Freddy R. Troya

9.2

Flowers Vineyards & Winery – Chardonnay – 2022
Sonoma Coast AVA – Sonoma County, California 🇺🇸

Overview
A pure expression of the broader Sonoma Coast AVA, this Chardonnay blends fruit from multiple coastal sites to deliver Flowers’ signature style: bright, fresh, and mineral-driven. Less oak-forward and less textural tension than their single-vineyard bottlings, this cuvée leans into steeliness, lift, and coastal clarity. Tropical fruit plays a leading role while creaminess takes a gentle back seat, exactly the balance that makes this wine so inviting.

Aromas & Flavors
Pineapple, Meyer lemon, green apple, and white peach, intertwined with coastal salinity, crushed shells, and light honeysuckle. Subtle hints of vanilla and toasted almond sit quietly in the background.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied, clean, and vibrant. Marked by high natural acidity and a steely mineral line that keeps everything refreshing. The finish is bright and persistent, more fruit-driven than creamy.

Food Pairings
Lemon-herb chicken, grilled halibut, shrimp linguine, caprese salad, or sushi with citrus accents.

Verdict
A beautifully balanced, coastally expressive Chardonnay that prioritizes freshness over opulence. Tropical lift, minerality, and gentle oak integration make this a standout for those who prefer precision over butter.

Did You Know?
Flowers was one of the pioneers of the far Sonoma Coast, planting vineyards in the early 1990s when few believed coastal farming was viable. Their Sonoma Coast Chardonnay is crafted to showcase the AVA as a whole, combining multiple sites to capture the region’s signature brightness and maritime drive. — 24 days ago

Daniel M

8.9

Almond, cherry, dried rose petals, leather... This is nice. There is a barnyard funk think too, which goes away after a while. The palate is very well done with a good acid drive, some nice cherry notes all along, a vivid mouthfeel, some drying tannins in the rear, some savoury touches blossom in the finish along with bright cherry notes and that dried layer. It's a very good effort, one of the best classico I have tasted recently, quite easy going. — 2 years ago

Daniel M

9.1

First take on the '20 vintage that we brought back to Poland after Christmas . Very intense nose of violets, blackberries, raspberries, cherry, licorice... There is a tiny earthy note too, along with an irony thing. The palate is very well made as always, with a great acid drive, a good width, some red and black fruits touches all along, some drying tannins in the rear and a long finish with fruit and a bit of an umami touch that makes you want to pour yourself another glass right away. It's a bit more complex than '19, with some more layers of texture and taste. I'm obviously partial here but for about 8 eur a bottle from the producer this is extremely great value. — 3 years ago

Dave

9.4

I can sit and sniff this for 20 minutes without taking a sip. Tonight I'm pairing it with a little Chicago deep dish and the Drive By Truckers. — 5 months ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.5

A profound young Preuses. Decanted 90 minutes in advance, and only to improve in every facet as each minute passes during dinner, 2020 Preuses is a tremendous success and already showing so much of its brilliance. It’s aromatics are layered with ultra defined orchard fruit, white flowers and citrus oils with an oceanic edge and the palate is concentrated, mineral and focused with considerable tension, drive and a racy mineral-saline finale. Stunning wine with an amazing future. — 2 years ago

Conrad Green

9.4

Loads of sulfur and drive and energy. A blast of gunpowder, then lemon and a long Technicolor finish with great acidity. Years ahead — 3 years ago

with BOT, Tony and 3 others

Conrad Green

9.4

From mag. Very fresh and driving. Chalk and sizzling lemon acidity. Great fruit and loads of lift and drive. Young — 7 months ago

with BOT, Matt and 1 other

Daniel M

9.2

Opened yesterday, drank over 2 days.
The nose is very fruity and intense with dark cherry touches, earthy notes, some raspberry and blackberry scents too. I could even smell some peony notes too. This is really inviting. The palate is wide and long and quite complex. A good acid drive, some dark cherry notes all along, some very soft and easy going mouthfeel that is changing in mid palate with a great tannic wall, which adds a layer of dust over an otherwise quite juicy and fruity finish. In the back-end though, there is a tiny savoury note that pops along with a subtle bitterness. This is really my kind of cab franc. Really good stuff! — 2 years ago

Jason Sliwa

9.0

Big bodied, sumptuous red that pairs with red meat. — 3 years ago

with Vicki

Laith A

9.5

Beautiful wine with smooth silky tannins.. excellent dark and red fruit profile! 🙌🏻 — 4 years ago