— Ratings —

Vintage Charts

United States

United States California/Chardonnay

< Return to All Regions

Map of this region
⛶
Vintage Carneros Napa Santa Barbara Sonoma Drink Window Description
Vintage
2022
Carneros
93
Napa
91
Santa Barbara
94
Sonoma
94
Drink Window
Drink
Description

Most grapes picked before the record-breaking heat in September; wines show plenty of focus
Description

Most grapes picked before the record-breaking heat in September; wines show plenty of focus
Vintage
2021
Carneros
94
Napa
92
Santa Barbara
94
Sonoma
95
Drink Window
Drink
Description

Another drought year with low yields; the best wines are fresh and intense
Description

Another drought year with low yields; the best wines are fresh and intense
Vintage
2020
Carneros
93
Napa
92
Santa Barbara
93
Sonoma
94
Drink Window
Drink
Description

A dry year yielded concentrated, balanced wines; most Chardonnay picked before the wildfires
Description

A dry year yielded concentrated, balanced wines; most Chardonnay picked before the wildfires
Vintage
2019
Carneros
95
Napa
92
Santa Barbara
91
Sonoma
96
Drink Window
Drink
Description

Warmer weather than in 2018 produced wines with a deep well of fruit and spice flavors
Description

Warmer weather than in 2018 produced wines with a deep well of fruit and spice flavors
Vintage
2018
Carneros
92
Napa
90
Santa Barbara
93
Sonoma
95
Drink Window
Drink
Description

Nearly ideal conditions delivered wines with concentrated fruit flavors and crunchy acidity
Description

