Hudson
Estate Grown Napa Valley Chardonnay
Napa Valley, California, USA
Love it. Served at 55 degrees (not to be a geek - don’t serve this too cold) it was singing. Butterscotch, vanilla, brioche, peaches and almonds. This is creamy and rich without being heavy. Incredible acidity. Love this wine and this vintage is exceptional.
Love it. Served at 55 degrees (not to be a geek - don’t serve this too cold) it was singing. Butterscotch, vanilla, brioche, peaches and almonds. This is creamy and rich without being heavy. Incredible acidity. Love this wine and this vintage is exceptional.
May 13th, 2018
On the nose; macerated lemon syrup, ripe golden & green apple, grapefruit, Bosc pear, golden raisins, volcanic minerals, chalky limestone, yellow lilies and jasmine. The body is thick and round...a fair amount of lee’s contact and bâtonnage. Syrupy macerated lemon heads, ripe golden & green apple, grapefruit, Bosc pear, golden raisins, butterscotch, volcanic minerals, chalky limestone, yellow lilies and jasmine. The long finish is rich and beautiful and lasts over a minute. Photos of, a Hudson Vineyard and the harvest team picking the Merlot at night. Producer notes...Christopher Vandendriessche (Winemaker shown in the right photo) was raised at White Rock Vineyards, his family's estate in the southern foothills of the Stag's Leap Range of Napa Valley. He holds degrees in Physics from UC Santa Cruz and Enology from the University of Bordeaux. Christopher spent his early winemaking years in Bordeaux, Burgundy, Spain and Argentina. Afterward, he returned to Napa as the Assistant Winemaker under John Kongsgaard at Luna. In 1999 Christopher took over winemaking at his family's winery, where he continues to produce White Rock wines, as well as Hudson wines. However, White Rock was destroyed in the recent fires in Napa/Sonoma. Hudson Ranch is owned by Lee Hudson (shown in the photo on the left). He was born and raised in Houston, Texas. Lee received his B.S. in Horticulture at the University of Arizona. After his studies at U of A, he worked Jacques Seysses of Domaine Duja located in Morey St. Denis, Burgundy. It was there he learned that great grapes from hallowed vineyard sites produce truly world class wines. Lee returned to the States to continue his graduate studies in viticulture and enology at University of California at Davis, where many of his classmates are now his clients. Lee searched for property from Santa Barbara to Mendocino, before deciding on the Carneros property in Napa Valley and founding Hudson Vineyards in 1981. They grow 17 different varietals...many you might now expect. Including; Aleatico, Albariño, Arneis, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Grenache, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Friulano, Ribolla Gialla, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, Verdejo, Vermentino & Viognier. The also sell fruit to the following producers; Arietta, Aubert, Bedrock, Robert Foley Vineyards, Failla, Keplinger, Kistler, Kongsgaard & Patz & Hall.
On the nose; macerated lemon syrup, ripe golden & green apple, grapefruit, Bosc pear, golden raisins, volcanic minerals, chalky limestone, yellow lilies and jasmine. The body is thick and round...a fair amount of lee’s contact and bâtonnage. Syrupy macerated lemon heads, ripe golden & green apple, grapefruit, Bosc pear, golden raisins, butterscotch, volcanic minerals, chalky limestone, yellow lilies and jasmine. The long finish is rich and beautiful and lasts over a minute. Photos of, a Hudson Vineyard and the harvest team picking the Merlot at night. Producer notes...Christopher Vandendriessche (Winemaker shown in the right photo) was raised at White Rock Vineyards, his family's estate in the southern foothills of the Stag's Leap Range of Napa Valley. He holds degrees in Physics from UC Santa Cruz and Enology from the University of Bordeaux. Christopher spent his early winemaking years in Bordeaux, Burgundy, Spain and Argentina. Afterward, he returned to Napa as the Assistant Winemaker under John Kongsgaard at Luna. In 1999 Christopher took over winemaking at his family's winery, where he continues to produce White Rock wines, as well as Hudson wines. However, White Rock was destroyed in the recent fires in Napa/Sonoma. Hudson Ranch is owned by Lee Hudson (shown in the photo on the left). He was born and raised in Houston, Texas. Lee received his B.S. in Horticulture at the University of Arizona. After his studies at U of A, he worked Jacques Seysses of Domaine Duja located in Morey St. Denis, Burgundy. It was there he learned that great grapes from hallowed vineyard sites produce truly world class wines. Lee returned to the States to continue his graduate studies in viticulture and enology at University of California at Davis, where many of his classmates are now his clients. Lee searched for property from Santa Barbara to Mendocino, before deciding on the Carneros property in Napa Valley and founding Hudson Vineyards in 1981. They grow 17 different varietals...many you might now expect. Including; Aleatico, Albariño, Arneis, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Grenache, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Friulano, Ribolla Gialla, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, Verdejo, Vermentino & Viognier. The also sell fruit to the following producers; Arietta, Aubert, Bedrock, Robert Foley Vineyards, Failla, Keplinger, Kistler, Kongsgaard & Patz & Hall.
1 person found it helpfulNov 18th, 2017Love this Chardonnay and thrilled to find it on the wine list! While this is clearly new world in style, I think it still would appeal to old world/Chablis fans. Rich with flavors of butterscotch, lemon curd, a little bit of chalk, a lot of deliciousness. A very versatile wine, it paired perfectly with both poached halibut and Peking duck.
Love this Chardonnay and thrilled to find it on the wine list! While this is clearly new world in style, I think it still would appeal to old world/Chablis fans. Rich with flavors of butterscotch, lemon curd, a little bit of chalk, a lot of deliciousness. A very versatile wine, it paired perfectly with both poached halibut and Peking duck.
Jun 21st, 2017
There is something for everyone in this wine and yet feels uncompromising.
There is something for everyone in this wine and yet feels uncompromising.
Feb 22nd, 2016
Rich, oily, complex, faux mersault, crowd favorite
Rich, oily, complex, faux mersault, crowd favorite
Apr 1st, 2016
Drop dead gorgeous Chardonnay, complex nose and lean on the palate.
Drop dead gorgeous Chardonnay, complex nose and lean on the palate.
May 6th, 2016Beautiful Syrah with notes of blackberry, boysenberry and cedar with back notes of chocolate
Beautiful Syrah with notes of blackberry, boysenberry and cedar with back notes of chocolate
Feb 18th, 2016Rich pineapple with a brilliant backbone
Rich pineapple with a brilliant backbone
Feb 18th, 2016Good acidity. Alcohol seems high even though it isn't too high. Honeysuckle, toasty oak.
Good acidity. Alcohol seems high even though it isn't too high. Honeysuckle, toasty oak.
Dec 12th, 2015