2018 Kinneybrook Reserve Chardonnay, Sonoma County
Tasting Notes
Chardonnay is the queen of whites and this lady suits that description to a T! Crafted from an arsenal of clonal selections from the Kunde Estate, complexity and focus come together in an easy drinking, crisply styled but thoughtful tasting experience. A beautiful dose of acid combines with the richness of barrel fermentation to create a refreshing sipper with a soft note of oak on the finish.
Complex flavors of bright white peach, rich creme brulee, and beautifully integrated oak are perfectly balanced in Kinneybrook’s sustainably farmed Chardonnay. From fresh green salads to full-flavored seafood to roasted chicken and vegetable, this versatile wine pairs wonderfully with a wide range of food styles. Bon appetit!
Aroma/bouquet: Marzipan, orange blossoms and pear
Taste: Vanilla wafer, toasty butterscotch, and caramel green apple
The Sonoma Valley offers ideal climate for Chardonnay with its warm days and cool, breezy evenings. This vintage saw a long and slow harvest. Fruit yields for this vintage were also about 20% higher than average.
All of the fruit was harvested from the estate vineyards at Kunde. Whole-cluster pressing and cold-settling of juice was followed by both barrel fermentation (30% of the blend) and cool-temperature fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks. The barrel-fermented wines were aged on the lies with stirring once a week and underwent malolactic fermentation.
Specs
Vintage: 2018
Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
Appellation: Sonoma County
Clones: Chardonnay Clone 4, 548, Wildwood
Vine Age: 8-35 years
Avg. Yield: 5.9 tons/acre
Aging: 30% aged 9 months in French oak barrels, 70% aged in stainless steel. 20% new oak was used
Harvest Date: September 11 – October 5, 2018
Bottling Date: July 2020
Alcohol: 14.1%
pH: 3.53
TA: 5.82 g/L
Residual Sugar: 2.14 g/L
Avg. Brix: 24.9
What’s Included
6-bottles:
6x 2018 Kinneybrook Reserve Chardonnay, Sonoma County
Case:
12x 2018 Kinneybrook Reserve Chardonnay, Sonoma County
At Kunde Family Estate, our winemaking mission is to craft elegant wines with a real sense of place—beautifully balanced and expressive of our dramatic vineyard landscape.
For over a century, five generations of the Kunde Family have farmed our 1,850 acre-estate in the heart of Sonoma Valley—a truly remarkable legacy in the modern age of California winemaking. A fervent, forward-thinking vision of land stewardship and sustainability began over one hundred years ago, and has been shaped with each successive generation.
Today, Kunde Family Estate is still family owned and operated with a hands-on team of 4th and 5th generation family members at the helm. At the end of the day, every decision we make, every wine we craft, and every experience we provide honors the legacy of founder Louis Kunde, who emigrated from Germany and purchased the original Wildwood Vineyards ranch at the turn of the century in 1904. Cresting the second century was a profound milestone for the family. Moving forward, we remain committed to innovation and state-of-the-art facilities, while also maintaining a deep, personal commitment to sustainable winegrowing and preserving the land for generations to come.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, 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) 2018 Kinneybrook Reserve Chardonnay - $5 = 5.5%
I always enjoy receiving an email from Alice with a tracking number!
2018 Kinneybrook Reserve Chardonnay, Sonoma County
We planned to have garlic and rosemary seared pork with peaches and thought the dish would go fairly well with the chardonnay.
The bottle is medium weight, nice label, with a pressed cork. The wine had a modest nose of citrus and almost caramel notes. Not overly complex but very enjoyable.
On the palate, I found a crisp chardonnay with light citrus,(lemon?) and a light oak finish. After the wine warmed up I was getting a bit of stone fruit and found a more rounder wine. The wife, who hates chardonnay, especially those butter bombs, gave it a try and said it was “ok” which is the most positive response I have gotten from her after trying a chardonnay : )
I drink a good amount of chardonnay and would call this a good everyday drinker and would put this at $10-$12 retail. If you are looking for an easy-drinking weekday wine you can’t go wrong with this at $7
It’s always wonderful to try out a new wine, and this one delivered. The Kinneybrook Reserve Chardonnay after chilling opened with a straw nose, and some ginger. Upon first sip a rich, buttery, oak, but balanced and nicely integrated Chardonnay, if not slightly acidic. A classic California Charddonnay of butter and oak led to peppery, ginger, and lemon.
