Kongsgaard Chardonnay Judge Napa Valley 2002

"Fifth-generation Napa natives, Maggy and I began our endeavor in the 1970s planting The Judge vineyard on the Kongsgaard family land near Napa. The inaugural Kongsgaard wines came in 1996. We now produce The Judge, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc and Albarino in our underground winery, a cave dug into the volcanic rock, high on the eastern rim of the Napa Valley where we have planted a spectacular mountain vineyard. We also direct the farming under long-term contracts on several perfect acres in the Napa Carneros and near the winery. These intensely farmed, shy-bearing vineyards and our traditional low-intervention winemaking produce powerful, graceful wines - vivid expressions of vineyard and variety. Production is limited to what we, with our son Alex, can make with our own hands." - John Kongsgaard