Frog's Leap Winery
Chardonnay 2023
Rutherford
Chardonnay has been part of the Frog’s Leap story since 1985, anchored by a single, long-term vineyard relationship that underscores the estate’s belief in consistency of site and farming over stylistic trends. The winery’s philosophy emphasizes letting vineyards speak, using winemaking as a means of refinement rather than transformation. This approach aligns Frog’s Leap Chardonnay more closely with classical benchmarks, prioritizing freshness, mineral structure and food compatibility.
VINEYARD
The Truchard Vineyard in Carneros has supplied Frog's Leap Chardonnay since 1985. Planted in 1979, the organically farmed vines are rooted in fractured shale and sandstone soils on a steep hillside, naturally limiting vigor and preserving acidity. Cool Carneros conditions and mineral-rich soils contribute to the wine's tension, freshness and distinct mineral character.
WINEMAKING
Fruit is harvested at night and pressed whole cluster with a short period of skin contact. After settling overnight, juice begins fermentation in tank before being racked to brand-new French oak barrels. As fermentation slows after 5-6 days, wine is transferred to stainless steel-lined concrete to complete fermentation. The wine remains sur lie for up to ten months with no lees stirring. No sulfur is added until bottling, and the wine normally completes malolactic conversion naturally.
VINTAGE
A cool, wet winter replenished soils in Napa, followed by a late start to the growing season. Mild summer temperatures slowed ripening, extending the growing season and enhancing flavor development at lower sugar levels. Harvest occurred later than average under favorable conditions. The resulting wines emphasize precision, lifted aromatics and fine-grained tannins with strong aging potential.
TASTING NOTE
Medium-bodied, citrus peel, apricot, pome fruit, wet stone, savory notes, tense acidity, mineral finish.
FOOD PAIRING
Roast chicken, grilled halibut, oysters, pork loin, mushroom dishes, soft-ripened cheeses
Color
White
Blend %
100% Chardonnay
Appellation
Rutherford
Alcohol
13.4%
Suggested Retail Price
$44
Reviews
Vinous - November 1, 2025 "The 2023 Chardonnay Shale and Stone, from Truchard in Carneros, is all class. Apricot, lemon confit, marzipan, tangerine peel, tropical fruit and a kiss of French oak grace this exotic, dynamic Chardonnay from Frog's Leap. Airy and gracious, with stunning balance, the 2023 is fabulous in every way."
James Suckling - March 20, 2025 Spiced apples and pears with hints of citrus peel and raw almonds on the nose. Tense and juicy with medium to full body and a compact, lightly phenolic texture. Vivid and lingering. Drink or hold.
Trade Materials
Other Wines by this Producer
Sauvignon Blanc
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Stone fruit and white flower aromatics are perfectly complemented with crisp, minerally flavors. Fermented and aged in stainless steel tanks to preserve the purity and distinctiveness of this noble grape.
Merlot
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Grown in cool clay and crafted with care- this Merlot is a refined, age-worthy wine of both subtlety and strength. Showing deep plum and cocoa notes with soft tannins and a savory finish, aged in a mix of small French oak barrels to enhance texture without overpowering the wine’s natural elegance.
Cabernet Sauvignon
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This classically structured Estate Cabernet reflects a deep understanding of Rutherford Dust, with estate vineyards rooted in alluvial soils that balance up-valley richness and down-valley energy, creating a wine of vibrant tension. Layers of blackberry, cassis, and dried herbs and aged in restrained French oak.
Zinfandel
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Made in the classic field blend style including significant portions of Petite Sirah and Carignane. Vibrant raspberry and black cherry fruit with hints of spice and earth, balanced by bright acidity and moderate tannins—crafted from dry-farmed, organically grown vines and aged in neutral oak to preserve its varietal purity and freshness.
Flycatcher
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Flycatcher is a vibrant, juicy field blend bursting with red berry fruit, spice, and floral notes, crafted from organically grown Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Carignan, and Valdiguié, co-fermented and aged in neutral oak for a fresh, energetic expression of California terroir.
