Freddy R. Troya

9.4

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! — 2 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

This is second vintage to come exclusively from the Martinelli Charles Ranch, two miles in from the Pacific, aged for 12 months in 25% new oak. Pale lemon with aromas of ripe stone fruits with wafts of blossom and spice. On the palate rich ripe apple and pear with a touch of zesty citrus fruits, crisp, with big vanilla notes. Nice mouthfeel, vivid acidity, medium+ finish ending with fruit, vanilla and citrus mineral character. Nice! Tried twice. — 5 years ago

Ricky Egeland

10

Sweet, but not overbearing. Fizzy and tasty. — 6 years ago

Liv

9.0

Dry lemon that lingers. Sour candy feeling (without the sweet) that burns the tastebuds after a while. Acidic af. In other words, I love it. — 7 years ago

Phyllis Holt

9.0

A favorite, very smooth and light. — 7 years ago

Anne Smith

10

Great taste for a $3 bottle of wine from Aldi’s. The Peach is also great. Would be nice for Sangria! — 7 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

Lime and citrus notes with saline notes. Inspired by a recent note @Ira Schwartz about a delicious Chablis he had. Oak has been thoroughly absorbed. I haven’t had many Chablis from Les Clos but lived up to its exalted status. See previous Delectable note. Great with fresh Pacific Oysters. — a year ago

Michele Sears Rose

9.0

Bold taste! I'd buy this one again ! Rich full. — 4 years ago

Rhonely Boy

9.1

Apple wine - Newton Pippin Apples, 90+ yr old trees 2.7 miles from the Pacific Ocean in Bonny Doon. 9% ABV

Last bottle :(

Me buying two of the same is rare, 6 bottles of same even rarer. Good job, Beauregard! When is the next vintage release?

— 5 years ago

Andrew Jezewski

9.7

Refreshing fruit wine — 6 years ago

Kat Robinson

9.7

Sweet, crisp, fruity, clean — 7 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Last bottle, had a bottle about a year ago, aged nicely. Their vineyard is a few miles away from the Pacific Ocean and aged, in French Oak, about 1/3 new, deep ruby with black fruit aromas and earthy floral spice notes. On the palate, soft raspberry, black cherry and blueberry flavors, rich and complex with integrated spice and oak. Smooth tannins with good balance of juicy acidity still has room to age. Lingering mineral finish, an outstanding wine. A real pleasure, wish I had more! — 7 years ago

Mary Lanham

9.3

Dark ruby red in color. Dark fruit and leather on the nose. Mellow red fruit on the palate. Velvet mouth structure and a little green vegetable on a nice finish. — 7 years ago

Adrianna Goodin

9.5

Sweet but not heartburn sweet — a year ago

Mitali P

9.3

Excellent Pinot! Creamy but dry, dark fruit. Lovely finish — 2 years ago

Anna Sangiacomo

9.4

Two Miles from the Pacific Ocean with an elevation of 1500 feet. This is one of the most elegant wines of the three different sites.  Rose petals, crushed raspberry, wild strawberry.  — 4 years ago

Sam

9.0

This is a perfect lightly sweet wine with out being dry. It pairs well with salted dark chocolate. — 6 years ago

Naoki Otani

9.0

12.26.2019 — 6 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

My last bottle! From a hillside vineyard on an eastern slope on the second ridge from the Pacific Ocean. Deep Ruby with subtle aromas of red fruits and peppery spices, aging softened the aromas a bit. The palate shows raspberry and cherry with flavorful spices. Vivid acidity with super soft tannins with an earthy feel. Lingering finish with ripe oaky notes, minerality and earthy tones. Aged well, drink now! Very nice! — 7 years ago

Kaitlyn Jungblut

9.0

More sweet reisling — 7 years ago