Hudson Vineyard occupies a northern stretch of Carneros where the soils are thin, rocky, and demanding. The old Chardonnay vines struggle to produce even modest crops, naturally concentrating what little fruit they carry. Mark Aubert spent ten years waiting for the opportunity to work with Hudson, ultimately partnering with a grower whose commitment to quality matched his own. For a producer built around the individuality of great Chardonnay sites, Hudson brings a distinctly Carneros expression to the Aubert lineup. The 2024 is a powerful interpretation of that vineyard. Aubert describes intense aromas of juicy apricot, peach, and pineapple, layered with lily, beeswax, honey, and toast. The palate follows with substantial breadth and an enveloping texture, moving through ripe stone fruit, ginger-orange sorbet, and almond. It is a generous Chardonnay by design, reflecting the concentration produced by Hudson’s old vines and naturally low yields. What keeps that richness in balance is structure. Aubert notes fresh acidity beneath the wine’s broad frame, carrying the 2024 through a finish marked by honeyed tones and a characteristic waxy texture. There is immediate impact here, but the wine was also built to evolve, with enough freshness and structure for years of cellaring. Hudson shows a different side of Aubert Chardonnay: unmistakably rich and textural, yet grounded by the rocky Carneros site that gives the wine its shape.