Joseph Phelps Vineyards Freestone Vineyards Chardonnay 2013

Fantastic new Sonoma Coast Chardonnay release from the legendary Joseph Phelps. 95 Points Wine Enthusiast *Editor's Choice*:  "This 100% varietal wine from the cooler outpost of Freestone is so deliciously crisp, bright in minerally lemon and fresh pear. It lingers on the palate in complex ways, elusive one moment, then exuberant the next - a celebration of ideal vintage and place." 94 Points Robert Parker:  "The Chardonnay Freestone Vineyard saw slightly less new oak, but achieved the same level of alcohol as the 2011, 13.5%. More tropical in nature, it is a juicy white displaying notes of pineapples, apricot marmalade, wet gravel and a hint of honeyed citrus. With crisp acids, a medium to full-bodied mouthfeel and a long finish, it can be drunk over the next 5-6 years...Joseph Phelps has a whopping 102 acres on the Sonoma Coast called the Freestone Vineyard, 82 acres of which is planted in Pinot Noir and the balance Chardonnay. The interesting thing about this site is the bud break can occur as early as February, and the hang time often exceeds the European model of “100 days,” often lasting as long as 120 to140+ days. All of the wines that follow, even in a great vintage such as 2012, rarely exceed 14.2% alcohol, with most coming in under 14%. Their flavor intensity and richness make them fascinating, and I suspect this relatively new operation will get better and better as the vines age, and the Phelps team in Napa continues to fine tune the vineyards and the winemaking."

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