STAG'S LEAP WINE CELLARS Chardonnay 'Karia' - Napa Valley 2024 Bottle

Description

The name KARIA (pronounced KAR-ee-ah) comes from a Greek word meaning “graceful”, and the 2024 KARIA Chardonnay truly embodies this quality. It showcases how grapes from selected cool-climate vineyards in southern Napa Valley can be crafted into a harmonious blend of fresh fruit aromas and flavours, balanced crisp acidity, and subtle oak spice. Light and elegant - that’s KARIA.

VINTAGE
The white wines from this vintage stand out with bright, vibrant flavours, characterised by crisp acidity and complexity. This vintage embodies excellence, promising wines that will resonate with enthusiasts for years to come.

TASTING NOTES
The 2024 KARIA Chardonnay has aromas of white peach, zesty lemon-lime, luxurious crème brûlée, and refreshing honeydew melon, complemented by delicate floral notes and a whisper of clove and vanilla. The palate is treated to a velvety mouthfeel and medium body that exudes balance and sophistication. Expect vibrant citrus and luscious honeysuckle to dance on your taste buds, leading to an enchanting finish that lingers with a hint of oak. 'Karia' is a versatile and sophisticated companion to roasted poultry, creamy pastas, or grilled seafood.

DECANTER 94 points/100
Drinking Window: 2026 - 2036
Sourced from a diverse set of Napa Valley sites—52% from Atlas Peak (including the Antica Estate), 24% from Carneros, 18% from Coombsville (notably Arcadia, formerly owned by Warren Winiarski), and the balance from the Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley—this Chardonnay reflects a deliberate stylistic shift in recent vintages. Produced with 92% barrel fermentation in French oak (39% new, the balance older barrels) and 8% fermented in stainless steel, then aged on the lees for eight months, the wine shows a clear recalibration in its complexity, generosity, and ageability. The aromas are complex and lifted, offering lemon and grapefruit zest with a subtle flinty, wet-rock minerality. On the palate, the fruit is precise, pure and focused, opening into a creamy core of orchard fruit before finishing with exceptional definition, saline-acid tension and verve. Bright, energetic, and so food-friendly.

VINOUS 93 points/100
Drinking window: 2026 - 2031
The 2024 Chardonnay Karia is heady and racy from start to finish. Lemon confit, tangerine oil, marzipan and white flowers are beautifully laced together. The Karia offers a striking mix of vintage 2024 richness tempered by partially blocked malolactic fermentation.

WINE ENTHUSIAST 92 points/100
Fresh lime, lemon zest, ripe quince, and an apple blossom, spice lift create a generous Chardonnay with a complex array of flavors, firm acidity, and an opulent mouthfeel. Oak spices and a touch of creaminess are well integrated through a persistent finish.