2012 Pahlmeyer Chardonnay Napa Valley
Estimated value
Buying options
Tasting notes
(90% new French oak; from fruit picked entirely in October, mostly from Jayson Pahlmeyer's estate on Atlas Peak): Full bright yellow with a green tinge. Ripe, lively aromas of citrus fruits, hazelnut, oatmeal and brown spices; showing less toasty oak than past vintages. Silky and glyceral in the mouth; oilier and more mealy than the Sonoma Coast chardonnay, with a distinctly honeyed character. A bit more phenolic too, not showing quite the nuance or floral lift of the Sonoma version.
Critic scores
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2012 Chardonnay was bottled just two weeks before this tasting. Lemon, almonds, spices, butter and French oak blossom effortlessly in the glass. A creamy, voluptuous, full-bodied Chardonnay, the 2012 boasts superb depth and volume all the way through to the oily, textured finish. Here, the heavy toast barrels are in evidence, but the wine seems to have more than enough stuffing to handle the oak. I can't wait to see how the 2012 ages.
Pahlmeyer’s spectacular 2012 Chardonnay offers abundant aromas of hazelnuts, buttered citrus, tropical fruits and honeysuckle intermixed with a touch of tangerine oil. It cuts a full-bodied swath across the palate, and possesses good acidity, exuberant fruit and an undeniably sexy style. Enjoy this terrific All-American, All-Napa Valley Chardonnay over the next 4-5 years. Bravo! Tel. (707) 255-2321