The 2023 Tenor La Reyna Blanca Chardonnay is proof that Chardonnay can be every bit as bold and unapologetic as its red counterparts. Sourced from a single vineyard in the Royal Slope AVA, this 100% Chardonnay brings serious concentration, richness, and texture to the table. Grown at high elevation in shallow soils with carefully restricted yields, La Reyna Blanca delivers fruit with intensity to spare. Subtle? Not exactly. And that's precisely the point.
After four vintages with their fair share of drama, 2023 was a welcome return to normal. Typical timing. Typical yields. Typical harvest dates. Boring? Maybe. We loved every minute of it. A warm May erased a slow start to spring, while steady summer conditions and a cooler finish allowed the fruit to develop exceptional flavor and maturity without being rushed. For the winemaking team, that consistency was a gift—great wine was simply easier to make.
Hand-harvested in October, the fruit was fermented in oak barrels using six different yeast strains, with each barrel undergoing its own long, slow fermentation. The wine fermented on its lees, building layers of richness, texture, and complexity. It then spent 23 months in 100% new oak, developing the full-bodied structure and polished character that define this distinctive vineyard.
The result is a Chardonnay that doesn't hold back. Rich stone fruit, candied citrus, and warm baking spices meet a broad, voluptuous palate with impressive concentration and a long, luxurious finish. Bold and powerful, yet beautifully composed, it's a wine that knows exactly what it brings to the table.
Bottled on September 8, 2025, just three barrels were produced, yielding a mere 71 cases.
