The Peninsula Hotel’s BTG Chardonnay (for 18 years)
- 93 pts Jeb Dunnuck93 pts Jeb Dunnuck
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2019 Keller Estate Chardonnay La Cruz Vineyard Petaluma Gap 750 ml
The Peninsula Hotel is one of the finest hotel groups in the world, and for the last 18 years—whether in Beverly Hills, Hong Kong, or somewhere in between—they’ve been pouring Keller Estate Chardonnay by the glass. Crafted by Kosta Browne- and Merry Edwards-trained winemaker Julien Teichmann, grown in the heart of the prestigious Petaluma Gap, Keller represents Sonoma County to the world. Their 2019 La Cruz Chardonnay hails from one of the finest vintages in the past decade—it’s made in an “opulent, classic style,” (Jeb Dunnuck), and we’ve got it for a great price.
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Representing Sonoma County to the World
Keller Estate is the premier winery in the newly-created Petaluma Gap AVA. Carved out of a windy section of the Sonoma Coast and home to legendary vineyards like Gap’s Crown and Griffins Lair, Petaluma Gap supplies grapes to star winemakers like David Ramey, Pax Mahle, and Helen Keplinger.
Unlike other parts of the Sonoma Coast, which are often locked in with fog all day, Petaluma Gap is cleared out with a strong sea breeze, ensuring plenty of sunshine and causing the grapes to develop thick skins—all while staying cool. Once autumn rolls around, Keller is able to let the grapes hang until they’re lusciously ripe, knowing that the bluster off the Pacific will not only keep the grapes free of disease, but keep the finished wines vibrant.
Those thick skins and that long hang-time allow Julien to produce the full-throttle Chardonnay that has earned Keller its sterling reputation. The nose is luxurious, with powerful aromas of apricots, lemon tart, and honeysuckle, all accented by a hint of five-spice. The palate boasts flavors of frangipane, roasted pears, lemon zest, and white peach, and combines the rich texture with a zesty finish.
The La Cruz Vineyard is planted on an ancient seabed, and its mineral-rich soils help the Chardonnay develop the stone fruit and signature spice notes we always love in this bottling, while varied Chardonnay clones ensure that there’s significant complexity in the bottle. Teichmann ferments and then ages the carefully-pressed juice in barrels, 25% of them new, to round out the mouthfeel and provide exemplary texture.