2011 Maldonado “Olivios” Chardonnay

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$41.95 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

Rombauer, Frank Family and Butter may all be household names when you think of California chardonnay, but now you can add Maldonado to the list.  Maldonado is a family affair that started with patriarch, Lupe, who began working for Sterling Vineyards in 1962.  He was only 19 years old.

Lupe split 30 years as vineyard manager for over 30 years between Peter Newton’s wineries—Sterling Vineyards and Newton Vineyards.  Lupe’s son, Hugo, succeeded his father as vineyard manager of Newton in 1999.

Lupe would go on to purchase a 10-acre parcel of land in Jamieson Canyon, one of the coolest (temperature) regions in the Napa Valley.  This was a major step, but to complete the puzzle the family needed to construct a full-blown a winery.  In 2007, their dream came to fruition with the purchase of a 12-acre property in Calistoga where they built a winery and dug out 3,600 square feet of earth for their cave.  Wouldn’t you know, the family did all the work for that, too!

Even though the first vintage of Maldonado Vineyards wine was released in 2002,  the wine has only recently been offered to the broad market.  We have been huge fans since we introducing the “Parr Vineyard” Chardonnay in Carpe Vinoabout three years ago.  This month’s club selection, the 2011 “Los Olivios” Chardonnay, was the mostly highly rated California chardonnay in a recent review by Wine Spectator receiving 92 Points!   DAM

“Wine Spectator” Notes (92 pts.):

“A compelling 2011, rich, smooth and layered, with ripe pear fruit and subtle honey, butterscotch and honeydew notes, gaining a dash of oak and ending with a hint of fig. Drink now through 2020.”

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