Conrad Green

9.5

This is in amazing shape for 52 year old wine. Deep fresh fruit. Plums and gnarly herbal bores with a bloodiness and great body. Remarkable stuff and evolving still in the glass. Excellent — 7 days ago

with Gregg and Rick

Andrea Watt

9.1

Pear and lemon but light and fresh with mineral. Crisp and bright. — 14 hours ago

Andrea Watt

9.3

BlackBerry, cassis, oak, and violet. — 15 hours ago

Tom Garland

9.3

hour decant(decent sediment).  A still dark garnet with bricking.   On the nose:  subtle notes of dark fruit, licorice, tobacco, forest floor, herbaceous, olive brine, mocha java.  Taste:  silky, layered, creamy wine with blackberry/dark plum, tobacco, baking spice, mocha java, earth, minerals, dried herbs and a long dry finish.  YUM!! — 13 days ago

Andrea Watt

9.2

Cedar, oak, leather, and anise with a little pepper. Dark and earthy. — 15 hours ago

Andrea Watt

9.2

Oak and leather with plum. Rich and bold. — 15 hours ago

Edward

9.0

2010 vintage poured in 2026. Still tasting some slight primary flavor. Leather aroma. Tannins have softened. Deep red color. Still holding its own. — a month ago

Andrea Watt

9.2

Bright citrus and green apple with a kiss of oak. Crisp and bright but layered and fruity. — 15 hours ago

Andrea Watt

9.2

Cherry, blackberry, and a touch of vanilla. A Pinot for people who like Cabernet! — 15 hours ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.4

Chappellet — Grower Collection “Five Blocks” Calesa Vineyard Chardonnay 2020
Petaluma Gap AVA, Sonoma County, California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview:
A very limited-production Chardonnay sourced from the Calesa Vineyard in the Petaluma Gap AVA. Built from cool-climate tension and precision, this 2020 vintage elevates the profile of the wine with greater depth, layered complexity, and remarkable balance while preserving the vibrant tropical-citrus core characteristic of the site.

Aromas & Flavors:
Intense yet refined aromas of lemon curd, tropical citrus, baked guava, white peach, and subtle lychee, intertwined with delicate white spices and hints of mandarin zest. The palate unfolds in layers with vibrant citrus energy, savory mineral nuances, and beautifully integrated oak.

Mouthfeel:
Exceptionally balanced and textured. Fresh acidity drives the wine from start to finish, while a striking tension on the back palate gives the wine precision and lift. Creamy without heaviness, polished without excess, finishing long, energetic, and remarkably composed.

Food Pairings:
Butter-poached lobster, scallops, roast chicken with herbs, creamy seafood pasta, miso-glazed cod, or aged Comté.

Verdict:
A serious and highly expressive Chardonnay that showcases how powerful and refined California Chardonnay can become in the right cool-climate hands. The 2020 clearly steps above the 2022 in complexity, texture, and overall precision while still maintaining the vibrant tropical freshness that defines the vineyard.

🍷 Did You Know?
The Petaluma Gap’s cold Pacific winds naturally slow ripening and thicken grape skins, helping Chardonnays develop both concentrated flavor intensity and the kind of acidity-driven tension more commonly associated with top cool-climate regions. Cheers! — 23 days ago