Description
ZD Wines Chardonnay — California 2023
ZD Wines has been crafting benchmark California Chardonnay for over 55 years, and the 2023 vintage — the estate’s 55th harvest — is a landmark expression of everything the house does best. Sourced from certified-organic grapes across three premier coastal appellations — Napa Carneros, Sonoma Carneros, and Monterey — the fruit is hand-harvested at night to preserve freshness, then 100% barrel-fermented in ZD’s custom-designed cellar at a cool 48°F. This long, cool fermentation maximizes lees contact for richness and depth while deliberately avoiding malolactic fermentation to preserve the wine’s signature bright coastal acidity. Ten months in 100% American oak adds complexity and the house’s hallmark crème brûlée finish. The 2023 earned 90 points and three Gold Medals in 2025 — Los Angeles Invitational, San Francisco Chronicle, and Pacific Rim International.
The color is pale yellow with a luminous hue. The nose bursts with ripe Asian pear, green apple, honeydew melon, pink grapefruit, and nectarine. On the palate, it is vibrant and richly textured — lemon curd, guava, and white peach are framed by mouthwatering acidity and a long, complex finish of crème brûlée and vanillin. Sunshine in a glass.
90 Points • Gold Medal — Los Angeles Invitational Wine Challenge 2025
Gold Medal — San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition 2025
Gold Medal — Pacific Rim International Wine Competition 2025
- Producer: ZD Wines, Napa Valley, California, USA
- Vintage: 2023 (55th Harvest)
- Appellation: California
- Sources: Napa Carneros, Sonoma Carneros, Monterey — certified organic
- Varietal: Chardonnay
- Harvest: Hand-harvested at night
- Vinification: 100% barrel-fermented at 48°F, no malolactic fermentation, 10 months in 100% American oak
- Size: 750ml
- Tasting Notes: Asian pear, green apple, honeydew, pink grapefruit, lemon curd, guava, white peach, crème brûlée, vanillin, long finish
- Best Paired With: Lobster, grilled halibut, crab cakes, roast chicken, creamy pasta, soft-ripened cheeses
Fifty-five harvests, three gold medals, and zero malolactic fermentation — ZD’s California Chardonnay is the benchmark that keeps raising the bar.
