For those who know and enjoy Chablis, this may be for you. If you like the big, buttery Chardonnay that California popularized in the 90’s, please refrain from reading further. This wine is every bit the measure of the classic Chardonnays that were born to Napa in the 1970’s. They were produced in a style that delivers fruit first with a nice stripe of minerality. Hold the buttery malolactic, this wine’s pale straw color hints at its fresh pear and spring wildflower aromas. The palate has a bright line of acidity that provides the focus for its flavors of golden apple and Comice pear. Complex and elegant, these flavors lead to a toasty brioche-like note with a savory finish.
Winemaking Notes
Grown in Yountville (mid-valley) in low “cool ground.” The vineyard is blanketed in fog many summer mornings and is registered “CCOF” by California Certified Organic Farming. Fermented and aged in barrels made by DeSante Wines at our local cooperage. Why? This results in a wine that tastes less toasty and more fresh.
Bottled un-fined and un-filtered in the early spring to retain bright flavors, while permitting complexity to develop from the small amount of yeast that remains in the bottle.
After years of honing our skills in the culinary arts and winemaking trade, we finally could not resist the opportunity to create our own wine from the Napa Valley. We envisioned wines that would be fresh, fragrant, elegant and flavorful – wines that we hope will be enjoyed among friends, telling stories and sharing dreams.
Nearly a decade later, we would love to share the story of these wines that come from the very special vineyards we have discovered on our journey.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
2017 DeSante Napa Valley Chardonnay - $80 = 36.35%
We were lucky enough to receive the golden ticket. It is true confession time. We are not Chardonnay lovers.
My favorite white is a Pinot Blanc, my husband likes Viognier. We have tasted way too many bad Chardonnay bottles, too many “oak bombs”. The last Chardonnay we ordered was, honestly, not by choice. We ordered Suzor’s mixed case on Berserker day, which included Chardonnay. I was really not looking forward to having Chardonnay in my house. For science, we opened up both Suzor’s and DeSante’s.
The cliff notes are I enjoyed Suzor’s better and my husband enjoyed DeSante’s. DeSante tasted of green apple, kiwi, and more oak than Suzor’s. It was not an oak bomb, but more pronounced than Suzor’s. Suzor you could taste with the food, grilled pork chops, spicy Asian slaw, and sticky rice. DeSante got lost in food and was much better without. It was also more “oakey” than Suzor, more Viognier like.
For the price, it is a solid QPR. @Winedavid49 if you ever get Suzor to come on board, I will buy as much as I can. Thank you for the opportunity and let me know if you have any questions.
@klezman Happily, yes. I live in Oregon, so I am lucky. Suzor Pinot’s are lovely. Also in love with the Chardonnay. Too bad it is sold out and I only have one more bottle. DeSante was good, just musky instead of bright.
@danandlisa so do u agree that this wine is not a typical “buttery Chardonnay”? We can’t stand that buttery Chardonnay which is so typical. We also prefer unoaked Chardonnay like from Iron Horse, so your comments on oak are a bit worrying.
@TimW It was not “buttery”. More kiwi and Granny Smith apple. It is not an oak bomb, but the taste that lingers in your mouth is the oak. It is not unpleasant.
@danandlisa Thanks for the report. My main reason to purchase this offer is to have a white to pair with fish meals and the occasional salad. Do you think this wine would work out ok?
@Turner103200 Honestly, it was much better without food. The flavors were muted with the pork. If you don’t mind that, then yes this would be perfect. I can see it with a white fish more than I can see it with the salmon family. As far as salad goes, more like a vinaigrette dressing and less with a creamy dressing. I think anything with acid would help accentuate the bright flavors in the wine. It did not pair well with any amount of heat spice.
We were the lucky recipients of an opportunity to rat again. Lovely. The wine was more my wife’s bailiwick so she wrote the following:
The DeSante Napa Valley Chardonnay was sampled by two tasters: one of whom loves whites but doesn’t care for many chardonnays and another for whom whites can be uninteresting and lacking in complexity. We were both pleasantly surprised by this sun-kissed chameleon of a chardonnay that warmed our cold rainy Saturday evening and left us wanting more.
