2011 Napa Valley Chardonnay

The 2011 Chardonnay (Sonoma Coast) emerges from the glass with honey, butter lemon oil, nectarines, mint and passion fruit, all supported by generous yet well-balanced French oak. A voluptuous wine for the year, the 2011 Chardonnay boasts impeccable balance and plenty of creaminess. It will appeal most to readers who appreciate bold, rich Chardonnays. Interestingly, the 2011 Chardonnay also clocks in at 14.9%, but the balance is far better in the Chardonnay than the Pinot.

(the Atlas Peak vines were hit hard by hail during set, leading to a tiny crop in 2011, according to winemaker Kale Anderson): Bright yellow-green. Subdued but slightly exotic aromas of mirabelle, pineapple and vanilla. Ripe, supple and tropical in character; in a creamier, oakier style than the Sonoma Coast bottling but with nicely integrated acidity. Finishes with a lightly phenolic quality and some spicy, resiny oak. Winemaker Anderson expects to decrease the percentage of new oak used for Pahlmeyer's chardonnay and he may also block a percentage of the malolactic fermentation in the future. (I should note that I also retasted the 2010 chardonnays with Anderson and was taken with the Napa Valley bottling, which combined tangy stone fruits with pineapple and saline elements and had harmonized rather dramatically since I reported on it a year ago. Although nutty and broad, it's also quite chewy and fresh. On this occasion I rated it 92 points.)

I was quite taken with the wines I tasted from Pahlmeyer this year. The 2011 Chardonnay is gorgeous. Layers of lemon pastry, juicy peaches, butter and spices take shape in the glass. The 2011 is a bit restrained for Pahlmeyer, but all the elements are very nicely woven together. There is plenty of varietal character and house style, but in a slightly more reserved way than readers have become accustomed to over the years, mostly because of the cool growing season. This is a beautiful and classy wine through and through.