2021 Francis Ford Coppola Pavilion Chardonnay Diamond Collection

The Chardonnay Diamond Collection Pavilion is the white counterpart of the Claret from the same series. In most years it is also a blend, just like the Claret. The Chardonnay is then mixed with some Viognier or Muscat. The grapes come from the Santa Lucia Highlands. The vineyards of this appellation (American Viticultural Area, AVA) are located on the foothills of the Santa Lucia Range, near Monterey. This is a special place because cool air flows into the valley in the afternoon, and because the vineyards are located on east-facing slopes, above an altitude of 100 meters. The cool conditions that this creates ensure a slow, very even ripening process, which ensures grapes with a high concentration. It has enough acidity to undergo malolactic fermentation, which gives it a wonderfully rich, slightly buttery character. It matures for eight months in barrels of the highest quality French oak, which gives it a beautiful, subtle wood tone. But the beautiful tropical fruit prevails.

The Pavilion Chardonnay is straw yellow in the glass. In the nose, the wine has a seductive scent with notes of toast, wonderfully exotic, peach, guava, honeysuckle, a hint of orange peel. On the palate the Pavilion is full bodied, powerful, with pear and ripe peach, buttery, broad and intense, nice citrus, vanilla, toasted bread but certainly not excessive in the oak notes which is too often the case. The Pavilion is delicious with monkfish, coquilles saint-jacques, salad with crab, but also with chicken or turkey and veal.

FYI: The wine has 2 different labels. One as we mention as an image, but also one that still mentions Pavilion, but these are the same wines.