Dark Horse Chardonnay

This white wine from Dark Horse is made from the Chardonnay grape native to California. Winemaker Beth Liston is an ambitious winemaker who strives to get the most out of her grapes. Her grapes are cultivated with the utmost precision in unique locations. Most of the vineyards are positioned facing the sun at the perfect altitude. The altitude of Dark Horse's vineyards is crucial for maintaining sufficient coolness in the warm climate. This is how the Chardonnay grapes ripen optimally and develop a wealth of flavor, as we've also noticed. But that doesn't happen automatically, says Beth Liston, riding her black horse, the winery's name. She rides this beautiful black horse through the vineyards several times a week to become one with the grapes and have a good plan for harvesting them. This is crucial if you want to make beautiful wines, so leave that to her.

Dark Horse's old Chardonnay vineyard

A key benchmark for a full-bodied Chardonnay is the vineyard's age; old vines simply lend more strength to the clusters. This is certainly true with Dark Horse, as the vines have an average age of 25 years and produce such full clusters. At peak ripeness, they are harvested by hand and rigorously selected, ensuring only the finest clusters make it into the bottle. Before bottling, however, the ripe Chardonnay juice undergoes a long, beautiful oak aging process in Dark Horse's cellars. It develops unique aromas and flavors, and when it is perfect, the bottles are ready to be filled. However, the decision rests with the mistress of the house, and thus we have "the Original Dark Horse."

The aroma and taste of the Dark Horse Chardonnay

What an exquisite glass, this full-bodied, powerful Californian Chardonnay from Dark Horse. The grapes for this wine are hand-picked and then gently pressed, releasing the finest juice. The Dark Horse Chardonnay then undergoes light oak aging. This is clearly noticeable in the aroma, with aromas of peach and baked apple, layered with buttery notes of oak and caramel. The palate is very smooth and full, with a thick structure—a wine we love! Beautiful flavors of tropical fruit, vanilla, oak, baked bread, and peach. This Dark Horse Chardonnay is truly superb.