Wine: Estancia Chardonnay 

Country: USA

Region: California

Designation: California

Producer: Estancia

Grape Varietal: Chardonnay

ABV: 14.2%

Type: White

Code: 2731

Tasting Note

Rich gold in color, this expressive Chardonnay opens with tropical aromas of pineapple and guava highlighted with toasted oak and caramel. The palate is layered with hints of green apple and a touch of honey. This is a full-bodied wine with a lingering creaminess

Producer

Founded in 1986, Estancia has built a portfolio of award-winning wines and has been delivering high quality boutique style wines to consumers for over 30 years. Estancia wines are sourced from vineyards across California with distinct defining qualities that shine through in the wines. 

Winemaking

Harvest takes place during early morning hours from select vineyards in the Central Coast (and some from Monterey County) so the grapes will be at peak ripeness. After being destemmed and gently pressed, the juice is transferred to stainless steel tanks for the primary fermentation. Select lots are then chosen and racked off to a combination of French and American oak to undergo malolactic fermentation and aging. In the end, the combination of stainless steel aged lots and oak aged lots are blended to create a lovely Chardonnay that has the perfect balance of fruit and oak.

Fun Fact

Estancia, which is translated from the Spanish word for “estate,” emphasizes the winery’s conviction that the world’s best wines capture the essence of their place of origin.

Food pairing

Smoked salmon, cream sauce pastas, poultry, pork, mushrooms

Awards & Accolades

88 points Wine Enthusiast

90 points Decanter

It's always been tough to find good California wines at a reasonable price in the UK market. This Chardonnay ticks the boxes, delivering just what you'd expect at this level, at a price that won't break the bank. Estancia uses whole-cluster fermentation and barrel fermentation to produce a wine with fresh and lifted aromas of pineapple, stone fruit, white flowers and hazelnut. There's a long and creamy length, and a little sweetness but in no way cloying.