2024 Courtney Benham Chardonnay Reserve Napa Valley 750 ml

Courtney Benham's Reserve Napa Chardonnay is a wine he and 100-point winemaker Keith Emerson only produce when the vintage earns it—not every year, not even most years, but when the fruit is good enough to carry the Reserve name.

For the 2024, that meant Calistoga.

Sitting at the northern end of the Valley, Calistoga is Napa's warmest appellation—a place where the days are long and golden and the fruit develops a natural generosity that's hard to find elsewhere. But what makes Calistoga special for Chardonnay isn't just the heat; it's what happens after the sun goes down. Cool air funneling down from the Mayacamas Mountains drops temperatures dramatically each evening, locking in the acidity and freshness that give this wine its structure and lift.

Courtney Benham is an industry veteran who's exceptionally picky when it comes to wine with his name on the label. Raised on a family farm in Bakersfield, he learned the wine business from his father, and his connections throughout California—forged through a long career producing top-rated wines—give him access to exceptional fruit.

Keith Emerson, who made his name producing 100-point wines at Vineyard 29, brought his signature precision to the cellar. The wine was whole-cluster pressed directly to barrel, fermented in 100% French oak with roughly 25% new wood, and given partial malolactic fermentation to build texture without sacrificing the natural brightness of the fruit.

The result is a Chardonnay that feels both generous and composed—rich without being heavy, oaked without being overdone. Layers of green apple and ripe pear unfold alongside lemon cake and subtle baking spice, with a wet-stone minerality and a creamy, custard-like texture carrying through to a smooth, refined finish.