Rombauer Chardonnay, Napa Valley: 10 Best Bottles, Taste, How It’s Made

The Chardonnays from Rombauer Vineyards are among the finest white wines from Carneros in the Napa Valley winegrowing region.

The Rombauer family has been making fantastic California Chardonnay wine since 1982, and these bottles are reputed for their intense fruit flavors and rich buttery mouthfeel. Let’s explore the Rombauer Chardonnay styles, 10 best bottles, terroir, and winemaking practices.

The 5 Rombauer Chardonnay Wine Styles

The Rombauer estate produces Chardonnay varietals in five different styles:

• Carneros Chardonnay:  This signature California Chardonnay is marked by ripe fruit notes and has a sublime cream texture from aging in French and American oak. The fruit for the wine is sourced from cooler Carneros vineyards.

• Proprietor Chardonnay: This reserve wine is released only in exceptional vintage years - only 14 vintages were made available in 41 years. The wine is a blend of selected barrels from the best lots. The result is a complex and layered wine with stone fruits, florals, and vanilla notes.

• Buchli Station Chardonnay: The Rombauer family produces this wine from the grapes of Buchli Station vineyard, near the salt plains of San Pablo Bay. Due to the cooler climate, the wine has vibrant acidity with slight minerality.

• Home Ranch Chardonnay: This varietal is produced in small quantities from older vines planted at the Home Ranch Vineyard in Sonoma Coast. Fermented and aged in oak barrels, the wine offers rich, creamy notes of peach and honeysuckle. 

• Late Harvest Chardonnay: This Chardonnay is fully fermented and aged in freshly toasted oak barrels, giving it distinct nutty aromas and a decadent texture. Interestingly, the color of the wine transforms from pale yellow to deeper mahogany with age.

Serve Rombauer Chardonnays in standard white wine glasses at around 8℃-10℃. 

These wines pair well with tuna avocado burgers, lobster roll, corn soup, and Niçoise Salad.

Wondering which Rombauer Chardonnay bottles you should get?

10 Best Rombauer Chardonnay Bottles (With Tasting Notes)

We’ve compiled the ten best Rombauer Chardonnay bottles for you.

• 2007 Rombauer Vineyards Carneros Chardonnay ($69)
• 2006 Rombauer Vineyards Carneros Chardonnay ($46)
• 2016 Rombauer Vineyards Carneros Chardonnay ($45)
• 2015 Rombauer Vineyards Carneros Chardonnay ($42)
• 2016 Rombauer Vineyards Proprietor Selection Chardonnay ($79)
• 2018 Rombauer Vineyards Proprietor Selection Chardonnay ($76)
• 2019 Rombauer Vineyards Proprietor Selection Chardonnay ($78)
• 2020 Rombauer Vineyards Proprietor Selection Chardonnay ($75)
• 2020 Buchli Station Chardonnay ($75)
• 2020 Home Ranch Chardonnay ($75)

1. 2007 Rombauer Vineyards Carneros Chardonnay ($69)

This stunning Chardonnay has a stone fruit (peach and pear) and spice nose. The creamy texture makes way for a long citrus finish.

2. 2006 Rombauer Vineyards Carneros Chardonnay ($46)

This rich white wine has zesty aromas of ripe peach, melon, and mango. The full-bodied wine has a distinct creamy and buttery feel from oak aging.

3. 2016 Rombauer Vineyards Carneros Chardonnay ($45)

This delightful Chardonnay has a fruity core of apple, apricot, and pear, along with slight minerality. The rich and creamy palate has flavors of creme brulee and vanilla. 

4. 2015 Rombauer Vineyards Carneros Chardonnay ($42)

A refreshing nose of apple and citrus gets things going for this exotic wine. Butter and baking spice dominate the palate before a fresh and lingering finish.

5. 2016 Rombauer Vineyards Proprietor Selection Chardonnay ($79)

A seductive nose of yellow peach, lemon rind, and brioche is recreated as flavors on the palate. Creamy texture from oak aging gives the wine a refined elegance.

6. 2018 Rombauer Vineyards Proprietor Selection Chardonnay ($76)

This golden-yellow wine gives off lively scents of grapefruit, Meyer lemon, and ripe apple. The palate is balanced with medium acidity. 

7. 2019 Rombauer Vineyards Proprietor Selection Chardonnay ($78)

This white wine has a bright nose of orchard fruits, lemon tart, and almonds. The palate has citrus flavors with a hint of baking spice. 

8. 2020 Rombauer Vineyards Proprietor Selection Chardonnay ($75)

This well-aged Chardonnay will entice you with aromas of green apple and lemon rind. Subtle floral and spicy notes stand out on the palate before a long refreshing finish.

9.  2020 Buchli Station Chardonnay ($75)

This refreshing wine is characterized by fruity and floral aromas with lovely chamomile notes and fresh acidity on the palate

10. 2020 Home Ranch Chardonnay ($75)

Rich fruit notes of honeydew and peach merge with spices and brioche to create a seductive bouquet. The palate has dominant notes of vanilla and yellow peach.

How does Rombauer Chardonnay get that rich, creamy texture?

Rombauer Chardonnay Terroir and Winemaking

Rombauer Chardonnay wines are made with grapes from vineyards owned by the Rombauer family and select growers like the Sangiacomo family.

These vineyard sites are situated in the Carneros region stretch, where San Pablo Bay merges with Sonoma and Napa Valley.

The cool climate and clay soils provide the perfect conditions for producing superior Chardonnay with refreshing acidity. 

The grapes are picked at night to preserve their acidity.

The wine is fermented in oak barrels instead of steel vats. 

Post malolactic fermentation, the wine is left to age on lees and is hand-stirred every 7-10 days. This meticulous aging in oak gives the Rombauer Chardonnay their creamy texture.

Add A Rombauer Chardonnay To Your Collection Now

The brilliant Rombauer Chardonnay lures wine lovers with its exotic and rich flavors! It consistently gets high ratings from wine critics and has won many awards and accolades over the years.

If you want to invest in a bottle of Rombauer Chardonnay or fancy a red wine like a Burgundy Pinot Noir, take a look at the Vinovest website - a top wine investment platform that helps you buy, store, and sell fine authentic wines from around the world.