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The Peaks And Tides Sonoma Coast Chardonnay 2021 is a $9.99 Aldi exclusive. The Peaks and Tides name is owned by Aldi, but the back label says it was vinted and bottled by a wine company in Geyserville, California.
A quick check of the web showed this wine is credited to Delicato Family Vineyards who purchased Coppola Wines in 2021 and Coppola is located in Geyserville. The Sonoma Coast AVA is west of the Russian River AVA.
The vineyards are situated in the valleys and foothills of the California Coastal Mountains. Peaks and Tides is a fitting name since the region is dominated by mountains and the cool Pacific Ocean. The vineyards and wineries on the Sonoma Coast tend to be smaller, boutique wineries.
The Peaks And Tides Sonoma Coast Chardonnay 2021 is a reoccurring wine for Aldi we reviewed the 2018 vintage. The 2018 version was a defined bang for the buck wine and while the 2021 version may be produced by the new ownership I expect it to deliver solid drinking pleasure.
There are no technical notes for this Chardonnay, but the back label says the Peaks And Tides Sonoma Coast Chardonnay 2021 has flavors of pear, green apple, and hints of vanilla.
The pear and green apple suggest malolactic fermentation which changes the more citrus-tasting acid to rounded more fruit-flavored acidity. The hints of oak should come from some sort of oak conditioning. Wines from the Sonoma Coast AVA are expected to have oak barrel aging. The alcohol content is 14.1%.
The Peaks And Tides Sonoma Coast Chardonnay 2021 Tasting Notes
The color is pale wheat yellow. The nose is subtle, there is pear, apple, soft spice, peach, vanilla cream, and pineapple, with a light floral edge. The Peaks And Tides Sonoma Coast Chardonnay 2021 has a rich flavor, the softer nose had me concerned, but this Chardonnay is bold and varied.
This Chardonnay tastes like lemon, apple, peach, pear, melon, and lime, with soft spice. The mid-palate adds apricot, creamy vanilla, that salty/nutty on-lees sensation, and a little tropical fruit. The acidity is well-balanced.
The Summary
- The Peaks And Tides Sonoma Coast Chardonnay 2021 is an excellent, well-priced Chardonnay.
- It has a bit of oak character, but not too much.
- And the flavor goes on and on.
