2023 Carneros Chardonnay, Truchard

• Style: Coastal California white, vibrant and focused
• Taste: Pineapple, pear, saline undercurrent, nutmeg spice
• Food: Roasted chicken, creamy sauces, scallops, herb-crusted fish
• Occasion: Sunday lunch, date night
• Serve: Now or age 3–5 years; 14% ABV

In the Glass — Tasting Notes

Poured blind, this announces itself unmistakably as coastal California white. The 2023 vintage delivers pineapple and ripe pear alongside a saline undercurrent and hint of nutmeg spice. The palate stays bright and focused despite the wine's weight, with vibrant acidity that refuses to fade. This is drinking beautifully now, yet the crisp backbone promises to reward three to five years in bottle.

The Winery — Truchard Estate

Tony Truchard pioneered Carneros viticulture four decades ago, spotting the region's maritime potential after a chance drive through fog-cooled slopes. His son Anthony II now leads the family operation across 113 planted hectares, tended sustainably across rolling terrain planted to 12 varietals. This Chardonnay draws from south-facing blocks aged 27 to 49 years, vines mature enough to deliver concentration without heaviness. Winemaking respects the fruit: whole-bunch pressing preserves delicate aromatics; just 30% malolactic fermentation maintains that crisp backbone. Ten months on lees in French oak (one-third new) builds subtle texture without domination. At 14% ABV and pH 3.4, the acidity profile speaks to careful cellar work.

At Your Table — Food Pairing & Serving

This is a wine built for the table. Roasted chicken, creamy butter sauces, and seafood—seared scallops, herb-crusted white fish—all align beautifully with its saline mineral notes and focused acidity. Serve cool and drink now for immediate pleasure, or lay down for gentle evolution. The Diam closure ensures graceful ageing without cork risk. Vegetarian and sustainably farmed, it sits proudly within our broader United States collection and exemplifies what cool-climate maritime influence achieves in Carneros. A solid 90+ from multiple critics—approachable today, rewarding patience.