Wines Sonoma Coast Pillar & Post - Chardonnay - 2020

Viniou Reviews

Pillar & Post's 2020 Chardonnay from the Sonoma Coast is a beautiful expression of coastal Californian winemaking. Made exclusively from Chardonnay grapes, this white wine offers a modern style, balancing freshness with subtle richness. The 2020 vintage experienced a cool, consistent growing season, allowing for slow grape maturation, preserving acidity and aromatic nuance. Grapes are typically sourced from multiple vineyard sites along the Sonoma Coast AVA, benefitting from the ocean's cooling influence. Vinification likely blends stainless steel fermentation to enhance crispness and partial malolactic fermentation with gentle oak aging, lending complexity, creamy texture, and harmonious integration of flavors such as green apple, Meyer lemon, white peach, and hints of toasted brioche.

The Sonoma Coast is a renowned region within California’s wine landscape. Located along the Pacific Ocean, the climate is dominated by cool, foggy conditions, which prolong the growing season and result in wines of notable freshness and elegance. Gravelly and sandy loam soils encourage deep root growth and drainage, allowing winemakers to achieve balanced ripeness and expressive minerality. Since the late 20th century, Sonoma Coast has drawn international attention for its outstanding Chardonnays—wines that often combine New World ripeness with Old World finesse.

For food pairings, this Sonoma Coast Chardonnay’s vibrant acidity and subtle creaminess make it particularly versatile. It pairs beautifully with classic regional dishes like grilled Dungeness crab or seared scallops, as well as roast chicken with herbs or a simple pasta primavera. For cheese, opt for semi-soft, creamy selections such as brie or camembert. The wine’s elegant texture also complements vegetable risottos or light Asian-inspired dishes with ginger and lemongrass.

To fully appreciate this wine, serve chilled at 10-12°C. Consider decanting for 15-20 minutes to open up the subtle oak and fruit aromas. Enjoyable now for its vibrancy, it also has the potential to develop added complexity over the next 3-5 years.