2015 Ideology Cellars Reserve Chardonnay Red Hen Vineyard Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley 750 ml

Wine Spectator called Ideology Estate “a hidden gem in Napa Valley,” and they were absolutely right. The 2015 Ideology Reserve Chardonnay Red Hen Vineyard is proof that they produce some of the finest wines in all of California, not just Napa. 

Generous with aromas of green and yellow apples, white flowers, Meyer lemon curd, and roasted hazelnuts paving the way for a palate rich with marzipan, yogurt, and citrus, this single-vineyard white is what classic Golden State Chardonnay is all about… but for far less than it usually costs. 

And we weren’t even supposed to get any of it. But when we found out through the Napa grapevine (pun absolutely intended) that one of Ideology’s distribution deals had fallen through, we immediately contacted the team there and asked for as much of this stunner of a Chard as we could get. 

This wine was a star from the beginning. Pristine fruit from the Bart and Daphne Araujo-owned Red Hen Vineyard was harvested by hand at night in order to highlight the natural freshness of the grapes. The wine was then aged for eleven months in a combination of new and second-use French oak, which lent it the ambrosial spice notes that come through with each sip. And the spent-yeast lees were stirred throughout the process, which can be felt in the wine’s creamy, silky texture.

Combine that effort with the vintage itself—Vinous called 2015 a year “of opulent, voluptuous wines with real personality and character”—and you have all the ingredients for a game-changing Chardonnay.

Which is exactly what Bob and Joni Williamson set out to produce when they dove headfirst into Napa in 2003, purchasing their stunning 15-acre vineyard. Less than two years later, the critics took notice, and the praise hasn’t stopped: Ideology’s estate wines have taken home 95- and 96-point scores from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, and earned a spot on Wine & Spirits magazine’s Top 100 list. Year after year, their bottles become more difficult to find.

But here it is, one of their most sought-after wines and a gorgeous example of the heights of complexity and exuberance that Napa Valley Chardonnay can achieve. If you’re a fan of Rombauer, Patz & Hall, and Ramey, then the 2015 Ideology Reserve Chardonnay Red Hen Vineyard promises to be your new favorite white… but at around half the price. It doesn’t get much better than this.