Newton's 2020 Chardonnay Unfiltered was saved from the Glass Fire by virtue of already being in the winery's underground caves. As usual, it's gently toasty, with notes of hazelnut, peach, melon and citrus. Medium to full-bodied but crisp and zesty, there's an attractive yin-yang of buttered popcorn and lime zest on the long finish.

The 2018 Chardonnay Unfiltered opens with pretty peaches and cream notes followed by hints of lemon drops, yellow apples and beeswax with a touch of toasted almonds. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers loads of apple and stone fruit layers with toasty/nutty accents and a lively line, finishing with lovely poise and freshness.

The 2016 Chardonnay Unfiltered gives up appealing notes of fresh pears, applesauce and honeydew melon with touches of nutmeg and lightly browned toast. Medium-bodied with a pleasantly savory palate and lovely freshness, it finishes on a yeasty note.

Newton’s unfiltered Chardonnay has been a consistent winner since it was first launched in the early 1980s, when the fruit was coming from what is today John Kongsgaard’s Judge cuvée. Newton is still making this wine unfiltered, and the 2014 Chardonnay Unfiltered is rich and displays beautiful white peach, honeysuckle and tropical fruit, some nice, crisp wet pebble minerality in the background and a full-bodied mouthfeel. Deep, layered and complete, this is a big-time winner.

John Kongsgaard told me that when the unfiltered Chardonnay from Newton was first launched in the early 1980s, the fruit came entirely from what is now the Judge Vineyard of Kongsgaard. No wonder that wine was so spectacular in those days. It also had an incredible aging curve as well. This wine continues to be a strong effort. The 2013 Chardonnay Unfiltered exhibits notes of white peach, honeysuckle and some brioche in a medium to full-bodied, lusciously fruity, rich, complex and full style. It doesn’t have the minerality of the old days of the early 1980s, but this is a brilliant Chardonnay, representing one of Napa’s finest efforts.