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! — 4 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!!!! — 6 years ago
2010 Luna Matta Vineyard — 7 years ago
Closed down, bracing acidity and tough as nails straight out the bottle.
After being open for 24 hours this is a different and slightly more welcoming wine showing better true varietal character.
Despite the slender body (12.8% ABV) I wouldn’t be surprised if this really will be singing in 3+ years.
90+ pts in my book today (after aeration). — 7 years ago
After tasting next to other organic/low intervention wines, the structure and finesse of this wine becomes more evident. Smooth red and dark fruit on the palate with good but no overwhelming acidity. Drinks like a wine from a colder climate. — 8 months 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. — 5 years ago
WOW, what a pleasant surprise! We received this wine as a gift, so we did not expect much. We were wrong, wonderful wine. Thick long lasting legs. Deep dense color. Wonderful nose, rich with plum, prune oaks and very fruit forward. Lots of flavor. The plum/prune notes were wonderful. Very smooth with lite oak notes on the finish. Very low tannins. Loved it! — 5 years ago
Very smooth and well balanced merlot. Vanilla, plum, and cherry. Love the low acidity on this one. — 7 years ago
Good fruit but the herbs, earth, and flowers really sing. Very fresh and tasty fruit even 6 years on. What an awesome wine. If you find it for 16 bucks or less through the wind gap sell off, pick up a few bottles. — 7 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! — 6 months 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.)
— 5 years ago
Dark fruit, eucalyptus and black tea. — 6 years ago
V14. Frick’in good. DEEP purple color. Soft, eucalyptus, white pepper, and cedar nose. Juicy blackberry and black cherry fruit. Dry, slightly tight, mocha finish. Nicely balanced...good job!! — 7 years ago
That’s some nice drinkin’ stuff (circa 2017). Thanks to the local somm, Steve, at our Whole Foods for the recom... it was their last bottle and he sacrificed. — 7 years ago
Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego
2023 vintage. Pretty plushy for PG Sonoma Coast swill. Not my jam but surely someone else’s. 11.6.26. — 4 days ago