Aubert Wines Sugar Shack Estate Chardonnay, Napa Valley, USA 2023 1.5L

We set out to move a mountain; to narrow the stylistic differences between Napa and Sonoma Chardonnays.  The clone specifically selected for our Rutherford site, Sugar Shack, is expressive of its terroir and can maintain high acidity levels.  These qualities allow the resulting wine to express characteristics similar to its Sonoma cousins.

Mark Aubert’s Tasting Notes

The 2023 Sugar Shack is pure and effusive, opening with sunny aromas of nectarine, Valencia orange oil, and lily. A bouquet of acacia and sweet mint emerges in the glass along with a nutty, toasted almond nuance. The palate is rich and full bodied, with flavors of peach sorbet and apricot pâte de fruit, finishing with a spicy grapefruit oil lift. This is a fabulous wine to enjoy over the next 10 to 15 years. The wine is slightly hazy showing our commitment to minimal intervention winemaking.

"The 2023 Chardonnay Sugar Shack is a wine of textural density and opulence. Tangerine oil, chamomile, pastry and lightly buttered notes all meld together. In this tasting, the Sugar Shack is marked by its viscosity, a signature of this warm microclimate vis-à-vis the other Chardonnays in the range. A feeling of phenolic intensity and acid lingers on the close." Vinous 94-96