Wine Review:
2016 Peay Vineyards Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast
Sonoma Coast
Though we select the barrels for the Estate Chardonnay first, the Sonoma Coast is not an after-thought, or even a lesser wine. Regional wines – what we refer to here as AVA wines – are usually composites from grapes grown at many sites within an AVA. That is the case for the Peay Sonoma Coast Chardonnay, too. Over 75% of the blend, however, comes from our Estate Vineyard and is farmed to the same exacting standards. The remaining quarter (just a few tons) comes from the Searby Vineyard in the southern portion of the West Sonoma Coast near Occidental. Searby is one of the most highly sought-after vineyards for vineyard-designate Chardonnay in Sonoma County. As it is a touch warmer in Occidental, that portion of the blend offers a little more richness and silkiness while the structure and fruit profile of the Sonoma Coast Chardonnay is very much one of a Peay Estate Chardonnay and has a similar intensity and complexity.
The 2016 Chardonnay (Sonoma Coast) is pliant, supple and inviting. Orchard fruit, white pepper, smoke, mint and white flowers give the 2016 lovely brightness and nuance. Beautifully delineated and nuanced, with tons of character, the 2016 is a striking and absolutely delicious appellation-level wine. There is so much to like in this classy Chardonnay from Peay.