2019 Calling Card Chardonnay Sonoma Coast Sonoma County 750 ml

When it comes to winemaking in the Napa Valley, it’s hard to be in better hands than Evyn Cameron. She’s a crackerjack: In less than 10 years time, Cameron went from being a server for the Thomas Keller Group in New York City to being an enologist for the renowned Cliff Lede and head winemaker at Crocker & Starr. Only diligence and raw talent produce that kind of trajectory—or the 100-point wines she made along the way.

Cameron made 2019 Calling Card Chardonnay from a 20-year old vineyard in the Sonoma Coast AVA, owned by a prestigious Pinot Noir and Chardonnay producer. It’s Dijon clone 76 and 96, planted on the Yolo sandy loam soil series rather close to the Pacific, where ripening is slow and sugar accumulation generally matches that of acidity, giving this a ripe fruit profile but a welcome snap on the palate. 

The wine has a medium lemon color, with touches of gold near the center. It’s incredibly complex: Abundant aromas of lime flowers, Dorsett Golden apples, fresh Colorado peach, vanilla custard, lightly toasted pineapple, and lemon cream abound. Crisp and juicy on the palate, with balanced acidity and lovely flavors of baked quince and pears, a touch of cinnamon, seared apricot, yellow peach, and guava. Bottom line: you will routinely pay more than $40 for Chardonnay of this quality from the Sonoma Coast, so stock up on this beauty before it’s gone!