D Magazine wine columnist Hayley Hamilton has included three terrific wines from the VINTUS portfolio in her latest story, “What to Drink Now: Winter White Wines.” The Dallas/Forth Worth business and lifestyle publication is encouraging readers to enjoy the Guigal Chateau de Nalys Grand Vin Blanc, Chateau Montelena Chardonnay and Ponzi Reserve Chardonnay now as wines that deliver richness, texture, and complexity as we await warmer weather. Hayley highlighted that the Chateau de Nalys Grand Vin Blanc “celebrates the elegance of Rhone white varieties” and delivers a “a graceful, structured wine with creamy vanilla, orange blossom, baking spice, and a lean note of rocky minerality.” She notes the Montelena Chardonnay is a Napa favorite that “delivers premium quality and delicious taste.” As another American Chardonnay to consider, she touts Ponzi’s Reserve Chardonnay for its “creamy custard and maple filled wine depth and palate coating richness.” Read the full story with her list of recommendations here
Related Wines
Ponzi Vineyards
Ponzi Vineyards Chardonnay Reserve 2015
Willamette Valley
The Ponzi family has dedicated over 25 years to innovation in farming and winemaking to develop Oregon Chardonnay's place in the world. Luisa Ponzi's formative experiences working in Burgundy in the early 1990s guide her vision of producing complex and ageworthy Chardonnay.
Chateau Montelena
Chateau Montelena Napa Valley Chardonnay 2016
Napa Valley, California
A true icon. The Napa Valley Chardonnay is the wine that put Chateau Montelena and Napa Valley at the forefront of the wine world in 1976, in what is now memorialized as “The Judgment of Paris.” To great disbelief, the Chateau Montelena Napa Valley Chardonnay was the top-ranking wine against four white Burgundies and five other California Chardonnays. And as they say, the rest is history.
Château de Nalys
Château de Nalys Blanc Châteauneuf-du-Pape Grand Vin 2017
Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Guigal's mastery of growing and producing white wine varieties in the Rhône Valley is exemplified in this wine of immense breadth and power, elegance and expression. Intensely aromatic nose of white flowers, citrus and a touch of vanilla, on the palate the presence is undeniably penetrating, with a deep minerality joining the notes above.
Related Producers
Chateau Montelena
Calistoga, Napa Valley, California
In 1976 Chateau Montelena put California at the forefront of the wine world. That year a who's-who of the French wine establishment gathered in Paris for a blind tasting of French and American wines. When the scores were tallied, the top-ranking white wine was Chateau Montelena's 1973 Chardonnay. Montelena today continues to be a quality benchmark in Napa Valley, producing some of the finest Cabernet and Chardonnay in California.
Ponzi Vineyards
Chehalem Mountain AVA, Willamette Valley, Oregon
Dick and Nancy Ponzi helped put Oregon on the wine map, and the Ponzi family has worked continuously for over 50 years leading and innovating in the region and, in the case of Pinot Noir, across the country and indeed the world. Today winemaker Luisa Ponzi continues her work with the family of Champagne Bollinger, which acquired the estate in 2021.
Château de Nalys
Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France
Since its creation in 1946 by Etienne Guigal, the Guigal family has produced a Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The terroirs of Nalys realize a dream spanning three generations to join this leading prestigious and historic appellation. Marcel and Philippe Guigal will bring passion and rigour, their family quality philosophy, and the ambition of waving the flag of Châteauneuf-du-Pape at the very highest level.
E. Guigal
Rhône Valley, France
The more you learn about the Guigal family, the more astounding becomes their story. Their wines are the benchmarks for every Rhone appellation, and over the last thirty years they have become arguably the most lauded producer in the world. Year after year the Guigal family produces wines of exceptional quality that in all classes offer exceptional value.
