Full Review

Wellsley Farms

Wellsley Farms
2021 Chardonnay, California

Pair this wine with:
Chicken Shellfish Turkey

Category: Chardonnay

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 14.1%
85 Points
Silver Medal
Highly Recommended
$6
Best Buy

Wellsley Farms
2021 Chardonnay, California

Pair this wine with:
Chicken Shellfish Turkey

Category: Chardonnay

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 14.1%
Yellow straw color. Aromas and flavors of apples, waffle batter, and dehydrated apricots with a round, vibrant, dry medium body and a tingling, medium-length finish with notes of green and yellow apple, apricot and cream, and shortbread with light oak flavor. A simple and overall pleasant example of Chardonnay that would serve well as a regular table wine.

Tasting Info

Wine Glass Style: New World
Aroma Aroma: apples, waffle batter, and dehydrated apricots
Taste Flavor: Same as aromas with notes of green and yellow apple, apricot and cream, and shortbread
Sweetness Sweetness: Dry
Enjoy Enjoy: Now on its own and with food
Recipes Pairing: Turkey, Roasted Chicken, Boiled Lobster
Bottom Line Bottom Line: A simple and overall pleasant example of Chardonnay that would serve well as a regular table wine.

The Producer

Plata Wine Partners

The Producer
855 Bordeaux Way, Suite 100
Napa, CA 94558
USA
1 707-261-8740

Their Portfolio

91 Abrupt Vineyards 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley 13.5% (USA) $60.00.
91 Abrupt Vineyards 2019 Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast 13.5% (USA) $60.00.
87 Butterfly Fields 2021 Chardonnay, California 14.1% (USA) $11.00.
90 Crossways Winery 2019 Pinot Noir, California 13.5% (USA) $32.00.
85 Crossways Winery 2020 Chardonnay, California 13.5% (USA) $28.00.
86 Dark Cherrycream 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, Monterey 13.8% (USA) $13.00.
88 Dekreme 2022 Cuvee Brut Sparkling Wine, Monterey County 11.5% (USA) $15.00.
88 Dekreme 2022 Cuvee Brut Sparkling Wine, Mendocino County 11.5% (USA) $15.00.
88 High Roller 2021 Pinot Noir, Santa Barbara County 14.1% (USA) $14.00.
89 High Roller 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles 13.5% (USA) $14.00.
88 Laurel Cellars 2021 Pinot Noir, Monterey County 14.2% (USA) $12.00.
85 Laurel Cellars 2021 Chardonnay, Monterey County 14% (USA) $11.00.
87 Pink Moon 2023 California 12.5% (USA) $10.00.
BR Popcorn 2019 Chardonnay, California 13.5% (USA) $16.00. - Bronze Medal
85 Sea Wave Wines 2020 Low-Alcohol Rose, California 7% (USA) $4.00.
87 Sea Wave Wines 2019 Low-Alcohol, Pinot Noir, California 7% (USA) $4.00.
BR Sea Wave Wines 2019 Low-Alcohol, Chardonnay, California 7% (USA) $4.00. - Bronze Medal
90 Seven Rings 2020 Chardonnay, Napa Valley 14.2% (USA) $21.00.
94 Seven Rings 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, Oak Knoll District, Napa Valley 13.5% (USA) $34.00.
94 Seven Rings 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville, Napa Valley 13.5% (USA) $39.00.
88 Smith & Elliott 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley 14.1% (USA) $26.00.
89 Smith & Elliott 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 13.8% (USA) $32.00.
86 Smith & Elliott 2021 Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast 13.8% (USA) $15.00.
87 Smith & Elliott 2020 Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast 13.8% (USA) $16.00.
87 Smith & Elliott 2022 Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley 13.5% (USA) $18.00.
89 Smith & Elliott 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley 14.1% (USA) $16.00.
87 Smith & Elliott 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 13.8% (USA) $26.00.
90 Smith & Elliott 2022 Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast 14.1% (USA) $15.00.
88 Thirty Degrees 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles 13.5% (USA) $34.00.
90 Tributus 2018 Reserve, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 13.8% (USA) $44.00.
89 Tributus 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles 13.8% (USA) $24.00.
93 True Oak Estate 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, Oak Knoll District, Napa Valley 13.8% (USA) $39.00.
89 True Oak Estate 2020 Red Blend, Napa Valley 13.8% (USA) $34.00.
93 True Oak Estate 2022 Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley 13.5% (USA) $18.00.
94 True Oak Estate 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon, Oak Knoll District, Napa Valley 13.8% (USA) $28.00.
89 True Oak Vineyards 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 13.5% (USA) $66.00.
90 True Oak Vineyards 2020 Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley 13.5% (USA) $56.00.
87 True Oak Vineyards 2021 Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley 13.5% (USA) $19.00.
86 Verada 2019 Tri County, Merlot, San Luis Obispo, Monterey 13.5% (USA) $16.00.
85 Verada 2019 Reserve, Pinot Noir, Tri-County 14.2% (USA) $18.00.
87 Wellsley Farms 2021 Pinot Noir, Tri-County 14.1% (USA) $9.00.
85 Wellsley Farms 2021 Chardonnay, California 14.1% (USA) $6.00.

Chardonnay

Wine Glass White.jpg
Serve in a White Wine Glass
Chardonnay is arguably the world’s most famous white variety, thanks to its success in France’s Burgundy region as well as throughout much of California. Chardonnay on its own has rather straightforward, pleasant aromas of apple and pear, but when aged (and sometimes fermented) in small oak barrels, the wines take on extra richness as well as notes of toasted almond, vanilla and yeast.

The most renowned examples of Chardonnay are from small villages and vineyards in Burgundy, such as Chassagne-Montrachet, Puligny-Montrachet and Meursault. These wines are very powerful with ample spicy notes and very good acidity; they age very well, sometimes as long as 20-25 years. Another part of Burgundy, Chablis, is home to more restrained style of Chardonnay. Certain areas of California, especially Russian River Valley in Sonoma and Santa Barbara County are also home to many distinguished examples of Chardonnay, with those from the latter region often displaying tropical fruit flavors.

Given that most Chardonnnays are aged in small oak barrels, there has been a movement as of late to give consumers a mored delicate style of Chardonnay, without all the spicy and toasty flavors. Thus there are now many producers that produce non-oak aged Chardonnays; this has been seen from many producers from Australia as well as a few in California as well.

Chardonnay, especially oak-aged versions, are quite rich and need seafood of equal richness at the dinner table. Thus lobster, halibut and swordfish are ideal food pairings.