2020 Pahlmeyer Chardonnay Napa Valley
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Tasting notes
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. Medium to full-bodied and concentrated, with outstanding balance, it needs air to show at its best and I suspect will benefit from 6-12 months of bottle age. It should keep through 2027.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Joe Czerwinski, Wine Advocate
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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, there are overtones of smoke, mocha and popcorn, notes of honey and toast but also a deep core of pear and melon notes. Full-bodied and generous on the palate, it's also long and citrusy, with classy notes of pencil shavings on the lingering finish.
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.