ZD Winery

ZD Winery has an excellent, but reasonably priced regular release Chardonnay.  We both liked it a lot and it was an obvious essential purchase.  Even if you don't visit the winery, you should try a bottle of this ZD Chardonnay if you are at all fond of Chardonnays.

Photos added 8/7/13

ZD Winery offers a choice of two tastings.  Their Current Wines are $10 for a tasting and include a Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon.  The Reserve Wines are $15 for a tasting and include the reserve releases of the same three varietals.

ZD Winery is mostly known for its regular release Chardonnay.  Of the 30,000 cases of wine they produce yearly, 18,000 cases are this Chardonnay.  The ZD 2009 Chardonnay ($34) is made from Carneros grapes and is a full bodied Chardonnay that is not excessively buttery from malolactic conversion.  (I believe it has none.) With a green apple nose and a crisp, full, toasty palate of citrus and pineapple, it should be very appealing those who like Chardonnay with plenty of fruit but good, balanced acid. But it is a unique plush style with lots of fruit that might not appeal to everyone. There is also a Reserve Chardonnay from Carneros at $55, but we did not try this.

The 2009 Carneros Pinot Noir at $45 was a lighter style PN with ten months of French oak.  The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon ($50) from different Napa Valley districts was aged a year in American oak, has a wonderful raspberry (they say blackberry) aroma and, although it is very drinkable now and not a really big cab, it should age very nicely. If we return to ZD, I'd like to do the Reserve tasting.  If you are unable to visit the winery, you might want to track down a bottle of their Chardonnay.

ZD Winery
8383 Silverado Trail

Napa, CA 94558

(800) 487-7757

Date of visit: March 23, 2011