A few days ago, in honor of the 40th anniversary of The Judgement of Paris, Agent Red brought you a Chardonnay made by Mike Grgich, who was the winning winemaker of that historic competition which took place those 40 years back.

Today’s E16 2013 Bacigalupi Vineyard Chardonnay has a secret… This Chardonnay hails from the vineyard that produced 40% of the juice that went into the winning wine.

The folks in Napa are happy to let you believe that their fruit led to the win, but the truth is that it came from the historic Bacigalupi Vineyard in the Russian River Valley.

If you want to taste history you are in for a real treat with today’s 93 point(DY) and Cellar Selection(WE) Chardonnay. If you purchased our recently-featured Grgich Chardonnay, you are in for an especially big treat… you can taste those two wines side-by-side and compare the differences.

This wine is very lush and fresh on the nose with bright apricot, lemon, honeysuckle, white peach, lemongrass and subtle cedar. A fireworks display of flavor, with juicy tangerine, lemon, white tea, straw, lemon curd, yogurt covered raisin, geranium, pomelo, oak, and subtle white spice.

Enjoy with our heartiest recommendation!

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What the wine press has to say:

93 points - Dennis Yeast, Wine Critic - “It is pure pleasure to taste the finest wines from some of the finest vineyards in the Russian River Valley appellation. One such storied vineyard is the Bacigalupi Vineyard, which supplied this gorgeous Chardonnay from a near perfect Vintage; 2013.

I feel sad for those who drink wines before the development in the bottle has been fulfilled. They miss a real thrill and, let’s face it, life is short. Thrills are important.

The time is right now for the e16 Chardonnay from Bacigalupi Vineyards.

This wine is reminiscent of fine Burgundy, it is pure balance and elegance, with magical harmony between concentrated citrus fruit, aging time on the lees and a delicate touch of oak from both barrel fermentation and barrel aging. Acidity was healthy at harvest and in the years following, it provided a wonderful backbone upon which the concentration fruit and oak can dance and sing.

I prefer wines that compliment food and not overtake it.”

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92 points - Chris Sawyer, Sommelier to the Stars - “For white wine fans, this special year marks the 40-year anniversary of the famous “Judgment of Paris” tasting when the Chateau Montelena 1973 Chardonnay won over the top producers in France.

And for as much credit as the Napa Valley gets for this stunning victory, one of the little-known facts is that 40% of the fruit used in the master blend came from the Bacigalupi Vineyard in the Russian River Valley of Sonoma County.

As luck would have it, the same year Helen Bacigaulpi and her husband Charles sold the 14 tons of grapes to Chateau Montelena; the couple also began developing an exciting new Chardonnay vineyard on their Bloom Ranch property down the road. Today, a portion of the precious fruit from this elevated site is used to craft the E16 2013 Chardonnay.

With a lovely golden hue, this elegant wine starts off with tantalizing aromas of spring flowers, ripe stone fruit, lemon meringue, and roasted hazelnut. In the glass, instead of being big, ripe, sweet or too oaky; the wine is medium body, which allow the flavors to gracefully dance on the palate with bright notes of golden apple, peach, fresh citrus, quince, and hints of mineral, nutmeg, and other spicy nuances.

As the wine opens up, these complex flavors are further complemented by a soft, suede-like texture and a burst of vibrant acidity leading to a long elegant finish. Generous, refreshing, and rewarding!

For food pairings, try this wine with creamy cheeses, soups, seared scallops, grilled fish, eggplant parmesan, roasted chicken, and thick pork chops.

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90 points - Virginie Boone, Wine Enthusiast - From a great vineyard and vintage, this wine opens with complex aromas of concentrated, savory fruit and candied ginger. Oaky vanilla sits atop a medium body, while plenty of sizzling acidity keeps the palate buoyant and enlightened. Cellar through 2018. -

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90 points - Anthony Dias Blue, Tasting Panel Magazine - “Smooth and toasty with a core of tangy acidity; long and showing oak, spice and balance.”

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Double Gold Medal winner, San Francisco Chronicle 2016 International Wine Competition.