Thinking pink as summer temps continue into October...
Strawberries and minerals on the nose and palate, more mild acidity compared to prior years. I'm loving this vintage!! — 8 months ago
Crisp and bone dry German Riesling perfect for hot days. This trocken from the Pfalz is a great example of those German wines. Delicious, but not for everyone. — 2 years ago
Outrageously loud nose. Green peppercorn, spicy beef jerky, powdered rock dust, tangy red berries behind all that. Balanced and full of flavor, there’s nice acidity lifting flavors of crushed rocky minerals. There is something like dried red berries - almost Christmas-spiced- that turn savory as the finish progresses. Tannins almost fully resolved and soft. Fascinating. — 4 years ago
Fruity at the front — 6 years ago
Chappellet — Grower Collection “Five Blocks” Calesa Vineyard Chardonnay 2020
Petaluma Gap AVA, Sonoma County, California, USA 🇺🇸
Overview:
A very limited-production Chardonnay sourced from the Calesa Vineyard in the Petaluma Gap AVA. Built from cool-climate tension and precision, this 2020 vintage elevates the profile of the wine with greater depth, layered complexity, and remarkable balance while preserving the vibrant tropical-citrus core characteristic of the site.
Aromas & Flavors:
Intense yet refined aromas of lemon curd, tropical citrus, baked guava, white peach, and subtle lychee, intertwined with delicate white spices and hints of mandarin zest. The palate unfolds in layers with vibrant citrus energy, savory mineral nuances, and beautifully integrated oak.
Mouthfeel:
Exceptionally balanced and textured. Fresh acidity drives the wine from start to finish, while a striking tension on the back palate gives the wine precision and lift. Creamy without heaviness, polished without excess, finishing long, energetic, and remarkably composed.
Food Pairings:
Butter-poached lobster, scallops, roast chicken with herbs, creamy seafood pasta, miso-glazed cod, or aged Comté.
Verdict:
A serious and highly expressive Chardonnay that showcases how powerful and refined California Chardonnay can become in the right cool-climate hands. The 2020 clearly steps above the 2022 in complexity, texture, and overall precision while still maintaining the vibrant tropical freshness that defines the vineyard.
🍷 Did You Know?
The Petaluma Gap’s cold Pacific winds naturally slow ripening and thicken grape skins, helping Chardonnays develop both concentrated flavor intensity and the kind of acidity-driven tension more commonly associated with top cool-climate regions. Cheers! — 2 months ago
Oak, vanilla, pepper. Black currant. Chocolate nuance. Leather. Concentration. Dry. Not much spicy. 8 years vantage. Wolf Blass Grey Label McLaren Vale Shiraz 17 @, TPEC, 250614 — a year ago
Dry and very classic tasting Riesling. Wet stone, lime, honeysuckle, green apple, green pear, flint, and the faintest hint of petrol. Clean with high acidity, medium alcohol, light body and a terrific compliment to food. I had it with tuna tartare and it was a knockout. Terrific value. — 3 years ago
Just an incredible 14 year old #syrah from Wind Gap that’s just screaming Crozes-Hermitage or Cornas in the glass. Cured meat, bacon fat, black olive followed by a deep well of brooding black fruit aromas. Palate is fresh with salivating acidity, aged fruit, coffee, dark chocolate and ethereal tannins on a long finish. Beautiful wine, especially for $53 for 6 bottles at WineBid (before shipping.)
— 4 years ago



Minerally and tart! Love! — 5 months ago
My last bottle from the defunct yet memorable winery.
Smells so delicious, like a fruit yogurt
This drinks like it is fresh, with blackberry bramble, subtle and unique red fruits tucked behind the leather ones.
Tannins are still very gripping, and the acidity tames it back. A touch of heat and its off to the races! — 3 years ago
Improved after opening up for a time. Dry with a strong tannins. Plum on the nose with more of a dark Cherry and leathery taste. — 5 years ago
v13. Very good. Lengthy decant. Soft, candied cherry and smoked meat nose. Rich, blackberry and black cherry fruit. Full round, black pepper and earth finish . The legs on the glass never end!!!! — 5 years ago
Dave
Smoky and chewy. Fruity and chocolatey. Thin but full flavored.
Listening to Tom T. Hall — 4 days ago