94 points, Billy Norris
"
The 2023 Chardonnay Sevens Bench Vineyard, from Carneros, kicks off with a flicker of struck-match reduction before settling deeply into the palate with a complex array of orange curd, walnut oil, ripe golden apple and chamomile tea. The acidity is nearly buried by the textural heft, and yet the wine keeps marching ahead slowly and intentionally, never once feeling weighed-down. Ultimately, the 2023 is on the understated side aromatically, built more on textural intrigue and internal balance than anything else. It's a style I find wildly attractive."
Billy Norris, Vinous, January 2026
Historical Acclaim
- V. 2023: 94 points, Billy Norris, Vinous, January 2026
- V. 2023: 93 points, Courtney Humiston, JamesSuckling.com, November 2025
- V. 2023: 93 points, Audrey Frick, JebDunnuck.com, July 2025
- V. 2023: 91 points, MaryAnn Worobiec, Wine Spectator, October 2025
- V. 2022: 95 points, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Independent, April 2024
- V. 2022: 93 points, MaryAnn Worobiec, Wine Spectator, March 2025
- V. 2022: 93 points, Audrey Frick, JebDunnuck.com, June 2024
- V. 2022: 92 points, Elaine Chukan Brown, Wine Enthusiast Magazine, September 2024
- V. 2021: 94 points, MaryAnn Worobiec, Wine Spectator, July 2024
- V. 2021: 94 points, J'nai Gaither, Decanter, August 2024
- V. 2021: 94 points, Audrey Frick, JebDunnuck.com, July 2023
- V. 2021: 91 points, Jim Gordon, Wine Enthusiast Magazine, January 2024
- V. 2019: 96 points, Virginie Boone, Wine Enthusiast Magazine, July 2022
- V. 2019: 94 points, Erin Brooks, Robert Parker Wine Advocate, July 2022
- V. 2019: 94 points, Audrey Frick, JebDunnuck.com, August 2022
- V. 2019: 90 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous, January 2023
- V. 2018: 95 points, Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com, July 2021
- V. 2018: 94 points, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Robert Parker Wine Advocate, January 2021
- V. 2018: 94 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous, July 2021
- V. 2018: 93 points, Virginie Boone, Wine Enthusiast Magazine, September 2021
- V. 2017: 94 points, Virginie Boone, Wine Enthusiast Magazine, October 2020
- V. 2017: 94 points, Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com, May 2020
- V. 2017: 93 points, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Robert Parker Wine Advocate, February 2020
- V. 2017: 93 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous, April 2020
- V. 2016: 94 points, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Robert Parker Wine Advocate, October 2018
- V. 2016: 94 points, Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com, June 2019
- V. 2016: 93 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous, May 2019
- V. 2015: 92 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous, April 2018
- V. 2015: 90 points, Virginie Boone, Wine Enthusiast Magazine, August 2018
Vineyard & Vintage Character
Intensive farming and low yields are the foundations of our Carneros Chardonnay offering. The two blocks farmed for this wine are on a bench with classic Haire clay loam soils, and on a ridge at a 200-foot elevation. This block is part of an uplifted riverbed, which allows good drainage in the traditional clay-based soils of the region. The name Sevens Bench is derived from our historical name for our Carneros Pinot Noir and one of the two clones planted on our blocks: Clone 27 (Mount Eden). The other field selections are Calaera, Batto and Entav 809. The Carneros AVA produces Chardonnay with beautiful lemon drop characters and a rich, unctuous mouthfeel.
The Chardonnays from 2023 are bright, complex, and intense. Intensive farming and low yields are the foundations of our Carneros Chardonnay offering. Several blocks are farmed for this wine on a bench with classic Haire Clay Loam soils, and on a ridge at 200-foot elevation, part of an uplifted riverbed which allows good drainage in the traditional clay-based soils of the region.
