Beringer 2022 Private Reserve Chardonnay 750ml

Where the Luminus cuvée is the estate's take on a fresher, more mineral-laced Chardonnay, the Private Reserve is always a richer, slightly more well-oaked cuvée, even if the current style here backed off dramatically from the richer, oak style of a decade ago. Revealing a lighter gold hue, the 2022 Chardonnay Private Reserve offers up a terrific nose of spiced apples, honeyed orange, toasted spice, and a hint of brioche. I love its overall balance on the palate, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a pure, layered mouthfeel, bright, integrated acidity, and a great finish. I love it today, yet this has plenty of room for growth and will keep for another 7-8 years, if not over a decade.

Score: 94 points -- Jeb Dunnock, jebdunnock.com, 2025