The initial pop and pour presented a nose with tropical fruit, green apple and a woody cedar.
First taste yielded strong flavors of pineapple and green melon, finishing with slight bitter sourness of starfruit, cedar green woodiness, and touch of lychee that suggested a pairing with sushi. We wished we had some sushi.
After airing for an hour we returned to the wine and sampled it with a variety of cheeses and charcuterie, the wine changing slightly with each pairing. Pork rillette brought out the green apple, suggesting a pairing with tenderloin or pork chops. Proscuitto complemented the wine’s softer creamier qualities. Peppered brie brought out an oaky, almondy nuttiness to balance the fruit. With a creamy brie the wine disappeared somewhat, and it was overwhelmed by a spicy salami.
The initial bitterness in the finish dissipated over time, and the wine softened. We found it complex and infinitely drinkable on its own as well as a suitable partner for stronger cheese, fish, and pork.
We placed it at $30-$35 per bottle so, at this price, we’re discussing the purchase of the minimal amount for summer sipping. Cheers!
I haven’t really looked at Chardonnays for almost 20 years after ODing on the buttery oakey types, but this sounds more like what I remember them being before the $6 Chard was the only thing at gatherings …
That said, I’m a little disappointed at the +50% price diff in the offerings - I’m still suspicious enough to not go for a case but a half-case in the $15 range would’ve been nice.
Still, from what I’m hearing and reading, we want to try it, and even the higher price sounds like a good deal, so in for 3.
/giphy homeless-poignant-antelope
@stolicat Yeah, to the pricing gurus, I would have bought a small pack but not at that HUGE markup. (I know some describe it as just being a better casediscount, but either way math is math, except in some states…)
Chards are just too variable in style to risk a full case of one chard, unless it’s a winery I’m familiar with. Or maybe a mixed case since it mitigates the risk.
2017 DeSante Chardonnay, Napa Valley
Tasting Notes
Winemaking Notes
Specs
Included in the Box
3-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
Not for sale online, $540/case MSRP
About The Winery
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Monday, Mar 15
DeSante Napa Valley Chardonnay
3 bottles for $54.99 $18.33/bottle + $2.67/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $139.99 $11.67/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
2017 DeSante Napa Valley Chardonnay
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
2017 DeSante Napa Valley Chardonnay - $80 = 36.35%
@chipgreen ouch
We were lucky enough to receive the golden ticket. It is true confession time. We are not Chardonnay lovers.
My favorite white is a Pinot Blanc, my husband likes Viognier. We have tasted way too many bad Chardonnay bottles, too many “oak bombs”. The last Chardonnay we ordered was, honestly, not by choice. We ordered Suzor’s mixed case on Berserker day, which included Chardonnay. I was really not looking forward to having Chardonnay in my house. For science, we opened up both Suzor’s and DeSante’s.
The cliff notes are I enjoyed Suzor’s better and my husband enjoyed DeSante’s. DeSante tasted of green apple, kiwi, and more oak than Suzor’s. It was not an oak bomb, but more pronounced than Suzor’s. Suzor you could taste with the food, grilled pork chops, spicy Asian slaw, and sticky rice. DeSante got lost in food and was much better without. It was also more “oakey” than Suzor, more Viognier like.
For the price, it is a solid QPR. @Winedavid49 if you ever get Suzor to come on board, I will buy as much as I can. Thank you for the opportunity and let me know if you have any questions.
@danandlisa what I caught from that is that you already got your Suzor! Only BD wine I got so far is the Sandar & Hem.
@klezman Happily, yes. I live in Oregon, so I am lucky. Suzor Pinot’s are lovely. Also in love with the Chardonnay. Too bad it is sold out and I only have one more bottle. DeSante was good, just musky instead of bright.
@danandlisa so do u agree that this wine is not a typical “buttery Chardonnay”? We can’t stand that buttery Chardonnay which is so typical. We also prefer unoaked Chardonnay like from Iron Horse, so your comments on oak are a bit worrying.
@danandlisa @klezman I received my Suzor three days ago!
