We adore the Hudson Chardonnay, and we shall never tire of singing its praises. Hudson Ranch and Vineyards is the complete package! It is not only a place, but also an idea, a carefully calculated vision and a feeling one gets when they drink the wines, leaving a lasting impression. The proprietors, Lee and Cristina Hudson, are the visionaries, the farmers, the tastemakers, and unlike no one else I have ever met! You can’t help but smile when you interact with this dynamic duo! Their 2,000-acre property which they purchased in 1979 is more than just a vineyard, way more… instead, it’s a world-class ranch. A place where wildlife, gardens, forests, rolling hillsides, birds, sprawling vines and vineyard dogs come together to create this magical place. It has since developed into one of Napa Valley’s most recognizable vineyard names.
Other beautiful expressions of Chardonnay may come and go, but for well over a decade we’ve had the privilege of sharing this wine with our clients and without fail, it always delivers such expressive and intellectual pleasure. From the Hudson's sprawling, and may I also mention breathtaking estate, first planted in the early 80’s, Hudson makes one of the most superb and sunlit bottlings we’ve had the pleasure of trying!
Prior to making his own wine, Lee Hudson worked very closely with the “who’s who” roster of other Chardonnay kings including John Kongsgaard, David Ramey and Steve Kistler to name a few, meticulously farming his land and striving to grow perfect fruit for these clients so they can continue making superior wines. Nearly a decade ago, Lee decided to make his own expression of Chardonnay, and we have had it at the top of our list of favorites ever since.
The Hudson’s 2018 Chardonnay is sensational, offering richness and depth balanced by Burgundian acidity and minerality. Golden hues showcase energetic aromas of fresh lemon zest, toasted almonds, wet graphite and toasty caramel, leading into a fresh palate with medium body marked by a saline quality which is classic Hudson. Flavors consist of roasted corn, macadamia nuts and Maldon sea salt. The fruit was picked by hand at night, then whole cluster pressed, and barrel fermented in 60% new French oak. The wine was stirred regularly on the lees, then settled and bottled unfiltered and unfined after 14 months. The result is a richly layered, well-structured Chardonnay that showcases all of the qualities found in the sought-after wines from Puligny-Montrachet in Burgundy.