My Wife says: “Very nice Chardonnay for a non Chardonnay drinker.” A good amount of richness and toasted oak to give body without being overwhelmed. Light, fruit notes are fresh and make for an easy drinking glass. Paired well with meal below, complimenting richness of salmon and herbal, earthy notes of the pesto farro:
For the price, you can’t beat this offer and we’re definitely going to keep a case around.
Hmm. sounds good actually. Was a bit hesitant that this was another mainstream CA chard at a good price. But rat reports are promising, and I have only good memories of Kunde wines purchased long ago on the ancestral site. In addition, apparently 100% estate-harvested so no bulk juice mixed-in.
I like that the 6-bottle price penalty is very low – more likely to want to “risk” on a few bottles but not a case. And a default chardonnay is always handy, but…
Sadly, the UPS delivery “upsell feature” makes me not want to do that anymore, so I will pass. Having to pay $9.99 to reschedule delivery of a $45 half-case makes no sense at all, so I will be missing this one. Might be away for a few days later in August, and we never have any idea when WCC products actually ship. I don’t mind the long delays, what I don’t like is having no realistic idea of when it will ship, which prevents any kind of planning unless you know for sure you’ll be at your delivery address for a least the next full month.
EDIT: S&*t, that reminds me, I have to pay my pending $19.98 bill for my UPS account I set up recently, I just got a reminder email.
@pmarin UPS was charging me $5.99 per shipment change (delivery location, etc.) or $19.99 per year. Early this summer I opted for the year (due to the hot summers here in Missouri and being at the 7pm or later end of the route) and have already “recovered” more than the cost (based on the per-shipment charge).
@Mark_L@pmarin@Springbank I took a chance on a casemates mid June delivery to Wisconsin, then stretched it out to late June delivery to SC. But nope no way, nothing more until probably November.
I did that too. Then a case rode around in a truck for 3 days because the idiot driver wouldn’t leave it at the UPS Store because none of the employees were over 21.
Delivery seemed ok. No rising corks. The outside of the bottles had condensation and the box was slightly damaged but the styrofoam did it’s job. Bottles were warm but not hot. Hoping for uncooked juice.
@LJeAYsy4LoqxEC enjoying the bottles! Definitely hit the mark with the peach and creme brulee with a bit of oak. Delightful! Little bit of heartburn causing on occasion but such is life.
2018 Kinneybrook Reserve Chardonnay, Sonoma County
Tasting Notes
Specs
What’s Included
6-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
Not for sale online, $144/case MSRP
About The Winery
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Monday, Aug 9 - Thursday, Aug 12
Kinneybrook Reserve Chardonnay
6 bottles for $44.99 $7.50/bottle + $1.33/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $84.99 $7.08/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
2018 Kinneybrook Reserve Chardonnay
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations) 2018 Kinneybrook Reserve Chardonnay - $5 = 5.5%
Hello All,
I always enjoy receiving an email from Alice with a tracking number!
2018 Kinneybrook Reserve Chardonnay, Sonoma County
We planned to have garlic and rosemary seared pork with peaches and thought the dish would go fairly well with the chardonnay.
The bottle is medium weight, nice label, with a pressed cork. The wine had a modest nose of citrus and almost caramel notes. Not overly complex but very enjoyable.
On the palate, I found a crisp chardonnay with light citrus,(lemon?) and a light oak finish. After the wine warmed up I was getting a bit of stone fruit and found a more rounder wine. The wife, who hates chardonnay, especially those butter bombs, gave it a try and said it was “ok” which is the most positive response I have gotten from her after trying a chardonnay : )
I drink a good amount of chardonnay and would call this a good everyday drinker and would put this at $10-$12 retail. If you are looking for an easy-drinking weekday wine you can’t go wrong with this at $7
Cheers!
@Nel250 How was the pork chop?
@CorTot Fantastic! NY Times recipe.
