Pahlmeyer 2020 Chardonnay, Napa Valley

Description

Pahlmeyer’s Napa Valley Chardonnay is an iconic wine. It was a Wine Spectator Top 10 wine of the year in 2016. For this 2020 grapes were sourced from the Pahlmeyer Estate, Hyde Vineyard and the Antica vineyard. After rigorous inspection, the finest lots were pressed then racked into 100% new French oak barrels for fermentation on native yeast. Stirring the lees over the next six months only as needed to stimulate the process. After malolactic fermentation completed, the wine continued to age on lees for a total of 16 months aging. The wine was bottled without fining or filtration.James Suckling scored this wine 97 points saying 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.Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate gave this wine 94 points noting almost entirely Old Wente clone (or, more properly, selection), Pahlmeyer’…