2022 On Q Megandina Estate Chardonnay Napa Valley 750 ml

Julien Fayard has wine in his blood—his family produces cru classé Château Sainte Marguerite, one of the most elegant and delicately aromatic rosés in the South of France. He also has a résumé stacked with famous names like Bordeaux First Growth Château Lafite Rothschild, Château Smith Haut Lafitte in Graves, as well as Quintessa, Dalla Valle, Métisse, Lail, and Gemstone in Napa Valley. Top that off with Purlieu, the Napa Cabernet label that has become a massive hit with the critics and collectors.

Fayard’s winemaking philosophy follows the lessons he learned during his time working at Château Lafite-Rothschild and Château Smith Haut Lafitte: hyper-focused aention to detail and restraint in the cellar.

In 2022, he applied that philosophy to Chardonnay from On Q's Megandina Vineyard, a small, gorgeous site situated in the southern portion of Napa Valley. In that spot, the Chardonnay gets the first and last of the fog from San Pablo Bay, allowing the grapes to ripen fully while maintaining fresh natural acidity.

This is as finely crafted and delicious of a Chardonnay as you’ll get anywhere near this price. It’s a true Chardonnay for Napa Chard lovers, with a golden core and aromas led by a bounty of acacia flowers, golden delicious apple, lemon skin, and butterscotch. The mouthfeel is rich, with elegance and a beautiful texture leading to a long finish.

Napa Chard lovers wouldn’t bat an eye at a bottle like this going for full price. Here’s to having a hefty stockpile in the cellar!