2017 Lightning 'CDP' White California 750 ml

The Perfect Cross-Over White Wine—Drinkers Rejoice!

Our pre-release bottles of the 2017 Lightning ‘CDP’ White are the first to be released anywhere in the world—you won’t even find them on Lightning’s website. Offering fragrant citrus blossom, juicy white peach, and mouthwatering lemon zest, this Châteauneuf du Pape-inspired white is a seamless blend of Grenache Blanc, Piquepoul Blanc, and Marsanne.

Its weight and density will appeal to lovers of Sauvignon Blanc, while Chardonnay fans will adore its caramelized pineapple and creme brulee notes, which are delivered with added freshness and verve—this is a crowd-pleasing white no matter how you slice it. Walking a perfect tightrope of energy and depth, the 2017 Lightning CDP is a complete steal. We highly recommend stocking up on cases before this hits the market.

In the Napa Valley, the whispers have become increasingly audible. Randy Hester, who cut his teeth under 100-point winemakers Andy Erickson (Screaming Eagle), Michel Rolland, and Helen Keplinger is fast becoming a star. For now, his wines are what sommeliers dream of—under-priced and over-delivering—but if the market has any say, it won’t last. Fortunately, we’re ahead of the curve. Way ahead.

In 2006, when Randy Hester came to Napa Valley, he quickly zeroed in on who to pay attention to in the winemaking pantheon of local greats. That focus brought him into the sphere of great winemakers like Erickson, Rolland, and Keplinger, and Hester became a fixture at some of the Valley’s top wineries: Colgin, Realm, Cakebread, Caldwell, and Marciano. He now applies a master’s touch to Rhône varieties sourced from some of the top sites in Northern California.

We like to think that Hester’s Lightning ‘CDP’ White is a particularly special offering, demonstrating the depth of his passion for the Rhône. While red varieties from the region have become increasingly popular up and down the California coast, white varieties are rare. The Grenache Blanc, Piquepoul Blanc, and Marsanne which consist of Hester’s 2017 are planted in tiny quantities and farmed meticulously. Because there is so much less of it, parcels are cared for that much more. Contracts between growers and winemakers are more likely to happen over a dinner table than in a stuffy office, and in the end, it shows in the wines. The 2017 LIghtning ‘CDP’ White is a perfect example, combining stunning value with incredible finesse.