side, and also similar to the Hudson, on this day…it didn’t seem to have the typical opulent/massive profile. White peach and apricot upfront as well as sweet cotton candy on the nose. Ripe yellow and tropical fruits dominate the palate with sea salt, ginger and lemon cream. Faint note of butterscotch, but not near the amount I’ve found previous vintages to show. What Kongsgaard does well is have a wine of this profile but somehow find a way to have elegant qualities about it. Decant or hold a few years. — 3 days ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.4

2005 vintage. Decanted and tasted over the course of two hours. Good fill, great cork. Perfect picture show sed. Vibrant color and nose. A modicum of richness up front initially but not to return. Medium body dropped down to light medium body. Thinning out meant slightly more acidity. That wasn't exactly undesirable. Currently tasting like a Napa version of LLC St. Julien (non-mountain terroir lean and mean). As it stands, will hold fast in this presentation for another 5 years. Not improving and feel it's goin' south after that 5-spot. 12.10.23. — 4 months ago

Rob Mayes

9.5

Unbelievable. More white than rosé. Notes of Kongsgaard. — 3 years ago

Shay A

9.3

WNH Morgado Virtual Wine Tasting with winemaker Kimberley Hatcher and mentor Russell Bevan.

Coming from Steiner Vineyard in Bennett Valley (not familiar with the vineyard at all), this 2016 is, for me, in the same vein as a Kongsgaard or Hudson Chardonnay. When poured in the glass, it was golden and appeared oxidized. I anticipated it to be heavy and overly rich, but it wasn’t. Aromatically it showed honey roasted nuts, touch of orange marmalade, and herb crusted yellow fruits. On the palate, there is really nice acidity followed by more herbal yellow fruits, lemon cream pie crust and a finish showing a mix of cotton candy and lanolin. This goes through a similar “death and resurrection” type winemaking process (if I’m not mistaken), a process that John Kongsgaard made famous. It has a very Hudson/Carneros feel to it. Very enjoyable now. — 4 years ago

with Carl, Eric and 6 others

Turd Ferguson

9.3

Minerals and stone fruit. Indiscernible oak. Gorgeous. — 3 days ago

Ron R

9.5

Outstanding example of Cali Pinot. Even more so since this is 2012 vintage. Overripe cherries and coffee notes explode on the nose. The palate displays crunchy black fruits along with syrop de cassis. Superb grainy tannins combine with bright acidity. A reference point in Sonoma/Cali.

Here are my top 2023 tastings by type. Let me know what your favorites are…

2023 Wines of my Year
Sauvignon Blanc - Modus Operandi (2021) - $45
Chablis - Domaine Genot-Boulanger Puligny Montrachet (2020) - $85
Chardonnay - Kongsgaard (2020) - $120
Pinot - Aston Estate (2012) - $70
Cabernet - Sinegal (2019) - $75 &
Cabernet - Lewelling (2019) - $59 — 4 months ago

with Anne-marie

Shay A

9.3

My first experience with this producer, and wow! White burgundy is very hit or miss for me, but this was a total hit.

In the glass, someone could have told me they poured me Kongsgaard and I’d of believed them. Deep golden color. Even aromatically and initially on the palate it was as though someone blended Kongsgaard (very Hudson like), with mersault. There is a bitter honey/truffle honey note up front alongside overripe peach, honey roasted cashews, and orange marmalade. On the palate, it’s certainly rich but not so much from oak...honeycomb, honey covered cotton candy, caramel dipped golden delicious apples, almond shavings and a kiss of lanolin on the finish. This only improved in the bottle after 2-3hrs of being open. Drinking wonderfully right now. I need to hunt down some bottles! Thanks for the heads up here, @David T . — 3 years ago

Mikey T

9.4

1 of only 750 and it’s a damn shame — 4 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.5

2021 vintage. Opened (not decanted) and tasted after two hours. Super big, smoky, bacon fat, mineral nose. Heavy, ripe body and that three hundred fathoms deep darkness on a moonless night color. A touch of sweetness but suspecting it will saunter off in 5-7 years. Another great Kongsgaard Syrah vintage. 12.17.23. — 4 months ago

Grant Simpson

9.4

First ever rose from kongsaard delicious full throttle expression. No red wines produced in 2020 — 2 years ago