Whites

Hagafen Chardonnay: A Taste of Excellence

Winemaker Description

Mevushal. The Chardonnay grapes for this wine were grown in the fog-cooled Napa Valley in order to produce a wine rich in flavor and varietal character, complemented by aging in small oak barrels.

Don Ernesto has done it again. Our newest vintage of Chardonnay is Mary Poppins. Why Mary Poppins you ask. Well, it is “practically perfect in every way”! From the beautiful soft golden hue, to the rich round mouth, to the long finish, this Chardonnay is what you need to “help the medicine go down in the most delightful way”.

Starting with the nose, we find beautiful soft vanilla, ripe Asian pear and crisp Galia and Honeydew melon. Continuing onto the palate we discover lush star fruit and rich lemon curd. With its lingering finish our Chardonnay will make you want to “go fly a kite”!"  

Memo Summary Notes

The 2022 Hagafen Carneros Chardonnay is a well-regarded California white wine that balances the richness of Napa Valley fruit with the crisp acidity typical of the cooler Carneros region.

Because of its balanced acidity and moderate oak, this Chardonnay pairs exceptionally well with:

• Roasted chicken or turkey with herbs.

• Rich seafood like boiled lobster or pan-seared scallops.

• Creamy pasta dishes or soft cheeses (like Brie or Camembert).

Introducing Hagafen Chardonnay

The Hagafen Carneros Chardonnay 2022 is an exceptional kosher wine that has gained popularity among wine enthusiasts. This delightful white wine perfectly combines the richness of the Carneros region with the meticulous craftsmanship of Hagafen Cellars. With a balanced acidity and well-rounded mouthfeel, each sip delivers a symphony of flavors. Whether you are enjoying a quiet evening or hosting friends, this Chardonnay is a sophisticated choice for any occasion.

Flavor Profile and Food Pairing

The Hagafen Chardonnay showcases bright notes of citrus, green apple, and subtle hints of oak. However, its refreshing acidity makes it perfect to pair with various dishes, especially seafood and poultry. It complements grilled salmon beautifully, enhancing the dish’s flavors. Additionally, it goes well with creamy pasta dishes or a simple cheese platter, making it versatile for any meal.

Heitz Cellar Quartz Creek Vineyard Chardonnay — Napa Valley 2021

Heitz Cellar is one of Napa Valley’s founding estates — and the Quartz Creek Vineyard Chardonnay is its sole white wine, making it one of the most singular and sought-after expressions of Napa Chardonnay. The fruit comes from the Burgess-owned Quartz Creek Vineyard in Oak Knoll, a cool sub-appellation at the southern end of the Napa Valley where the influence of San Pablo Bay moderates temperatures and extends the growing season. The 2021 vintage was shaped by drought and a cool, long growing season that dramatically reduced yields — and concentrated everything that remained. The result is a Chardonnay of exceptional intensity, harmony, and cellar-worthiness: a step up even from the celebrated 2020.

The color is a luminous pale gold. The nose opens with effusive floral top notes, followed by cool, almost mentholated aromas of concentrated lime essence, lemon curd, white pear, and a whisper of toasted cashew and crushed stone. On the palate, it is medium-bodied and linear — silky and creamy in texture, with gorgeous finesse and a taut, focused structure. Vibrant citrus drives the mid-palate, with savory mineral complexity and a long, precise, and elegant finish. First and foremost, a wine of harmony.

Vinous 94 • Wine Advocate 92 • Wine Spectator 91 — “Fabulous — silky and creamy on the palate, with gorgeous finesse. First and foremost, a wine of harmony.” — Vinous

• Producer: Heitz Cellar, Napa Valley, California
• Vintage: 2021
• Appellation: Napa Valley — Oak Knoll District
• Vineyard: Quartz Creek Vineyard (Burgess-owned), Oak Knoll
• Varietal: Chardonnay
• Production: 1,310 cases
• Style: Linear, mineral-driven, harmonious Napa Chardonnay
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Lime essence, lemon curd, white pear, toasted cashew, floral notes, crushed stone minerality
• Cellar Potential: Drink now or cellar 5–8 years
• Best Paired With: Dungeness crab, razor clams, grilled seafood, chicken marsala, creamy pasta, soft cheeses

Napa Valley’s most singular Chardonnay — Heitz Quartz Creek is harmony, precision, and terroir in a single bottle.

Domaine Ostertag Riesling Les Jardins — Alsace 2023

Domaine Ostertag is one of Alsace's most visionary estates. Founded in the 1960s and transformed by André Ostertag after his Burgundy training, the domaine pioneered biodynamic viticulture and terroir-driven winemaking in the region. Today, André's son Arthur helms the estate with the same restless curiosity — low yields, slow and gentle pressing, long élevages, and wines built to "create thirst, not quench it." The 2023 Les Jardins is a particularly compelling expression: all of the Le Berceau fruit (not produced as a separate cuvée in 2023) was folded in, along with additions from Clos Matis on granite, giving this wine unusual depth and complexity for an entry-level Riesling. Vinous awarded it 92 points.

