Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards 'Fournier Vineyard' Chardonnay, Carneros, USA

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The perfumed 2009 Chardonnay Fournier offers up scents of lemon butter, orange blossoms and citrus, a medium-bodied, crisp, steely style and very good fruit. The big, boisterous aromatic profile is very much in keeping with this vintage for Burgundy varietals. It should drink well for 3-4 years. Tucked away in the sometimes seemingly forgotten Conn Valley, this winery is run with considerable gusto by Todd Anderson and his winemaker Mac Sawyer. This is an undeniable source of very complex and potentially age worthy wines. As did his father, Gus, Todd Anderson has consistently done well with Chardonnay from a cool climate site in the Green Valley south of the city of Napa. The 2008 and 2009 Chardonnay Fournier are both non-malolactic, barrel-fermented Chardonnays that have lots of minerality and little evidence of wood. They are made from the newer Dijon Clone rather than the clone preferred by most of the outstanding practitioners of California Chardonnay, the Old Wente and occasionally the Mt. Eden clone. The Right Bank cuvee is made from Merlot, which usually dominates, and the rest Cabernet Franc. This offering has been a winner since its debut release and it continues to be one of Napa Valley’s most interesting wines. My favorite offering from Todd Anderson is the Eloge cuvee, a distinctive effort of first-growth quality. One would think this wine would be somewhat Medoc-like as it is generally one-half to two-thirds Cabernet Sauvignon combined with a significant amount of Cabernet Franc. However, one can’t really compare it to a Medoc since there is never that much Cabernet Franc in Bordeaux Medocs and there is not that much Cabernet Sauvignon in any St.-Emilion or Pomerol. A project I had not tasted before is the small lot (500-750 cases) of the Cabernet Sauvignon Black Label. Aged longer in barrels than its siblings, it is meant to be a super-premium wine. If you have not yet discovered the wines from this nearly 28 acre vineyard tucked away a few miles east of the famed Meadowood Resort, it’s time.Tel. (707) 963-8600; Fax (707) 963-7818

The 2008 Chardonnay Fournier is slightly richer and deeper, no doubt because of low yields. It is a fuller-bodied effort, but reveals a similar steely nose with hints of brioche, nectarines and orange marmalade as well as good underlying minerality. This medium to full-bodied, surprisingly rich Chardonnay should drink well for 4-5 years. Tucked away in the sometimes seemingly forgotten Conn Valley, this winery is run with considerable gusto by Todd Anderson and his winemaker Mac Sawyer. This is an undeniable source of very complex and potentially age worthy wines. As did his father, Gus, Todd Anderson has consistently done well with Chardonnay from a cool climate site in the Green Valley south of the city of Napa. The 2008 and 2009 Chardonnay Fournier are both non-malolactic, barrel-fermented Chardonnays that have lots of minerality and little evidence of wood. They are made from the newer Dijon Clone rather than the clone preferred by most of the outstanding practitioners of California Chardonnay, the Old Wente and occasionally the Mt. Eden clone. The Right Bank cuvee is made from Merlot, which usually dominates, and the rest Cabernet Franc. This offering has been a winner since its debut release and it continues to be one of Napa Valley’s most interesting wines. My favorite offering from Todd Anderson is the Eloge cuvee, a distinctive effort of first-growth quality. One would think this wine would be somewhat Medoc-like as it is generally one-half to two-thirds Cabernet Sauvignon combined with a significant amount of Cabernet Franc. However, one can’t really compare it to a Medoc since there is never that much Cabernet Franc in Bordeaux Medocs and there is not that much Cabernet Sauvignon in any St.-Emilion or Pomerol. A project I had not tasted before is the small lot (500-750 cases) of the Cabernet Sauvignon Black Label. Aged longer in barrels than its siblings, it is meant to be a super-premium wine. If you have not yet discovered the wines from this nearly 28 acre vineyard tucked away a few miles east of the famed Meadowood Resort, it’s time.Tel. (707) 963-8600; Fax (707) 963-7818

The big-styled 2007 Chardonnay Fournier is not put through malolactic, and therefore it possesses zesty acidity, which it certainly needs to buttress its intense, full-bodied style. Nevertheless, some delicacy and nuance are found in this light gold/green-colored effort. Notes of nectarines, orange blossoms, brioche, and tropical oils along with crisp acidity emerge from this beautiful white. Despite being aged in 100% new oak, it exhibits a delicate minerality and not much wood. It should drink well for 3-4 years. Todd Anderson and his winemaker, Mac Sawyer, are on top of their game at this backwater winery tucked away in Conn Valley, a few miles east of the Meadowood Resort. Anderson’s Conn Valley Vineyards became famous because of their long-lived, impressive 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from their estate vineyards in Conn Valley. They have added two brilliant proprietary reds, the Right Bank (usually dominated by Merlot with the balance Cabernet Franc), and the Eloge, a wine that is based on a French Medoc with two-thirds Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. Conn Valley’s wine possesses a distinctive singularity as there is not another wine in Napa that is reminiscent of themTel. (707) 963-8600; Fax (707) 963-7818

The 2006 Chardonnay is a leaner, Chablis-styled wine that is crisp but doesn’t have nearly the flesh of the 2005 Chardonnay Fournier.Previously recommended: 2003 Right Bank (93), 2003 Eloge (96), 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve (94).Tel. (707) 963-8600; Fax (707) 963-7818

Reminiscent of a premier cru from Chassagne-Montrachet, the Burgundian-styled 2005 Chardonnay Fournier Vineyard possesses a more smoky hazelnut-scented and flavored personality. It should drink well for 4-5 years.Tel. (707) 963-8600; Fax (707) 963-7818