Winemaker Notes
Brass Tacks Chardonnay opens with citrus fruit, followed by fig and hints of honeysuckle. On the palate, fresh tropical flavors of papaya and mango. Minimal malolactic fermentation helped develop the luscious, round mouth feel while maintaining balanced acidity.
Chardonnay, one of the classic Burgundian varietals, is also one of the most popular white wines in the world. The tropical notes and lush mouthfeel make Chardonnay a delicious pairing for white sauce pasta, fish, poultry, and mushroom sauces.
Professional Ratings
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2021 Brass Tacks Chardonnay is balanced and true-to-type. TASTING NOTES: This wine offers aromas and flavors of earthy notes, dried leaves, rocks-in-the-desert, and forest floor. Enjoy it with lightly-battered, pan-fried Dover sole. (Tasted: February 1, 2022, San Francisco, CA)
California’s most praised white wine, Chardonnay is also the state’s most planted white grape variety. Diverse terrain and microclimates allow for an incredible range of wine styles.
Chardonnay planted in the cooler, coastal zones takes on bright characteristics like lemon zest, key lime, green apple and wet flint. For this style, look to the chilly Sonoma Coast, Carneros, Santa Cruz Mountains, Santa Lucia Highlands and Edna Valley.
The inland zones of California’s coast, such as the Russian River, Sonoma, Napa and Livermore Valleys maintain a more Goldilocks-esque climate where both styles go. Early picking retains acidity and creates a leaner style but leaving the grapes to hang creates an approachable Chardonnay, balancing richness and finesse.
Chardonnay also plays a major part in the sparkling wine production of the Anderson Valley and Carneros.