Expect lemon, green apple, white peach, white flowers, and a clean mineral note with medium body, taut texture, and bright acidity. Unoaked or lightly oaked Chardonnay highlights the cool-climate fruit character without the rich, buttery profile of fully oaked styles. The 2021 California vintage was excellent; 2023 was cool and longer-than-typical.
- Varietal
- Chardonnay (unoaked or lightly oaked, given placement in the unoaked Chardonnay batch)
- Region
- USA / California / Monterey-San Luis Obispo (Chamisal's primary estate is in Edna Valley)
- Body
- Medium
- Style
- dry white, fresh, restrained, food-friendly
The producer
Chamisal Vineyards is one of Edna Valley's foundational estates, planted in 1973 — one of the first vineyards in the AVA. The estate produces multiple Chardonnay bottlings spanning oaked and unoaked styles. Now part of the Crimson Wine Group.
What critics say
Chamisal Chardonnays receive consistently solid reviews as benchmark cool-climate Central Coast whites.
Pairing
Raw oysters, grilled fish with lemon, butter-poached scallops, light seafood pastas