2018 Kinfolk Chardonnay Napa Valley

Throughout the Valley, the hushed whispers are getting louder. We’re not surprised. Britt Nichols and Ry Richards have made enough knockout wines for other people over the years, it was only a matter of time before they combined their efforts and left everyone else in the dust. 

With only two releases to its name, Kinfolk is already being mentioned with the Orin Swifts and the LIOCOs as the new guard in California, despite coming in at a third of the price of those well-known favorites. Britt and Ry’s third release is lively and fresh yet luxurious, rich and ripe and loaded with tropical fruit. With hints of citrus and offering a silky, miles-long finish, the 2018 Kinfolk Napa Valley Chardonnay is an absolute catch. 

In most cases you would have to shell out three to four times as much for this kind of excellence, but that’s where the intelligence of the 2018 Kinfolk comes in. It massively overachieves, effectively delivering a discount in the neighborhood of 70% off. 

That’s all thanks to Britt (a Philippe Melka protégé) and Ry (who spends his days assisting 100-point powerhouse Phil Titus at Chappellet), whose Napa Valley contact list would make the Mondavi family jealous. In 2018, a bountiful harvest left many of the Valley’s top growers with extra fruit that needed a home. With a reputation for treating great fruit with the respect it deserves, Britt and Ry were first on the list of destinations. 

“We actually got a ton of calls from wineries offering us fruit,” Britt told us. “I can’t name any names but I guarantee you know every one of them—all Napa Valley heavy hitters. Of course, we chose the best one. This winery is one of my personal favorites, they only make two varietals, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. That’s the kind of dedication I’m drawn to…the kind of dedication you can taste.”

The source Britt and Ry decided on is a historic estate—a Napa icon that bottles fruit from the very same Coombsville vineyards for $50 and up. This pioneering winery is famous for the freshness and vibrancy of its classically styled Chardonnay, an effect produced by completely halting malolactic fermentation during the winemaking process. 

The 2018 Kinfolk was crafted in the exact same way, yielding the brilliant pineapple, ripe peach, and crisp green apple notes that define the aromatic bouquet. The pedigree of the 2018’s super-premium origins is on full display in its stunning purity of fruit, its honeysuckle, citrus blossom, and sweet spice complexity, as well as its rich, creamy, palate-coating texture. 

It’s a defining achievement for Britt and Ry, and will only feed the buzz that our favorite winemakers have effortlessly cultivated. Lock up this golden Chardonnay while you can, Kinfolk is going to be big.

• Fruit Intensity
• Oak Intensity
• Body
• Sweetness
• Acidity

• ABV 14.50%
• Enjoy right away
• Drink Up
• % Chardonnay
• Serving temperature – 48°
• Cork