The nose is crystalline and floral — spring blossom, guelder rose petal, and fresh green apple with a creamy, transparent purity that only Riesling can deliver. On the palate, it is smooth, ripe, and gently textured, with a subtle salty linearity that drives freshness forward through a bone-dry, focused finish. Stony, savory, and utterly delicious.

Vinous 92 — "A floral creaminess, almost like a shower of spring blossom, guelder rose petal and fresh, green apple notes. The palate is smooth, ripe and gentle, with a subtle, salty linearity that gives direction to its creaminess. A balanced, bone-dry Riesling." (Vintage 2023). 

• Producer: Domaine Ostertag, Epfig, Alsace, France
• Vintage: 2023
• Appellation: Alsace AOC
• Varietal: 100% Riesling
• Farming: Biodynamic, hand-harvested
• Style: Bone-dry
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Spring blossom, guelder rose, green apple, creamy texture, salty mineral finish
• Best Paired With: Oysters, grilled fish, Alsatian choucroute, soft cheeses, roast chicken

A 92-point biodynamic Riesling from one of Alsace's most important estates — bone-dry, stony, and built to brighten any meal.

Winemaker Description 

An elegant and feminine Riesling with fine fruit of ripe lemon, apricot and pineapple. Juicy and harmonious on the palate, with charming acidity and a fine floral finish.

The Hochheimer 2024 comes from one of the lime-rich southwest-facing slopes of the renowned VDP. Erste Lage (Premier Cru) Hochheimer Hölle – a steep slope above Hochheim am Main, protected from northerly winds and characterized by loess loam and clay marl, which lend this Riesling its structure, depth, and saline tension.

Memo Summary Notes

The designation "Alte Reben" (Old Vines) indicates complexity and depth, while "Trocken" means the wine is bone-dry. The Hochheimer Stielweg vineyard is also designated as a VDP.Erste Lage (First Growth), signifying a top-tier site.

This wine's power and acidity make it a versatile food partner:

• Seafood: Grilled fish, lobster, or scallops.

• Asian Cuisine: Spicy dishes, especially with a balance of sweet and sour.

• Traditional German Fare: Lauchsuppe (leek soup), asparagus, or veal.

Expert Reviews 

Winemaker Description 

Century-old, pre-phylloxera, ungrafted vines planted on a blue slate hillside of dizzying steepness renders a wine that’s nothing short of profound. It offers intense flavor, integrated juiciness, sensuous texture and extraordinary length and intricacy with guaranteed potential for long maturation.

Gernot Kollmann started his career at the Immich Batterieberg winery in 2009. Since then he has led the house to new successes. Connoisseurs are fascinated by the house wines because they reflect the Moselle and especially the Riesling in an intensive and individual way.

The Immich Batterieberg Enkircher Ellergrub Riesling brings sweet and tart pleasure into the glass. Enchanting herbal bouquet Its bright straw-yellow dress suits the Immich Batterieberg Enkircher Ellergrub Riesling admirably. Spicy flint and dried herbs inspire in the bouquet. Here the Riesling flatters the nose in a clear and light way. Ripe plate peach, a hint of citrus zest and apple blossom find their way into the aromatic spectacle.

The Immich Batterieberg Enkircher Ellergrub Riesling on the palate The mineral-fruity nose of the Immich Batterieberg Enkircher Ellergrub Riesling is followed by a full-bodied and crystal-clear pleasure on the palate. The dried garden herbs and the spicy slate combine on the tongue with apple compote and juicy peach wedges. Balsamic accents and a sinewy body give the wine a lot of elegance, even in the long finish. The fruit of the Immich Batterieberg Enkircher Ellergrub Riesling is pleasantly restrained and leaves plenty of room for spicy and mineral notes.

For this reason, the Riesling is ideal as an accompaniment for the exclusive kitchen on special occasions. Baked veal cheeks on risotto, steamed zander and grilled trout welcome him with joy at their side. Gernot Kollmann creates a fine Riesling from a steep site.

For the Immich Batterieberg Enkircher Ellergrub Riesling, the winemaker chooses particularly long-grown vines with deep roots. The plants have been growing on the blue slate soil for more than eighty years. The Ellergrub site is known for exceptionally elegant wine.

The Immich Batterieberg Enkircher Ellergrub Riesling does not disappoint either. Gernot Kollmann ferments the wine with great patience and calm. Under his hands, the Riesling unfolds its natural potential and absorbs the terroir around the steep slate slope. Great enjoyment from a great location.