Hamilton Creek Chardonnay
Napa Valley Chardonnay, blended by Monsieur Touton, priced for a Tuesday.
The story behind Hamilton Creek
Hamilton Creek Chardonnay is Napa Valley fruit, not a Napa Valley address. The grapes come off a 1,500 acre property in the northeastern hills of the valley, planted between 600 and 1,100 feet, where Pacific air keeps days warm and evenings cool and the growing season runs long. Monsieur Touton Selection, an importer with more than 40 years in the trade, blends the wine from premium estate surpluses and bottles it as a private label.
That negociant model is why a Napa Chardonnay lands at a value tier. The 2016 vintage scored 85 points with Wine Enthusiast's Virginie Boone, who called it straightforward, tart and lemony. We have poured this style for decades and the profile holds: vanilla, custard and oak over ripe citrus and golden apple, dry on the finish.
Explore the Hamilton Creek range
One Chardonnay carries the Hamilton Creek name here, and the sister reds under the same label fill out the shelf.
| Expression | Type | Proof / ABV | Tasting notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hamilton Creek Chardonnay 750mL | White wine, 100% Chardonnay | 13.5% ABV | Vanilla, custard, oak, ripe citrus, golden apple |
| Hamilton Creek Merlot 750mL | Red wine, Merlot | Not published | Plum and soft tannin, everyday Napa red |
| Hamilton Creek Cabernet Sauvignon 750mL | Red wine, Cabernet Sauvignon | Not published | Cassis, cedar, firm structure for the price |
| Hamilton Creek Zinfandel 750mL | Red wine, Zinfandel | Not published | Brambly berry, warm spice, generous body |
| Hamilton Creek Chardonnay, chilled and poured | Service format, 45 to 50 F | 13.5% ABV | Wide bowl glass, oak aromas need air |
Which Hamilton Creek is right for you?
The Hamilton Creek Chardonnay 750mL sits at $15.99, which is the whole argument for the bottle. Napa hillside Chardonnay normally clears $50, and this one gets there through surplus juice and a blender's hand rather than a vineyard's marketing budget. The Merlot is also $15.99, the Cabernet Sauvignon is $19.99 and the Zinfandel is $21.99, so a mixed case of the label stays under a hundred dollars. Call the store at (631) 343-7200 for current stock before you drive over.
Buttery oak and citrus at $15.99, no occasion required.
Same negociant sourcing, $19.99, real valley fruit.
Ripe berry and spice that stands up to charcoal and smoke.