2020 Pahlmeyer Winery Chardonnay Napa

Chardonnay - 750ML
Reg: $99.94
$94.94
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REVIEWS

JS 97 WA 94 WS 94 JD 93 WE 93
JS 97

jamessuckling.com, April 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.
WA 94

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, May 2022

Almost entirely Old Wente clone (or, more properly, selection), Pahlmeyer's 2020 Chardonnay continues to be among Napa's most noteworthy efforts with the variety. All barrel fermented in all new oak from François Frères...
WS 94

Wine Spectator, July 2022

This stunning version delivers a rich, juicy and generous mix of salted caramel–covered apple, apricot pastry and ripe peach flavors on a smooth, lush frame. Details of toast, nutmeg and honeysuckle linger on the long...
JD 93

jebdunnuck.com, February 2023

(93+ points) This estate makes a terrific white, and their 2020 Chardonnay reveals a medium gold hue to go with beautiful aromatics of ripe peach and stone fruits, white chocolate, spice, and a touch of minerality...
WE 93

Wine Enthusiast, September 2022

Sumptuously inviting with its flavors of brioche and crème brûlée, this white is decadent and tropical, with enduring richness on the palate. Dried apricot, pineapple and a dusting of nutmeg and clove give it a spicy edge...

WINE DETAILS

Color & Type White
Varietal Chardonnay
Country USA
Region California
Sub-region North Coast
Appellation Napa
Vintage 2020
Size 750ML
Percent alcohol 14.9%
Closure Cork

Pahlmeyer was born out Jayson Pahlmeyer’s audacious dream of creating a “California Mouton”. A successful trial attorney, he had an insatiable thirst for adventure and a hypnotic captivation with wine. Following his dream, Jayson partnered with John Caldwell, owner of a 55-acre site in south-east Napa Valley. Together, they began planting the finest French clones of red Bordeaux varieties.

After months of sleuthing in elite French vineyards, and years of seeking assistance from viticultural professors at the University of Bordeaux who analyzed the soil samples, exposure, rainfall and temperature data, Jayson and his partner were able to acquire Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec vines with the greatest intensity, depth of flavor and character and proceeded to smuggle their “suitcase clones” to the U.S. through Canada.

Planted in 1981, the French cuttings slowly adjusted. In 1986, with the help of Randy Dunn, one of California’s foremost winemakers, the Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red was made and launched Pahlmeyer’s astonishing track record of critical acclaim.

In 1989, Jayson invited rising star winemaker Bob Levy to produce the first vintages of Pahlmeyer Chardonnay and the 1991 Chardonnay sold out immediately.

In 1993, Helen Turley took the winemaking reins and further improved the quality and consistency of Pahlmeyer wines. She was instrumental in finding Waters Ranch – Pahlmeyer’s high-elevation Napa Valley estate vineyard planted to red Bordeaux varieties and Chardonnay - and Wayfarer, the winery’s isolated estate vineyard in the newly established Fort Ross-Seaview AVA. Waters Ranch and Wayfarer estate vineyards were planted by viticulture legend David Abreu in 1998 and 2002, respectively.

Jayson’s daughter Cleo joined the team in 2008, infusing the winery with new energy and bringing renewed vibrancy to the Pahlmeyer legacy. Vintage after vintage, Pahlmeyer continues to live up to Jayson’s audacious dream – producing phenomenal wines of power and finesse.

The current winemaker is Bibiana Gonzalez Rave. She received her oenology degree from the University of Bordeaux and has worked at estates in Bordeaux, the Rhone Valley, Santa Barbara County, Sonoma Valley and other locations in addition to Napa Valley. She was named Winemaker of the Year for 2015 by the San Francisco Chronicle.