Trefethen Eschol Chardonnay Oak Knoll 2022

Whether it’s their award-winning Napa Valley Cabernet or the Dragon’s Tooth Red Blend that we snuck out to our previous buyers earlier this year, there is always a well-structured, layered wine that deserves your attention. With the family’s estate Chardonnay, they once again beg the question: Why can’t other people in Napa make a Chardonnay this good at a price this low?

Of the 440 acres of sustainably farmed vineyards, around 30% is Chardonnay grown in the cool-climate Oak Knoll AVA. Janet has been a champion of Oak Knoll ever since she got the AVA approved. The 440 acres are broken into 49 vineyard blocks with distinctive soil types, making this a special place to make wine.

Of course, the Trefethens’ Chardonnay history is well documented. It dates back to the Judgement of Paris and the 1979 Wine World Olympics hosted by the French publication Gault & Millau, where their Chardonnay finished first overall.

That pursuit of excellence is still just as strong as ever, as evidenced by the family’s most recent Chardonnay bottling. Such a beauty for under $20/bottle. Almost no one could do this in the Napa Valley – but Trefethen isn’t like anyone else!