This wine is currently allocated to Preferred Members. To inquire about an allocation, please reach out to our Concierge team at (707) 255-2321 or info@pahlmeyer.com.
Our 2020 Pahlmeyer Chardonnay commands a beautiful balance between richness and tension, depth and focus. Captivating aromas of dried apricot, wild honey, and toast are lifted by notes of gardenia and orange zest. Creamy lemon meringue and ripe nectarine intermingle on the succulent, layered palate, underscored by hazelnut, toasted almond, and a glint of freshly baked brioche. Juicy acidity lends texture and length, culminating with a refreshing Meyer lemon flourish.
Composition
100% Chardonnay
Vineyards
- Pahlmeyer Estate Vineyard,
- Antica Vineyard,
- Stagecoach
Critics
97 Points
James Suckling, jamessuckling.com, March 2022
Aromas of sliced cooked apple, pineapple and praline. Full-bodied with salted caramel. Oily and very rich at the finish. Hints of lime and peach. Wonderful length. 1,600 cases made. Drinkable now, but better in a year or two.
Winemaking
- Alcohol:
- 14.9%
- Harvested:
- September 1 to September 23, 2020
- Bottled:
- December 21, 2021
- Released:
- March 14, 2022
We picked our Chardonnay from high-elevation vineyards during the cool of the night. Each whole cluster was
meticulously hand sorted at the winery before pressing. The juice naturally settled in stainless steel tanks until ready
to rack to barrel. Our top lots were racked to new French oak barrels where native fermentation naturally began.
After primary fermentation, the lots remained on lees and were stirred up to three times per week through malolactic
fermentation to create a rich, luscious texture. The wine then continued to age on lees in 100% new French oak
barrels for a total of 12 months and was bottled without fining or filtration.
