Seavey’s 2017 Chardonnay offers a full and lush nose of nectarine, grapefruit and lemongrass. On the palate, the wine is crisp, bright and refreshing, revealing an exotic medley of lemon tart, stone fruit, and wet river stones with a hint of cardamom and fresh almond. As always, you will find Seavey’s signature Chardonnay style of light oak, bright acidity, and lively minerality.

James Suckling 92 Points

About Seavey Vineyards

In the 1870s – when Conn Valley Road was little more than a wagon trail – the land which we now farm was planted with grapes to make a “Claret of high repute.” This wine was judged by the St. Helena Star to be “as fine as one might find anywhere.” Commonly known as the Franco-Swiss Farming Company, this was the pioneering vineyard and winemaking operation of Conn Valley. After roughly thirty years of producing great wines, the company dissolved due to the impact of a phylloxera infestation and Prohibition. For more than a half century, cattle roamed the land and grain was farmed but no more grapes were cultivated until Bill and Mary Seavey acquired the land in 1979.

Bill and Mary set out to revive the original vineyard, planting the south-facing hillsides of Conn Valley near Lake Hennessey. By 1990, we had remodeled an 1881 stone dairy barn into a small winery and began producing small quantities of Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. Small blocks of Merlot and Petit Verdot were also added along with a second winery building which includes an underground wine cave.

Production from the estate’s 40 planted acres is approximately 3,000 cases annually. This small-scale production allows us to maintain consistently high standards in both the vineyard and the winery. We’ve never bought a grape and we farm our land with our in-house crew. Our steep, rocky hillsides produce small, thick-skinned berries with outstanding tannins which must be handled very gently. As a result, our winemaking approach is gentle and patient. Stewarded by Jim Duane, our winemaker, and also Philippe Melka, our consulting winemaker, our goal is to create masterful, soulful wines that exude a sense of place and age gracefully.

All Seavey wines are wonderfully flavorful and concentrated. Our flagship Cabernet Sauvignon is crafted for classic Bordeaux-style richness, finesse and balance for cellar aging. Our Caravina Cabernet is meant for earlier drinking and offers supple tannins and youthful intense flavors. We also produce small lots of Merlot and Chardonnay. We look forward to introducing you to our rare and extensive wine library dating back to 1990 and to our wine clubs that provide access to these wines. Bill and Mary’s commitment to creating this library for future enjoyment was unshakeable, and reflected their conviction that our wines would only improve with time.