@TimW It was not “buttery”. More kiwi and Granny Smith apple. It is not an oak bomb, but the taste that lingers in your mouth is the oak. It is not unpleasant.
@danandlisa Thank you for the report. Even tho Chard isn’t your favorite.
@WCCWineGirl Thank you for letting me participate in this amazing and interesting program. I rely on the rats for many of my purchases.
@danandlisa Thanks for the report. My main reason to purchase this offer is to have a white to pair with fish meals and the occasional salad. Do you think this wine would work out ok?
@Turner103200 Honestly, it was much better without food. The flavors were muted with the pork. If you don’t mind that, then yes this would be perfect. I can see it with a white fish more than I can see it with the salmon family. As far as salad goes, more like a vinaigrette dressing and less with a creamy dressing. I think anything with acid would help accentuate the bright flavors in the wine. It did not pair well with any amount of heat spice.
@danandlisa thanks for the follow-up answers! U rock!!
@danandlisa thanks!
Bring back L’Atelier!
@kookie00 YES PLEASE.
Was not impressed with their white blend from last year. Found the fruit lacking and a strange sensation on my palate I am unable to describe.
@losthighwayz Can you describe it?
Oh, wait, yeah, that’s what you said.
How have I been doing this for years and don’t know Bezerker Day?
@erisire You may be sorry you know now. Jan 27th is a new major holiday for me. It’s a fun kind of illness. Start saving your pennies.
ps Did you see our thread here in the aftermath?
@erisire @InFrom
Pennies!?
Just pennies?
A hundred a day isn’t even a starter…
/giphy stereotyped-soft-nut
/giphy definite-paunchy-baboon
We were the lucky recipients of an opportunity to rat again. Lovely. The wine was more my wife’s bailiwick so she wrote the following:
The DeSante Napa Valley Chardonnay was sampled by two tasters: one of whom loves whites but doesn’t care for many chardonnays and another for whom whites can be uninteresting and lacking in complexity. We were both pleasantly surprised by this sun-kissed chameleon of a chardonnay that warmed our cold rainy Saturday evening and left us wanting more.
The initial pop and pour presented a nose with tropical fruit, green apple and a woody cedar.
First taste yielded strong flavors of pineapple and green melon, finishing with slight bitter sourness of starfruit, cedar green woodiness, and touch of lychee that suggested a pairing with sushi. We wished we had some sushi.
After airing for an hour we returned to the wine and sampled it with a variety of cheeses and charcuterie, the wine changing slightly with each pairing. Pork rillette brought out the green apple, suggesting a pairing with tenderloin or pork chops. Proscuitto complemented the wine’s softer creamier qualities. Peppered brie brought out an oaky, almondy nuttiness to balance the fruit. With a creamy brie the wine disappeared somewhat, and it was overwhelmed by a spicy salami.
The initial bitterness in the finish dissipated over time, and the wine softened. We found it complex and infinitely drinkable on its own as well as a suitable partner for stronger cheese, fish, and pork.
We placed it at $30-$35 per bottle so, at this price, we’re discussing the purchase of the minimal amount for summer sipping. Cheers!
@lionel47 Thank you for the report
I haven’t really looked at Chardonnays for almost 20 years after ODing on the buttery oakey types, but this sounds more like what I remember them being before the $6 Chard was the only thing at gatherings …
That said, I’m a little disappointed at the +50% price diff in the offerings - I’m still suspicious enough to not go for a case but a half-case in the $15 range would’ve been nice.
Still, from what I’m hearing and reading, we want to try it, and even the higher price sounds like a good deal, so in for 3.
/giphy homeless-poignant-antelope
@stolicat Yeah, to the pricing gurus, I would have bought a small pack but not at that HUGE markup. (I know some describe it as just being a better case discount, but either way math is math, except in some states…)
Chards are just too variable in style to risk a full case of one chard, unless it’s a winery I’m familiar with. Or maybe a mixed case since it mitigates the risk.
@pmarin @stolicat
That’s why it’s called “Casemates”.
@chipgreen @pmarin uhoh - literalists …
Lower NYers around for any type of split?
/giphy historic-tender-home
