Grower Collection Calesa Vineyard Five Blocks Petaluma Gap Chardonnay

Medium lemon color with aromas of stone and citrus fruits and floral spice notes. On the palate flavors of apple, apricot, melon and lemon citrus, vanilla and toasty spice, rich texture. Medium+ finish, lively acidity, ending with fruit, oak, toasty spice and citrus character.

For more than 4 decades, the Chappellet family has been crafting wines. Exposed to the fog and wind that funnel through the Petaluma Gap, Calesa is a cool-climate vineyard where Chardonnay ripens slowly, pale lemon with aromas of ripe stone fruits, citrus, honey and floral scents, aged in 35% new oak. On the palate complex layers of fruit, apple, lemon and peach with lively acidity and gentle toasty oak. Long soft finish ending with fruit, creamy oak, well balanced. Well done. Nice!

For more than 4 decades, the Chappellet family has been crafting wines from fruit cultivated on the slopes of Napa Valley. Aromas of ripe stone fruits, citrus, honey and floral scents, aged in 40% new oak. On the palate layers of fruit, apple, lemon and peach with balanced acidity and gentle toasty oak. Long smooth finish ending with fruit and oak tones, a bit creamy. Very well done. A joy to drink.

Apple, blood orange, honey, lemon, oak and dried apricot. Great acidity and balance.

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!

Chappellet — Grower Collection “Five Blocks” Calesa Vineyard Chardonnay 2022, Petaluma Gap AVA, Sonoma County, California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview:
100% Chardonnay sourced entirely from the Calesa Vineyard in the Petaluma Gap AVA. Planted with Robert Young and Dijon clones in one of Sonoma’s coolest, wind-influenced regions, allowing slow ripening and naturally vibrant acidity. Aged with 100% malolactic fermentation and approximately 35% new French oak.

Aromas & Flavors:
Expressive aromas of lemon meringue, ripe lychee, mandarin peel, and baked guava. The palate layers citrus-driven energy with baked stone fruits, subtle spice, and savory undertones.

Mouthfeel:
Creamy and polished from full MLF, yet beautifully lifted by fresh acidity. Medium-to-full body with integrated oak influence, soft texture, and a long citrusy, savory finish.

Food Pairings:
Lobster risotto, roasted chicken, buttery seafood dishes, creamy pasta, grilled halibut, or triple cream cheeses.

Verdict:
A beautifully balanced California Chardonnay that delivers richness without losing freshness. Complex, aromatic, and polished, showing how the Petaluma Gap can bring tension and elegance to a more textural Chardonnay style.

🍷 Did You Know?
The Petaluma Gap became an official AVA in 2017 and is heavily shaped by strong Pacific winds and fog intrusion, helping Chardonnay retain acidity and precision even with full flavor development.

Apricot, lemon zest, lychee, and shortbread. Juicy and flavorful.

I believe this is my first Petaluma Gap chard.
Intensely aromatic on the nose with Asian pear, apricot, citrus peels, subtle tropical fruits, white florals, and mint. Richly textured on the palate with oak nuances and fresh acidic lift.
A beauty.

Beautiful! Acidic but well balanced…mineral, apple, lemon, pear, oak. Brought to carolynns house for dinner on vday. 2019 for 54

Oaky vanilla stone fruit delight. HVD