A Chardonnay Spectacular
A Trio of Spectacular California Chardonnays
2021 Pahlmeyer Chardonnay Napa Valley
Wine Advocate
95 Points
The price has almost quintupled since the 1991 played an instrumental role in the film "Disclosure" (1994; Michael Douglas, Demi Moore), but Pahlmeyer's 2021 Chardonnay remains a stunningly seductive wine. All barrel fermented and matured 11 months in 91% new French oak—mostly François Frères—bottled unfixed and unfiltered, it boasts an intoxicating perfume of gently toasted brioche, roasted cashews and hazelnuts, grilled pear and pineapple. In the mouth, it's medium to full-bodied, concentrated and dense, yet silky and fine, with a lingering, elegant finish. Fruit sources include the Pahlmeyer Estate Vineyard but also Stagecoach, Antica, Hudson and Hyde. Drink Date 2023 - 2030 Joe Czerwinski 4th May 2023
2020 Wayfarer Chardonnay Wayfarer Estate Vineyard Fort Ross-Seaview
San Francisco Wine Panel Score 98+ Points
This is always a complex bottling: zesty, varietally exotic and full of distinctive terroir contributions. The 2020 offers aromas of baked green apple, white peach, lemon sorbet, gooseberry, golden mulberry and toasted meringue contrasted by notable minerality. It is tongue-coating and supple yet vibrantly fresh on the palate, where lemon sorbet and pineapple core flavors take center stage and and the other fruit expressions are more youthfully shy. The finish is flavor-packed, racy and long, yet any impression of heaviness is tempered by an ever-present mineral undercurrent. Delicious already, it with only grow more so over the next few years. 1050 cases produced.
Wine Advocate
96 points
The 2020 Chardonnay Wayfarer Vineyard has pretty scents of baked apples, beeswax, roasted almonds and toast. The medium-bodied palate has a satiny texture and layered, savory flavors balanced by refreshing acidity, and it finishes long and flavorful. Drink Date 2022 - 2032. Erin Brooks 14th Jul 2022
2021 Mon Trajet Chardonnay Bentrock Vineyard Santa Rita Hills
San Francisco Wine Panel Score 98 Points
The debut of a new Chardonnay project from famous winemaker Heidi Barrett, this luxurious wine opens with bright, focused aromas of white peach tart, baked apple, quince, lemon and white flowers poised above rich vanilla, toasted meringue, flinty minerality and a subtle note of lavender. It is tongue-coating in the mouth, where lemon sorbet, white peach tart, tarte tatin and hazelnut meringue flavors carry through an opulent, long-lingering finish where hard mineral undercurrents create a sleek impression and a notably dinner worthy balance. Delicious now, it should be even more so in another year or two.