Pellegrini Unoaked Chardonnay 2018
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James
Suckling
Product Details
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Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Pellegrini Unoaked ChardonnayChardonnay’s true personality shines in this radiant Unoaked Chardonnay. On the nose—cantaloupe, tangerine, Nashi pear, and granite provide an appetizing introduction to flavors on the palate of grilled Meyer lemon, kiwi, and just nearly-ripe pineapple. The wine's voluptuous texture, clean acid, and spicy lemongrass finish round out this wine beautifully. Drink now and for the next five years to enjoy its fruit in full bloom.
Pair with Oven-roasted halibut, grilled fish tacos, clam linguini
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Aromas of rosemary, grapefruit and wet stone. Medium-bodied. Pleasant weight and oily texture. Straightforward and tasty.
Other Vintages
2019-
Wine
Enthusiast
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Wine
Enthusiast
The Pellegrini Family traces its heritage in winemaking to the early 1900s when brothers Nello and Gino Pellegrini arrived in New York City from their native Tuscany. They soon made their way to the West Coast and in 1925 became Sonoma County grape merchants, shipping grapes throughout the U.S. for home winemaking. In 1933 after repeal of Prohibition, the brothers established the original Pellegrini Wine Company, shipping grapes from Sonoma County and producing quality wines for many of San Francisco's finest shops and restaurants.
In 2003, the eight children of Robert, Richard and Jeanne–the "eight cousins"–purchased a 12-acre parcel of old-clone Zinfandel alongside the Olivet Lane Estate, launching the fourth generation of the Pellegrini family into the wine business.
Together, the family continues to produce some of Sonoma County's finest wines, and is committed to continuing the legacy of distinction and quality, now and for future generations
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 standout region for its decidedly Californian take on Burgundian varieties, the Russian River Valley is named for the eponymous river that flows through it. While there are warm pockets of the AVA, it is mostly a cool-climate growing region thanks to breezes and fog from the nearby Pacific Ocean.
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir reign supreme in Russian River, with the best examples demonstrating a unique combination of richness and restraint. The cool weather makes Russian River an ideal AVA for sparkling wine production, utilizing the aforementioned varieties. Zinfandel also performs exceptionally well here. Within the Russian River Valley lie the smaller appellations of Chalk Hill and Green Valley. The former, farther from the ocean, is relatively warm, with a focus on red and white Bordeaux varieties. The latter is the coolest, foggiest parcel of the Russian River Valley and is responsible for outstanding Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.