Hyde Vineyard Chardonnay
⏳ Drinking Window
2021 - 2026
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Pan-seared sea scallops, roasted chicken with tarragon butter, creamy mushroom risotto.
✨ Technical Specifications
The Hyde Vineyard in the Carneros region of Napa Valley is legendary, widely considered one of the grand cru sites of California Chardonnay. Planted by pioneer Larry Hyde in 1979, the vineyard is heavily influenced by its proximity to the San Pablo Bay, where morning fog and cool afternoon breezes preserve vital acidity in the grapes. For this cuv e, TOR Kenward sources from older blocks planted to the coveted Wente clone, famous for producing small, unevenly sized berries (often called 'chicks and hens') that deliver extraordinary concentration, texture, and a distinct mineral spine. Winemaker Jeff Ames coaxes out this terroir using traditional Burgundian techniques: native yeast fermentation in French oak barrels, complete malolactic fermentation, and aging on the lees without fining or filtration, resulting in a Chardonnay of immense depth, structural precision, and vibrant energy.
🍾 About the Producer
Founded in 2001 by Napa Valley veteran Tor Kenward and his wife Susan, TOR Wines is an artisanal producer located in St. Helena, California. Drawing upon Kenward's nearly three decades of executive experience alongside legendary growers and winemakers at Beringer Vineyards, the estate is dedicated to crafting small-production, vineyard-designated wines from premier sites throughout Napa Valley. TOR focuses primarily on historic grand cru-caliber terroirs, most notably Beckstoffer To Kalon, Beckstoffer Dr. Crane, and Cimarossa Vineyard. Employing a minimalist, site-expressive winemaking philosophy, the winery is internationally celebrated for its powerful, cellar-worthy Cabernet Sauvignons, refined Chardonnays, and rare, expressive Syrahs.
🍇 Grape Varieties
Chardonnay
🍷 Alcohol By Volume (ABV)
14.0-14.5%