Nearly ideal conditions delivered wines with concentrated fruit flavors and crunchy acidity
Vintage
2017
Carneros
94
Napa
90
Santa Barbara
91
Sonoma
93
Drink Window
Drink
Description
Ample winter rain followed by a warm growing season yielded complex and powerful wines
Description
Ample winter rain followed by a warm growing season yielded complex and powerful wines
Vintage
2016
Carneros
90
Napa
89
Santa Barbara
89
Sonoma
90
Drink Window
Drink
Description
Solid but variable year; fine quality in Sonoma and Santa Barbara
Description
Solid but variable year; fine quality in Sonoma and Santa Barbara
Vintage
2015
Carneros
90
Napa
89
Santa Barbara
90
Sonoma
90
Drink Window
Drink
Description
Sonoma strong again in another drought year; elegant and refined in style
Description
Sonoma strong again in another drought year; elegant and refined in style
Vintage
2014
Carneros
92
Napa
92
Santa Barbara
87
Sonoma
92
Drink Window
Drink
Description
Drought produced spartan crop; fine quality, with yields the only disappointment
Description
Drought produced spartan crop; fine quality, with yields the only disappointment
Vintage
2013
Carneros
93
Napa
93
Santa Barbara
88
Sonoma
93
Drink Window
Drink
Description
An exceptional year, distinct for vibrancy and density; ageworthy
Description
An exceptional year, distinct for vibrancy and density; ageworthy
Vintage
2012
Carneros
90
Napa
94
Santa Barbara
88
Sonoma
93
Drink Window
Drink
Description
Ideal growing season; wines are intense, with pure, ripe, vibrant flavors
Description
Ideal growing season; wines are intense, with pure, ripe, vibrant flavors
Vintage
2011
Carneros
86
Napa
89
Santa Barbara
85
Sonoma
87
Drink Window
Drink
Description
Cool and damp, challenging everywhere; best wines are elegant and scaled back
Description
Cool and damp, challenging everywhere; best wines are elegant and scaled back
Vintage
2010
Carneros
88
Napa
92
Santa Barbara
87
Sonoma
92
Drink Window
Drink
Description
Cool year resulted in uneven quality; best wines are tight and concentrated
Description
Cool year resulted in uneven quality; best wines are tight and concentrated
Vintage
2009
Carneros
90
Napa
94
Santa Barbara
91
Sonoma
95
Drink Window
Drink
Description
Cooler year showing toned-down ripeness, with more finesse and delicacy
Description
Cooler year showing toned-down ripeness, with more finesse and delicacy
Vintage
2008
Carneros
87
Napa
92
Santa Barbara
86
Sonoma
91
Drink Window
Drink
Description
Frost and fire didn't spoil the vintage, though quality is variable. Tight, concentrated wines
Description
Frost and fire didn't spoil the vintage, though quality is variable. Tight, concentrated wines
Vintage
2007
Carneros
96
Napa
95
Santa Barbara
89
Sonoma
96
Drink Window
Drink
Description
Ripe, complex, balanced and ageworthy wines; many brilliant bottles from all appellations
Description
Ripe, complex, balanced and ageworthy wines; many brilliant bottles from all appellations
Vintage
2006
Carneros
90
Napa
88
Santa Barbara
82
Sonoma
94
Drink Window
Drink
Description
Challenging harvest with mixed quality and fewer gems, but hardly a washout
Description
Challenging harvest with mixed quality and fewer gems, but hardly a washout
Vintage
2005
Carneros
83
Napa
89
Santa Barbara
86
Sonoma
95
Drink Window
Drink
Description
Restrained wines; trim and tight, with higher acidity
Description
Restrained wines; trim and tight, with higher acidity
Vintage
2004
Carneros
92
Napa
92
Santa Barbara
89
Sonoma
99
Drink Window
Drink
Description
Sonoma stars in a ripe, rich, opulent year that rivals 2002
Description
Sonoma stars in a ripe, rich, opulent year that rivals 2002
Vintage
2003
Carneros
90
Napa
89
Santa Barbara
88
Sonoma
88
Drink Window
Drink
Description
Leaner, crisper wines than in '02 due to a challenging season, but some gems, too
Description
Leaner, crisper wines than in '02 due to a challenging season, but some gems, too
Vintage
2002
Carneros
96
Napa
94
Santa Barbara
92
Sonoma
99
Drink Window
Drink
Description
Sensational, fleshy, opulent wines; near perfect in Sonoma, strong in Carneros and Napa
Description
Sensational, fleshy, opulent wines; near perfect in Sonoma, strong in Carneros and Napa
Vintage
2001
Carneros
93
Napa
87
Santa Barbara
89
Sonoma
94
Drink Window
Drink
Description
Best in Carneros and Sonoma; concentrated, with firm acidity
Description
Best in Carneros and Sonoma; concentrated, with firm acidity
Vintage
2000
Carneros
96
Napa
87
Santa Barbara
86
Sonoma
89
Drink Window
Drink
Description
Carneros the clear star; wines elsewhere lack depth and completeness
Description
Carneros the clear star; wines elsewhere lack depth and completeness
Vintage
1999
Carneros
89
Napa
87
Santa Barbara
93
Sonoma
94
Drink Window
Drink
Description
Sonoma and Santa Barbara are tops, with rich, complex wines
Description
Sonoma and Santa Barbara are tops, with rich, complex wines
Vintage
1998
Carneros
84
Napa
84
Santa Barbara
83
Sonoma
86
Drink Window
Drink
Description
Lean and austere statewide; highly variable
Description
Lean and austere statewide; highly variable
Vintage
1997
Carneros
98
Napa
96
Santa Barbara
96
Sonoma
95
Drink Window
Drink
Description
Monumental year; very ripe, opulent and complex
Description
Monumental year; very ripe, opulent and complex
Vintage
1996
Carneros
96
Napa
95
Santa Barbara
98
Sonoma
95
Drink Window
Drink
Description
Rivals '97 in opulence and concentration; great finesse
Description
Rivals '97 in opulence and concentration; great finesse


Vintage ratings: 95-100, classic; 90-94, outstanding; 85-89, very good; 80-84, good; 75-79, mediocre; 50-74, not recommended

A score range indicates preliminary analysis based on barrel samples and/or a limited sampling; many wines of the vintage not yet reviewed.

Drinkability: "NYR" means the vintage has not yet been released; "drink" means most of the wines of the vintage are ready to drink; "hold" means most of the ageworthy wines have yet to fully mature; "past peak" means most of the wines are declining rather than improving.

SOURCE: WINE SPECTATOR