DOUBLE-GOLD MEDAL WINNERS

Cazadero 2019 Chardonnay
Parmeter King Ridge Vineyard
(Fort Ross-Seaview, Sonoma County)

Aroma: Lemon chiffon, pink grapefruit, touch of lime, Welch’s white grape juice, rich coconut, subtle vanilla, cinnamon, spicy, wood.

Palate: Bosc pear, nectarine, lemon, nutmeg, smoky, buttery, floral, sunny, elegant.

Finish: Vanilla, light butter, creamy, lemonade, tart, tangy, enjoyable.

Double Gold Medal

Böen 2019 Chardonnay
(Monterey, Sonoma & Santa Barbara Counties)

Aroma: Bold green apple, papaya, mango, nectarine, vanilla, blue cheese, funky cheese rind, spice, creamy, buttery, wood.

Palate: Green apple, pear, grapefruit, lemon, lemon peel, guava skin, coconut, slightly floral, nutmeg, oaky, crisp.

Finish: Lemon, green melon, pineapple, tropical, hint of butter, has complexity, clean, fresh, good for brunch, pleasant.

Double Gold Medal

J. Lohr 2020 Arroyo Vista Chardonnay
(Arroyo Seco, Monterey)

Aroma: Pineapple, lemon, tutti frutti, Juicy Fruit gum, vanilla, buttery, baking spice, touch of oak.

Palate: Lemon, lemon zest, citrus, pineapple juice, upside down cake, angel food, vanilla, vanilla spice, oak, butter, mineral, acidic, complex, nicely balanced.

Finish: The gooey top of pineapple upside-down cake, buttery, a visit to the islands, striking tropical finish, has complexity, clean, balanced.

Double Gold Medal

Belle Glos 2020 Chardonnay Glasir Holt
(Sta. Rita Hills, Santa Barbara County)

Aroma: Honeydew, bold hibiscus, honeysuckle flower, nutmeg, new leather, vanilla, buttery, oak, wood.

Palate: Lemon, lemon peel, citrus, pineapple dessert, vanilla, coconut, floral, cinnamon, tumbleweed, buttery, oak, complex.

Finish: Arizona at dusk, earthiness, mineral, acidic, soft, easy, approachable, lovely finish.

Double Gold Medal

GOLD MEDAL WINNERS

McManis Family Vineyards Chardonnay 2019
(River Junction AVA)

Aroma: Green apple, sweet melon, tangerine, bergamot, citrus, bright honeysuckle, orange blossom, chalk, slate.

Palate: Lemon, lime, grapefruit, pear, peach, honey, vanilla, creamy, oaky, elegant.

Finish: Peach Popsicle, clean, soft.

Gold Medal

Cannonball Chardonnay 2020
(Sonoma)

Aroma: Lemon, grapefruit, pear, vanilla, nutmeg, baking spices, mineral, volcanic soil, organic, fresh sea breeze.

Palate: Lemon, lime, lemon tart, burnt pie crust, spicy, toasty, leather, chalk, minerality, acidic.

Finish: Pineapple, minerally volcanic soil, refreshing.

Gold Medal

Lorenzi Estate Chardonnay 2019
(Temecula Valley)

Aroma: Lemon, fig, pear skin, vanilla, buttery, leather, spicy, earth, peat, very oaky, organic.

Palate: Pear, almond, vanilla, buttery, complex leather, tannins, oak, rich mouthfeel.

Finish: Jackfruit, lemon, mineral, fall leaves, buttery, oak.

Gold Medal

Frey Vineyards Biodynamic Chardonnay 2020
(Mendocino)

Aroma: Pear juice, lemon, citrus, sweet floral, raw pie crust dough, flint.

Palate: Pear, nectarine, purple plum, celery, floral, herbal, oaky, chalk, mineral, wet stone, bright.

Finish: Vanilla, juicy, mineral, hint of salinity, acidic, tart, crisp, smooth, extra-dry, great with cheese.

Gold Medal

B-Side 2018 Chardonnay
(North Coast)

Aroma: Green apple, fresh Golden Delicious apple skin, pineapple, pink grapefruit lemon peel, apple blossom.

Palate: Golden Delicious apple, pineapple, lemon, grapefruit, nutmeg, butter, very light oak, smoke, zesty minerality.

Finish: Tart green apple, hint of guava, soft vanilla, buttery, creamy, subtle wood, stone, clean, crisp, bright.

Gold Medal

Pellet Estate Chardonnay 2018 Sunchase Vineyard
(Petaluma Gap, Sonoma County)

Aroma: Green apple, lemon drop candy, Key lime pie, vanilla, honey, hint of honeysuckle, nuts, toast.

Palate: Green apple, grapefruit, citrus, Lemonhead candy, creamy lemon tart, almond, chalk, oak.

Finish: Sour green apple, frozen lemonade, sip on your front porch, good for spritz, soft, very pleasant.

Gold Medal

Frey Vineyards Organic Chardonnay 2020
(Mendocino)

Aroma: Fresh homemade McIntosh applesauce, papaya, buttery, vanilla, cinnamon, musky tannins, like a Riesling.

Palate: Grapefruit, pear, baked apples, buttery coconut, floral citrus, cinnamon, woody, meadow, natural, distinctive.

Finish: Pear, flowers, grass, meadow plants, stone, significant acidity, clean, soft, very approachable, have this with cheese plate, great with cheese & seafood.

Gold Medal

Kwaya Organic Chardonnay 2019
(Various California)

Aroma: Lemon, lemon zest, bold papaya, pineapple, red apple, potato latkes with applesauce, buttery, vanilla.

Palate: Tart green apple, apple cider, lemon peel, citrus, floral, buttery, oak, 10 steel cask, tasty.

Finish: Fresh, acidic, drink this with swordfish/bluefish, tastes like spring.

Gold Medal

SILVER MEDAL WINNERS

Jordan Chardonnay 2019
(Russian River Valley, Sonoma County)

Aroma: Baked lemon pie, white flowers, cardamom, coconut husk, leather, fresh minerality.

Palate: Prominent pineapple, lemon, organic lemon skin, coconut, white flowers, mint.

Finish: Pineapple, lime, acidic, light butter, slight oak.

Silver Medal

Sun & Rain Organic Chardonnay 2020
(Mendocino)

Aroma: Fresh green grapes, Mott’s apple sauce, baked pear, mango, agave note, soil, smoke, hint of organic materials, funky.

Palate: Green apple, grapefruit, strawberry, cherry, pineapple tart, buttery, honeysuckle, oily lemon peel, grassy, spicy, rich.

Finish: Green apple, complex vanilla, wet stone, layer of smoke.

Silver Medal

Sill Family Vineyards tres Chardonnay 2016
(Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County)

Aroma: Lemon, citrus, vanilla, creamy, apple blossom, honeysuckle, chalk, wet saddle, slate.

Palate: Lemon, fun lime, grapefruit, guava on steroids, Italian figs, vanilla, floral.

Finish: Lemon tart, lots of guava, fig, stone, clean, soft, pleasant, easy to drink.

Silver Medal

FitVine Chardonnay 2020
(Lodi)

Aroma: Grapefruit, citrus, orange blossom, wet fields, subtle smoke, chalk.

Palate: Lemon, apricot, blueberry, pineapple, vanilla, herbal, cucumber skin, wet flint, Burgundian-style.

Finish: Lemon zest, bitter Chinese melon, chalk, minerality, stone, clean, nice body, pleasant.

Silver Medal