Chardonnay Collection 2021 - Hess Persson Estates

The winery’s history begins in 1978 when Donald Hess traveled to California and fell in love with the region’s wines. The Swiss businessman had been looking for springs of water for his own mineral water company and he has been collecting art for many years, despite the fact that his family owned a small brewery in Switzerland and a hotel in Morocco. He decided to buy and renovate a very old stone winery, built in 1903, in the most isolated and mountainous wine-growing area of Napa, Mount Veeder, and soon released his first wine in 1980. Years passed, his name grew, and in 2023, after his death at the age of 86, the reins of the winery passed into the hands of his daughter Sabrina and her husband Timothy.

And after this short history lesson, let's talk about Chardonnay Collection - Hess Persson Estates. The grapes come from the Suscol vineyard on the south side of Napa, in one of its cooler sub-regions. The vines benefit from the cool air coming from the San Pablo Bay, while at the same time being protected by the Vaca Mountains. Fermentation for 70% of the juice is done in stainless steel tanks and the remaining 30% in French oak for 9 months.

The result is a wine with a very nice character, aromas of white fruits such as peach, melon, dragon fruit, jasmine, honey and green apple. In the mouth it is rich with a creamy texture, ripe peach, green apple, apricot, lime, intense vanilla and caramel, butter and notes of white pepper. Long aftertaste that will definitely not leave anyone indifferent.

Chardonnay Collection - Hess Persson Estates for the 2021 vintage received 91pts from Wine Enthusiast.

An excellent oak-aged Chardonnay that you can pair with seafood, grilled fish, chicken alfredo and white meats.