Beringer Private Reserve Chardonnay 2024
(Napa Valley, California) - [JS 96] [WS 92]

Notes from the Winemaker:
The 2024 vintage will be celebrated for years to come, with white wines displaying remarkable brightness and depth of flavor. Heavy winter rains provided much-needed soil moisture, supporting healthy canopy growth and resilient vines capable of enduring Napa Valley’s 60-degree temperature fluctuations. Harvest began in late August, running at a moderate pace through September, accelerated by rising temperatures in early October. Yields were generally average to slightly above.

Vineyard:
Gamble Ranch is Beringer’s northernmost Chardonnay vineyard and has been the primary source for Private Reserve for decades. Located near the town of Yountville, in the Oakville AVA, daytime temperatures here slowly climb as the cooling morning fog recedes south to San Pablo Bay. This significant diurnal shift allows the grapes to maintain their acidity, which is essential to balancing the ripe, rich flavors as they develop during warm afternoons. Older vines, planted in 1976, featuring the Wente Clone 4, are predominant. For 2023, close to 18% of the blend was crafted from Big Ranch vineyard in Oak Knoll, which imparts a cooling influence being more centrally located within Napa Valley. Here the fruit retains more acidity and minerality, an influence from being closer to the San Pablo Bay. A higher selection of Burgundy clones also provides an elegant complexity and weight.

Winemaking:
Each Chardonnay lot is kept separate throughout the aging process for this flagship wine. After sending the fruit directly to press, the juice is fermented in 100% French oak barrels (50% new) for 8 months to enhance the natural richness in the wine. The lees were stirred every other month to integrate the subtle oak notes and helped to develop a lovely texture, body, and mouthfeel. After aging, the most expressive lots are chosen, then blended to create a richly layered wine with aromatic aromas and rich fruit flavor intensity.

Tasting Notes:
This Chardonnay opens with lovely, perfumed aromas of bright citrus, including lemon zest and a touch of orange and tangerine marmalade — enlivened by a delicate white flower musk. Subtle hints of white tea, white chocolate and honeycomb add warmth and complexity. The palate is mouthwatering and fresh, showing vibrant acidity balanced by a full-bodied weight and a round, rich character. The flavor evolves beautifully, showcasing layers of Asian pear, lemon meringue and sweet pineapple. Spiced undertones interlace with the fruit, adding notes of jasmine, hazelnut and vanilla, all creating a nuanced depth. The finish is unctuous, highlighting beeswax, fresh hay, and lanolin, with a pleasing viscosity that coats the mouth rounding out this expressive and elegant Chardonnay.

Ratings & Reviews

96  Points - James Suckling:

"This has a vivid intensity balanced with freshness and just the right influence of oak. Aromas of preserved lemons, salted caramel, orange blossoms, lanolin and spices. The palate is tightly wound, showing mouthwatering acidity and a lovely texture with a flavorful finish. About 80% malolactic fermentation. Drink or hold." (Nov 2025)

92 Points - Wine Spectator:

"This is succulent, showing a bright expression of orange blossom, lemon curd, dried mango and tangerine details as well as a touch of pineapple. Supplemented by accents of graham cracker, spices and toasted sesame seed, plus a sprinkle of sea salt and a lemon balm accent. Gains momentum and additional juicy facets on the long finish. Drink now through 2039." - Maryann Worobiec (July 2026)