@Nel250 Thanks for the review. Sounds like my kind of chard.
It’s always wonderful to try out a new wine, and this one delivered. The Kinneybrook Reserve Chardonnay after chilling opened with a straw nose, and some ginger. Upon first sip a rich, buttery, oak, but balanced and nicely integrated Chardonnay, if not slightly acidic. A classic California Charddonnay of butter and oak led to peppery, ginger, and lemon.
My Wife says: “Very nice Chardonnay for a non Chardonnay drinker.” A good amount of richness and toasted oak to give body without being overwhelmed. Light, fruit notes are fresh and make for an easy drinking glass. Paired well with meal below, complimenting richness of salmon and herbal, earthy notes of the pesto farro:
For the price, you can’t beat this offer and we’re definitely going to keep a case around.
Happy to answer any questions.
@lastgoodbye thank you for the rattage.
Hard to beat that price with those Lab Rat Reports.
/giphy bawling-precious-hill
@nlmiller Wow, spookily timely giphy! RIP Dusty Hill.
@InFrom Bummer, I hadn’t heard.
@InFrom @kitkat34 Bummer indeed. I remember seeing them back in the early 70s at Cornell U., opening for Deep Purple. Loved them ever since.
@InFrom I thought the same thing!
Hmm. sounds good actually. Was a bit hesitant that this was another mainstream CA chard at a good price. But rat reports are promising, and I have only good memories of Kunde wines purchased long ago on the ancestral site. In addition, apparently 100% estate-harvested so no bulk juice mixed-in.
My first thought from reading notes and specs was…Kendall Jackson Vintner’s Reserve?? No idea, random thought on a darn hot day in the Lowcountry…
@kaolis In SC?
@LJeAYsy4LoqxEC Yeppers, Beaufort area.
/giphy amused-photogenic-gate
In for half
/giphy nasty-transient-fold
I like that the 6-bottle price penalty is very low – more likely to want to “risk” on a few bottles but not a case. And a default chardonnay is always handy, but…
Sadly, the UPS delivery “upsell feature” makes me not want to do that anymore, so I will pass. Having to pay $9.99 to reschedule delivery of a $45 half-case makes no sense at all, so I will be missing this one. Might be away for a few days later in August, and we never have any idea when WCC products actually ship. I don’t mind the long delays, what I don’t like is having no realistic idea of when it will ship, which prevents any kind of planning unless you know for sure you’ll be at your delivery address for a least the next full month.
EDIT: S&*t, that reminds me, I have to pay my pending $19.98 bill for my UPS account I set up recently, I just got a reminder email.
@pmarin UPS was charging me $5.99 per shipment change (delivery location, etc.) or $19.99 per year. Early this summer I opted for the year (due to the hot summers here in Missouri and being at the 7pm or later end of the route) and have already “recovered” more than the cost (based on the per-shipment charge).
@Mark_L @pmarin @Springbank I took a chance on a casemates mid June delivery to Wisconsin, then stretched it out to late June delivery to SC. But nope no way, nothing more until probably November.
I did that too. Then a case rode around in a truck for 3 days because the idiot driver wouldn’t leave it at the UPS Store because none of the employees were over 21.
Delivery seemed ok. No rising corks. The outside of the bottles had condensation and the box was slightly damaged but the styrofoam did it’s job. Bottles were warm but not hot. Hoping for uncooked juice.
@LJeAYsy4LoqxEC enjoying the bottles! Definitely hit the mark with the peach and creme brulee with a bit of oak. Delightful! Little bit of heartburn causing on occasion but such is life.
Same deal up on RLL if any need a refill.
$60 on Groupon right now!
@irenegade
Now down to $40
Unless that $60 reference was for a case, as the $40 is for 6, with free shipping.
@chipgreen @irenegade yea, i could’nt justify running it again…
@chipgreen For a Case! It may still be available. Shipping was free, only sales tax added to total $65.31
@chipgreen @Winedavid49 I do look for OG Chards with buttery profiles to have on hand for Garlicky shellfish. Tis the season!
@chipgreen I just took a look! Deal is still up. Just click on the drop down menu for the case