Cuvee Susan Reserve Chardonnay
⏳ Drinking Window
2023 - 2030
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Pan-seared sea scallops, roasted chicken with cream sauce, creamy mushroom risotto
✨ Technical Specifications
Named in honor of Tor Kenward's wife and partner, Susan, the Cuvée Susan Reserve Chardonnay represents the absolute pinnacle of TOR's white winemaking. This cuvée is a meticulous barrel selection, typically sourced from legendary cool-climate vineyards in the Carneros region, such as the historic Hyde Vineyard and Beresini Vineyard. Crafted by winemaker Jeff Ames using traditional Burgundian techniques, the wine undergoes native yeast fermentation and full malolactic fermentation in French oak barrels, accompanied by regular lees stirring (bâtonnage). The result is an incredibly complex, texturally rich Chardonnay that beautifully balances opulent California fruit with vibrant, structural acidity and a mineral-driven finish. It stands as a testament to the family's dedication to world-class Napa Valley Chardonnay.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 2001 by Napa Valley veteran Tor Kenward and his wife Susan, TOR Kenward Family Wines represents the culmination of nearly five decades of immersion in California viticulture. Following a 27-year tenure shaping Beringer's private reserve programs, Kenward partnered with talented winemaker Jeff Ames to craft site-driven, artisanal single-vineyard expressions. The estate sources fruit exclusively from premier, sustainably farmed crus across Napa Valley and Carneros, including Beckstoffer To Kalon, Vine Hill Ranch, Dr. Crane, Hyde Vineyard, and Durell Vineyard. Winemaking is dictated by minimal intervention, featuring native-yeast primary and malolactic fermentations, parcel-specific French oak maturation, and bottling without fining or filtration. TOR's benchmark portfolio is anchored by cult Cabernet Sauvignons alongside sculpted, mineral-laced Chardonnays—notably the Durell Vineyard Cuvée Mimi, Torchiana Beresini Vineyard, and Hyde Vineyard bottlings—as well as the ultra-limited Bordeaux-blend cuvées Black Magic and Pure Magic.
🍇 Grapes
Chardonnay