Pahlmeyer Chardonnay 2022 (Napa Valley) is a rich, opulent white showing ripe pear, apple, lemon curd, pineapple, peach, vanilla, butter, toasted oak and baking spice.
Full-bodied with a creamy, layered texture, it balances generous fruit and pronounced oak influence with bright acidity and a structured, mineral-tinged backbone. The palate is lush and powerful, finishing long with citrus, crème brûlée and toasty oak complexity.
Professional ratings
- 94–96 pts – James Suckling: notes richness, ripe fruit and balanced oak
- 93–95 pts – Wine Advocate: praises depth, structure and aging potential
- 93–94 pts – Vinous: highlights power, creaminess and concentration
- 93–94 pts – Decanter: commends opulence, balance and Napa richness
Overall, it is rated around 93–96 points, a bold, barrel-influenced Napa Chardonnay with richness, structure and strong aging potential.
James Suckling
Extremely rich, ripe and creamy, this luxurious wine ferments and ages in 90% new French barrels, and a majority of the grapes come from Old Wente clone vines from Atlas Peak AVA vineyards. Aromas of butterscotch, vanilla bean, poached pears and toasted baguette lead to an incredibly silky palate of ripe fruit and oak spices that build as you sip and linger long on the finish. Drink or hold.
Wine Enthusiast
Both richly flavored and mouthwatering, this Chardonnay offers a well balanced expression of a generous style. Juicy, ripe, yellow fruits and sweet pear are pleasantly spiced, carried through a long finish by brightening acidity. Delicious. — Elaine Chukan Brown
