Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
Peay Vineyards Chardonnay is not your usual example of this omnipresent grape variety in the marketplace. Winemaker Vanessa Peay states. "The fruit [qualities in our Chardonnay] are not like melon and peach; they are more like citrus zest, essences of lime and mandarins; much more of a fresh expression with lots of verve and energy to it." The 2014 Peay Estate Chardonnay exhibits excellent purity. Yes, I agree with Vanessa that citrus and mineral show up big time. The wine's friskiness makes it perfect for those who enjoy pairing their wines with food and not just for sipping in the backyard. Its crisp finish pairs it admirably with shellfish. (Tasted: November 18, 2016, San Francisco, CA)
One of the most popular and versatile white wine grapes, Chardonnay offers a wide range of flavors and styles depending on where it is grown and how it is made. While it tends to flourish in most environments, Chardonnay from its Burgundian homeland produces some of the most remarkable and longest lived examples. California produces both oaky, buttery styles and leaner, European-inspired wines. Somm Secret—The Burgundian subregion of Chablis, while typically using older oak barrels, produces a bright style similar to the unoaked style. Anyone who doesn't like oaky Chardonnay would likely enjoy Chablis.
A vast appellation covering Sonoma County’s Pacific coastline, the Sonoma Coast AVA runs all the way from the Mendocino County border, south to the San Pablo Bay. The region can actually be divided into two sections—the actual coastal vineyards, marked by marine soils, cool temperatures and saline ocean breezes—and the warmer, drier vineyards further inland, which are still heavily influenced by the Pacific but not quite with same intensity.
Contained within the appellation are the much smaller Fort Ross-Seaview and Petaluma Gap AVAs.
The Sonoma Coast is highly regarded for elegant Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and, increasingly, cool-climate Syrah. The wines have high acidity, moderate alcohol, firm tannin, and balanced ripeness.