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2021 Hudson Vineyards Little Bit Chardonnay

Removed from a temperature and humidity controlled wine cellar

Ends Sunday, 7pm Pacific

RATINGS

95James Suckling

A medium-bodied Chardonnay with notes of apples, pears, cooked lemons, dried herbs and some sweet spices. Round and creamy with a fresh core of apples and a caressing texture. Poised and harmonious. It has volume and balance with a precise, long finish.

95Jeb Dunnuck

...textured and rounded, with ripe stone fruits, pineapple, and white flower notes in a more medium to full-bodied, textured package. It has a kiss of minerality on the finish...

93The Wine Advocate

Notes of lime custard are carried easily by the wine's gorgeous, silky texture. The oak is slightly obvious and not too toasty—although there are hints of toasted hazelnut and cashew—but it's also almost grassy and herbal in nature. Overall, this medium to full-bodied effort is round and generous, but it just doesn't have quite the length and cut of the other bottlings, finishing a touch soft.

93Wine Spectator

Strikes a remarkable balance between fresh citrus notes -- tangerine, Meyer lemon and fleshy, juicy mango -- and toasted spice accents, including nutmeg, cardamom and toasted fennel seed. The structure is dense and mouthwatering, with a long, generous finish, where a candied ginger note lingers.

PRODUCER

Hudson Vineyards

Hudson Vineyards in Carneros became a grape-growing estate in 1981 when Lee Hudson bought the 2,000-acre ranch and planted vineyards. Educated at the University of Arizona in horticulture, Hudson worked in vineyards in Burgundy before earning his graduate degree in viticulture and enology at the University of California at Davis, and starting a business in premium grape growing. In 2004 Hudson and his wife Cristina started producing their own wine and in 2018 built their on-site winery. Hudson Vineyards is known for its Chardonnay, though it also produces Grenache, Syrah, Cabernet France and white and red blends.

REGION

United States, California, Napa Valley, Carneros

Carneros AVA, also known as Los Carneros, is at the southern end of the Napa and Sonoma Valleys at the top of the San Francisco Bay. The 8,000 vineyard acres are mostly planted to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, both of which thrive in the district’s cool, marine climate. Carneros became an AVA in 1983 and it has attracted foreign wine companies along with local producers. It has been especially appealing to European producers of sparkling wines including the giant Spanish cava producers Codorniu and Frexinet, and the French Champagne house Taittinger. Codorniu in Carneros is called Artesa, and Frexinet’s Carneros brand is Gloria Ferrer. Taittinger calls its Carneros winery Domaine Carneros. The European producers also make still wines in Carneros.

TYPE

White Wine, Chardonnay

This white variety originated in Burgundy, but is now grown around the world. Its flexibility to thrive in many regions translates to wide flavor profile in the market. Chardonnay is commonly used in making Champagne and sparkling wines.

VINTAGE

2021 Hudson Vineyards Little Bit Chardonnay