2014 Hudson Vineyards, "Carneros" Chardonnay, Napa Valley

We love this wine! It is the best kept secret in California. We have featured this wine before, but the newly released 2014 vintage is a jaw-dropping Burgundian doppelganger.

You may recognize the "Hudson Vineyard" designation on labels of some of the finest California whites. That's because Hudson Vineyards sells its grapes to a "who's who" roster such as Kistler, Kongsgaard, Ramey, and Cakebread to name a few. That's an impressive resume for some of the most coveted fruit in all of California.

Without fail and with every vintage, the wine "reveals a Batard-Montrachet-like richness and hazelnut creaminess." Robert Parker

How do they achieve such consistent elegance and depth? The winery is one of the few that has old-vine Wente clones (some of the finest, oldest and most prized fruit in all of California). And, behind the helm of Hudson Vineyards is winemaker John Kongsgaard, a super-star in his own right whose California Chardonnays sell for $120 per bottle, if you can find any.

Here is what we love about the 2014 Hudson Chardonnay: Exotic aromatics of ginger and allspice. Young apple on the palate, the wine is marked by a hint of saline, pain grille, roasted corn, macadamia nuts and pear. Lemon zest and orange peel on the backend offers a vibrant finish. Fantastic!