Decoy California Chardonnay 2021
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Wilfred
Wong
Product Details
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Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Enticing aromatics of sweet citrus, Fuji apple, and peach mingle with lovely notes of custard and vanilla in this energetic and alluring Chardonnay. On the palate, bright acidity leads to beautiful layers of citrus, baking spices, and hints of vanilla, carrying the wine to a lengthy finish.
Professional Ratings
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2021 Decoy Chardonnay drinks pleasingly and easily while remaining crisp in the finish. TASTING NOTES: This wine exhibits aromas and flavors of creaminess, butterscotch, and ripe apples. Try it with pan-fried, skinless chicken thighs and white button mushrooms. (Tasted: February 5, 2023, San Francisco, CA)
Other Vintages
2020-
Wilfred
Wong
Since the inaugural vintage of our Decoy Napa Valley Red Wine more than a quarter century ago, Decoy has taken an important place in the Duckhorn Portfolio of wines. With a reputation for delivering great quality at a remarkable price, Decoy has established a loyal following for its distinctive style, which emphasizes ready-upon-release wines that are capable of expressing their full charm and complexity in their youth. Building on this foundation, Decoy has evolved from being a single wine that supported the Duckhorn Vineyards brand to being a renowned winery in its own right.
The Decoy lineup now includes a Sonoma County appellation-designated Red Blend, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, as well as a California Rosé, Pinot Noir and Sparkling Wine, all of which highlight Decoy’s commitment to producing attractively priced wines from exceptional vineyard sources.
Fruit for the Decoy program comes from a mix of Estate vineyards and top grower vineyards. From the wealth of viticultural and winemaking talent we can draw from, to our world-class cooperage program and more, Decoy benefits greatly from the remarkable resources of the Duckhorn Portfolio.
California’s most praised white wine, Chardonnay is also the state’s most planted white grape variety. Diverse terrain and microclimates allow for an incredible range of wine styles.
Chardonnay planted in the cooler, coastal zones takes on bright characteristics like lemon zest, key lime, green apple and wet flint. For this style, look to the chilly Sonoma Coast, Carneros, Santa Cruz Mountains, Santa Lucia Highlands and Edna Valley.
The inland zones of California’s coast, such as the Russian River, Sonoma, Napa and Livermore Valleys maintain a more Goldilocks-esque climate where both styles go. Early picking retains acidity and creates a leaner style but leaving the grapes to hang creates an approachable Chardonnay, balancing richness and finesse.
Chardonnay also plays a major part in the sparkling wine production of the Anderson Valley and Carneros.