The Coppola Diamond Collection Chardonnay 2019 is sourced from grapes grown in coastal vineyards. It may be confusing but there seem to be three Diamond Collection Chardonnays, a black-label Sonoma Coast Chardonnay, a Monterey Chardonnay, and a California Chardonnay. The last two both have an orange label.
This Chardonnay lists for $16 on the Coppola website but can be found in the $10 to $12 range at many shops. The Diamond Collection is an entry-level brand that focuses on Classic California varietal wines. The next level up is the Director’s Cut series which features wines from particular AVAs.
The Coppola winery and vineyards were recently purchased by Delicato Family Vineyards located in both Lodi and Napa. Delicato is a family-owned and operated company that makes excellent affordable wines, so I do not expect any major changes at Coppola wines.
The Coppola Diamond Collection Chardonnay 2019 was aged in French oak barrels for 9 months with 35% of the barrels new. A new oak barrel gives off more oak influence than a barrel that has been used once or twice before. Too much oak influence can ruin the taste of the wine, so getting the right blend of new and used oak barrels is extremely important.
This Chardonnay should be fruit-forward with a balanced amount of oak flavorings, such as vanilla, butter, and spice. Wine is a California wine on the label when the grapes are sourced from 2 different main AVAs. When grapes from the Central Coast AVA (like Monterey) are added to grapes from the North Coast AVA (like Sonoma) they then fall into the California designation. Grapes from Lodi and Clarksburg which are not a part of a larger AVA will also be called California wine when mixed with North Coast or Central Coast grapes. The alcohol content is 13.5%.
The Coppola Diamond Collection Chardonnay 2019 Tasting Notes
The color is a very pale golden yellow. The nose is peach, melon, light honey, apple, lime, and stone fruit, along with spring flowers. The Coppola Diamond Collection Chardonnay 2019 is a bright and juicy wine with rich flavors and good length.
This Chardonnay tastes like apricot mixed with apple, and lemon curd, that salty/nutty “on-lees” sensation, and nectarine. The mid-palate mirrors the main body of the wine but does add vanilla cream, tart grapefruit, and pineapple (not sweet).
The acidity allows the flavors to unfold but does not bite or interfere with the drinking pleasure.
The Summary
- The Coppola Diamond Collection Chardonnay 2019 is a solid, tasty, classic well-priced California Chardonnay.
- It is easy to drink, makes a wonderful sipping wine, and will also be useful in pairing with summer salads and seafood dishes. It will also do a great job cooling down spicey Asian noodle cuisine.
