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2017 Joseph Phelps Pastorale Vineyard Chardonnay

Not Currently In Auction

Latest Sale Price

December 19, 2021 - $42

Estimate

RATINGS

97James Suckling

This is really stylish and unique with subtle resin, pine-nut and pine-needle character to the dried-apple aromas and flavors. Full-bodied... Linear and compacted. Fantastic.

96Jeb Dunnuck

...honeyed apples, melon, and caramelized citrus notes as well as a rich, textured yet still racy style on the palate. It's a beautiful, layered, deeper, richer effort.

95Vinous / IWC

...gorgeous. Ample, full-bodied and intense in every dimension... The interplay of rich yellow fruit and more phenolic qualities makes for an absolutely compelling Chardonnay.

93+ The Wine Advocate

...nose of lime peel, crushed stone, spring honey, soft white peach and dried hay. Medium to full-bodied, it offers great concentration of fruit and mineral flavors in the mouth, with honeyed accents, tangy acidity and a long, mineral finish.

92Wine Enthusiast

...apple, white flower and toasted oak, with a tease of richness in the form of crème brûlée. Stony mineral persists beneath the surface, boosting a strong, complex structure of fresh, nuanced acidity that finishes in a lingering taste of lemon rind.

PRODUCER

Joseph Phelps

Joseph Phelps Vineyards is a family-owned winery based in St. Helena. It was founded in 1973 when Joseph Phelps, a building contractor from Colorado, arrived in Napa Valley to build wineries. He soon decided to make his own wine and purchased a former cattle ranch near St. Helena. Phelps Vineyards now owns or leases 560 acres of vineyards in Napa Valley and the Sonoma Coast. The estate owns choice properties in St. Helena, Stags Leap, Oakville, Rutherford, South Napa Valley and Oak Knoll. Phelps is best known for Insignia, its flagship Napa Valley blend of red Bordeaux varieties first produced in 1974. Awarded Wine Spectator’s “Wine of the Year” in 2005, Insignia is widely regarded as a qualitative benchmark for California winemaking. Besides Cabernet Sauvignon and small amounts of Petit Verdot, Merlot and Malbec, Phelps also grows Chardonnay, Syrah, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc and Scheurebe. The estate produces 50,000 cases annually from Napa Valley and an additional 15,000 cases from the Sonoma Coast.

REGION

United States, California, Sonoma, Sonoma Coast

Sonoma Coast AVA runs from San Pablo Bay in the south to Mendocino County in the north. It includes 7,000 vineyard acres and earned AVA status in 1987. Its proximity to the Pacific Ocean means it gets double the rainfall of nearby inland appellations and the ocean gives the appellation a relatively cool climate. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir can thrive in these conditions, and there are numerous producers making critically acclaimed Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

TYPE

White Wine, Chardonnay

This white variety originated in Burgundy, but is now grown around the world. Its flexibility to thrive in many regions translates to wide flavor profile in the market. Chardonnay is commonly used in making Champagne and sparkling wines.