Winemaker Steve Rogstad has been making wine for Cuvaison for 20 years, and I’m guessing that the winery’s Legacy Tier wines are some of his favorites to craft. The ATS Chardonnay (named by the founders’ initials) is a barrel selection, composed this time around of Dijon, Old Wente and 548 clones, offers refined elegance, with subdued citrus and stonefruit joined by notes of dough, marzipan and bay leaf in both aroma and flavor profiles. The finish is fully integrated and long, and it will keep you coming back – a Rogstad trademark.
Cuvaison, Los Carneros, Napa Valley (California) Chardonnay 2019
By Rich Cook