Sonoma County

Medium

Cork

White

While Joseph Phelps is best known for its Napa Valley wines, the Freestone wines on the Sonoma Coast are very much on par in terms of quality. The Pastorale Chardonnay comes from a vineyard planted in 2000 with several Chardonnay clones, including Calera, Maro, Mt. Eden, 2A, and 70, on gentle, foggy slopes about eight miles from the Pacific. The 2024 vintage offers crisp, lightly floral aromas of honeydew melon and Meyer lemon pastry, with an intriguing touch of lemongrass and even jasmine as it evolves in the glass. This is quite a structured wine, with a leesy texture and piercing lemon acidity driving the palate. Winemaker Justin Ennis typically uses around 50% new French oak, which helps explain the subtle toasty barrel spice that lingers on the finish. I think this wine will evolve quite well, and I would be curious to revisit it in a few years.

Chardonnay

Joseph Phelps, Freestone Vineyards Pastorale Chardonnay, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast, California, USA, 2024

09-Joseph-Phelps,-Pastorale-Vineyard-2024.jpg

While Joseph Phelps is best known for its Napa Valley wines, the Freestone wines on the Sonoma Coast are very much on par in ter

Joseph Phelps, Freestone Vineyards Pastorale Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, California, USA 2024

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