Pulido-Walker Mt. Veeder Estate Vineyard Chardonnay 2021

8+ points - limited                             Rare Chardonnay release from Pulido-Walker, one of Napa's newest cult wineries and winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown.  Limited. The final blend of the 2021 Pulido~Walker Estate Chardonnay is predominately Wente, which contributes big bursts of sea spray and citrus fruits. This dynamic fruit is nicely tempered by the small percentage of Montrachet that brings pressed flowers, beeswax, and lanolin—classic attributes of Chardonnay that add complexity in smaller quantities. Rounding out the blend, the Robert Young Clone continues to add cut hay, white chocolate, and more citrus fruits. Robert Parker: "While the Pulido-Walker estate vineyard is on Mount Veeder, the wines are now made at Mending Wall Winery, a facility Mark Pulido and Donna Walker co-own with winemaking consultant Thomas Rivers Brown and former Outpost proprietor Frank Dotzler. The focus is on Cabernets from three single vineyards: Mt. Veeder, Policy (Yountville) and Melanson (Pritchard Hill)." Proprietors Mark Pulido & Donna Walker started Pulido-Walker in 2010 with single vineyard Cabernet Sauvignons from the Panek Vineyard in St. Helena and the Melanson Vineyard on Pritchard Hill. Their young estate vineyard on Mt. Veeder is hte newest addition to the lineup. Winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown eschews technology and the manipulations that contribute to sameness. Rather than following a set schedule, his process is dictated by smell and taste. We place our faith in the raw material the vineyard provides and step aside to let the terroir speak.

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