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! — 21 hours ago

Greg Smith

9.0

This is a great version of a California Zin. Nice notes of spice and pairs so well with a red meat meal. Found this on sale and will go get more while I can. Love the label and the cork. I am under a thunderstorm warning and this is so nice to watch the clouds rolling. Get some. — 4 years ago

William Feinstein

9.2

About as good as grenache gets. Bright sour cherries followed by anise and black tea. Savory and balanced. — 5 years ago

with Maryalice

Steve Anderson

9.2

Savory and a bit of funk. Might have guessed Rocks District on p&p if blind. — 3 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.0

2023 vintage. 08.22.25. — 9 months ago

MaJ CappS

9.1

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! — 3 years ago

Vasanth Balakrishnan

9.0

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.)
— 4 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Dairyman Vineyard sits in the southern alluvial plains of the Russian River Valley near the ocean, a region where cooling fog comes in through the Petaluma Gap in the morning and once again in the evening. Medium Ruby color, with aromas of berries, tea and spices. On the palate flavors of raspberry and tart black cherry with herb, cedar and cinnamon. Fine tannins, medium+ finish with lively acidity, good structure, ending with fruit and cedar spice. — 4 months ago

Daniel Sullivan

9.6

Translucent ruby-garnet color.
Bright red cherry nose with subtle baking spice oak notes.
Tangy mineral acidity with chalky velvety tannins on finish. — 2 years ago

Tom Casagrande

9.3

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. — 4 years ago