2021 Herson Family - Chardonnay Influence (750ml)

Herson Family Vineyards is a small Napa Valley project run by a husband-and-wife team of Washington, D.C. lobbyists, one a Democrat and one a Republican, who named each wine as a nod to their profession. Their Chardonnay is called Influence, a wry play on the language of their day jobs. Rather than expanding into a large portfolio, the family entrusted their winemaking to Bob Foley, who began his career in Napa Valley in 1977 after graduating from UC Davis and went on to spend fifteen years as founding winemaker at Markham Vineyards. Foley now limits himself to a small handful of projects, giving each his full attention, and Herson Family is fortunate to be among them.

Influence is sourced from the Carneros appellation, a cool, fog-influenced pocket at the southern end of Napa Valley known for producing bright, structured Chardonnay. The wine is crafted in limited quantities with a hands-on approach that favors purity of fruit and connection to place over heavy manipulation in the cellar, resulting in a Chardonnay with real textural depth and freshness.

The nose is gently floral, opening into a silky palate of ripe apricot and pink grapefruit, with hints of lemon and lime peel woven throughout. The finish is long, balanced by lively acidity against the wine's ripe fruit core. It pairs beautifully with roast chicken, seared halibut, or a soft triple-cream cheese.