2024 Private Reserve Chardonnay

$50 / 750 mL

Unit price: per

Tasting Notes

Introduced in 1979, Beringer's Private Reserve Chardonnay is a true Napa Valley icon. Crafted from select single vineyard sites, this Chardonnay has a luscious mouthfeel and elegant fruit core rounded out by nine months of aging in French Oak barrels.

The inviting, layered nose shows grilled pineapple, lemon meringue, toasted hazelnut, mandarin zest, and subtle chamomile. Hints of toasted crème brûlée add warmth and depth. On the palate, the wine is creamy, generous, and fully textured, with a bright, focused line of acidity that brings energy and lift. Flavors of citrus curd, warm spice, and soft tropical fruit unfold with clarity across the seamless mid-palate. The interplay of richness and freshness remains finely tuned, giving the wine both presence and poise. The finish is long, clean, and persistent.

96

James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, December 2025

“This has a vivid intensity balanced with freshness and just the right influence of oak. Aromas of preserved lemons, salted caramel, orange blossoms, lanolin and spices. The palate is tightly wound, showing mouthwatering acidity and a lovely texture with a flavorful finish. About 80% malolactic fermentation. Drink or hold.”

Technical info
Vintage: 2024
Alcohol: 14.5%
Volume: 750 mL
Varietal: Chardonnay
Appellation: Gamble Ranch, Oakville, Big Ranch, Oak Knoll, Napa Valley
Brand: Beringer
Vintage Notes
The 2024 vintage will be celebrated for years to come, with white wines displaying remarkable brightness and depth of flavor. Heavy winter rains provided much-needed soil moisture, supporting healthy canopy growth and resilient vines capable of enduring Napa Valley’s 60-degree temperature fluctuations. Harvest began in late August, running at a moderate pace through September, accelerated by rising temperatures in early October. Yields were generally average to slightly above.
Vineyard Notes
Gamble Ranch, Beringer’s northernmost Chardonnay vineyard, has been the primary source for Private Reserve for decades. Located in the Oakville AVA, daytime temperatures here slowly rise as the cooling morning fog recedes south. This pronounced diurnal shift helps the grapes retain their natural acidity, an essential counterpoint to the rich, ripe flavors that develop during warmer afternoons. Older vines, planted in 1976, provide the foundation for the wine’s depth and concentration. Three percent of the blend was sourced from Big Ranch Vineyard in Oak Knoll, where fruit tends to hold slightly more acidity and delicate minerality, shaped by its proximity to the San Pablo Bay. The inclusion of select Burgundy clones further enhances the wine’s nuance, lending an added layer of elegance and weight.
Winemaking Notes
The fruit was sent directly to press. Then, the juice was fermented in 100% French oak barrels (50% new) for 9 months to enhance the wine’ natural richness. The lees were stirred every month to integrate the subtle oak notes and develop a lovely texture, body, and mouthfeel. Approximately 95% of the wine underwent malolactic fermentation. Each lot was kept separate throughout the aging process. After aging, the most expressive lots were blended to create a richly layered wine with enticing aromas and intense, rich fruit flavor.

Overview

Technical info

Vintage: 2024
Alcohol: 14.5%
Volume: 750 mL
Varietal: Chardonnay
Appellation: Gamble Ranch, Oakville, Big Ranch, Oak Knoll, Napa Valley
Brand: Beringer

Vintage Notes

The 2024 vintage will be celebrated for years to come, with white wines displaying remarkable brightness and depth of flavor. Heavy winter rains provided much-needed soil moisture, supporting healthy canopy growth and resilient vines capable of enduring Napa Valley’s 60-degree temperature fluctuations. Harvest began in late August, running at a moderate pace through September, accelerated by rising temperatures in early October. Yields were generally average to slightly above.

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Beringer

2024 Private Reserve Chardonnay

2024 Private Reserve Chardonnay

Tasting Notes

Technical info

Vintage Notes

Vineyard Notes

Winemaking Notes

Overview

Technical info

Vintage Notes

Vineyard

Vineyard Notes

Winemaking

Winemaking Notes

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