The 2019 Pahlmeyer Chardonnay is crisp and refreshingly vibrant, greeting you with generous aromas of pear blending with subtle hints of anise. The palate is expressive and full, as seared Meyer lemon and butterscotch meld and mingle to build a tension and balance in the wine that requests another sip for further investigation. The wine’s acidity is centered and focused, creating a juicy texture that is balanced by a savory roasted almond finish. Long and evolving. Try the 2019 Pahlmeyer Chardonnay alongside roasted chicken with a simple garlic-Meyer lemon pan sauce.
Composition
100% Chardonnay
Vineyards
- Pahlmeyer Estate Vineyard,
- Antica Vineyard,
- Hyde Vineyard
Critics
95 Points
James Suckling, jamessuckling.com, June 15, 2021
This is a fantastic young chardonnay with crushed-stone, dried apple and pear and light vanilla-bean character. It’s full-bodied, but very tight with firmness and energy at the end. The cement and stone character is intense on the finish, giving spiciness to the fruit. Drink or hold.
Winemaking
- Alcohol:
- 14.9%
- Harvested:
- September 17 to October 15, 2019
- Bottled:
- December 9, 2020
- Released:
- March 15, 2021
Our Chardonnay was picked from high-elevation vineyards during the cool of the night. Each whole cluster was
inspected and hand sorted at the winery before being fed into the bladder press. The juice settled in stainless steel
tanks until we were able to achieve a clean rack. Our top lots were racked to 100% new French oak barrels, where they
completed primary fermentation. After primary was complete, the lots remained on lees and were stirred up to three
times per week to create a rich, luscious texture. After malolactic fermentation was complete, the wine continued to age
on lees for a total of 14 months. The wine was bottled without fining or filtration.
