2017 Freestone Vineyards Chardonnay
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Looking first at the Chardonnays, the 2017 Chardonnay Freestone Vineyards comes from a site on the Sonoma Coast and spent 13 months in 42% new French oak. It’s a winner, offering terrific notes of ripe peach, citrus oil, and salty minerality, medium to full body, good acidity, and fabulous overall balance.
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James Suckling
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
The 2017 Chardonnay Freestone Vineyards is a very pretty and also understated wine from Phelps. Yellow orchard fruit, white flowers, chamomile and lightly honeyed notes all grace this expressive, pliant Chardonnay. Beams of supporting acidity support the nuanced finish. This is in a pretty restrained style for Phelps, and that is not a bad thing, as these wines have, at times, been a bit bombastic.
Aged 13 months in 42% new French oak puncheons and barrels, the 2017 Chardonnay Freestone Vineyards has an open nose of lush white peach, apricot, baked quince and poached pears with nuances of acacia blossom, wet stone and lemon zest. Medium-bodied, it’s very lively in the mouth with layers of citrus and stone fruit with mineral accents, framed by great tangy acidity, finishing long and clean. 2,400 cases produced.
A white that grows slowly on the palate with dried apples and light pear and lime character. Medium body, bright acidity and a clean and vivid finish. Serious and linear. Drink now.
About the producer
California winery Joseph Phelps is best known for its flagship Insignia cuvée, one of the first and finest proprietary red wines in the Napa Valley.