Wine

Item Description

Kongsgaard ‘The Judge’ Chardonnay -- the essence of California Chardonnay

--One 1.5 L 2007 Kongsgaard ‘The Judge’ Chardonnay

--One 1.5 L 2008 Kongsgaard ‘The Judge’ Chardonnay

Fifth-generation Napa natives John and Maggy Kongsgaard produce a number of fine wines from their ten-acre family  property, and from properties under long-term contract in the Carneros region and near St. Helena. 

But possibly the most famous and sought-after wine they produce is ‘The Judge’ Chardonnay, named after John’s late father who was the judge in Napa County from 1959 to 1985. 

The grapes for this dreamy wine are grown on a rocky hillside just east of the town of Napa, which was acquired by John’s grandparents in the 1920s as a potential quarry site. The extremely rocky ground produces a miniscule crop of around one ton of grapes per acre, yielding less than one-half bottle of wine per vine.

Robert Parker called this super-concentrated wine …“the essence of Chardonnay – one of the most profound Chardonnays made in California.”

‘The Judge’ is fermented in all new, Burgundian oak barrels with indigenous yeast and rests on the primary lees for fifteen months before the first racking. The wine is clarified by gravity, allowing bottling without filtration or fining after nearly two years of barrel age.  

Special, indeed, ‘The Judge’ Chardonnay is never sold in magnum format; it is only released to family and donated to very, very, very lucky charities.  And here, you have the chance to get two magnums of this precious nectar, from the 2007 and 2008 vintages.  Special thanks to the Kongsgaard Family for their consistent support of the Calistoga Family Center.

Item Special Note

Through the remarkable generosity of 55 Degrees, St. Helena, your wine purchases will be stored securely in optimal conditions for up to 30 days until shipping or pick up arrangements have been made. All  shipping charges are the sole responsibility of the winning bidder. A very special Thank You to owners, Karen and Neil Aldoroty, 55 Degrees, St. Helena, CA.

Collection of California Sales Tax:
Unless a valid resale permit is presented to seller prior to the sale, purchaser will be required to pay all state and local retail sales taxes applicable in the date of sale. Resale permits will be accepted only for businesses that are reasonably expected to
buy and sell wine. Sales tax will be collected on the fair market value of each lot.