2016 Big Basin Chardonnay “Coastview Vineyard”, Monterey County - 750ml

93 Points – Wine Enthusiast

Big Basin’s Coastview Vineyard Chardonnay comes from a high-elevation site in Monterey County, where the cooler maritime influence and exposed mountain setting give Chardonnay a distinctly energetic profile. The 2016 now has meaningful bottle age, moving beyond its youthful fruit toward a more layered expression while retaining the acidity and mineral drive that underpin the wine.

Blend: 100% Chardonnay.

Tasting Notes: Baked apple and pear are joined by lemon curd, chamomile and toasted almond, with subtle leesy and savory notes emerging as the wine opens. The palate is textured and rounded but remains lively, with mature orchard fruit and a stony, gently saline quality carrying through the finish.

Structure: Medium to full-bodied, with a broad, developed texture balanced by persistent acidity. Bottle age has softened the wine’s youthful edges and integrated its fruit and élevage, while sufficient freshness remains to keep the palate focused.

Drink Window: Now–2029. At a decade from harvest, this is firmly in its mature drinking phase. Well-stored bottles should hold for several more years, but the appeal now lies in the intersection of remaining fruit, developed texture and emerging savory complexity rather than further long-term cellaring.

Decanting: No extended decant is necessary. Serve around 50–54°F and allow the wine to open gradually in a generous white-wine or Burgundy glass; if there is any reduction immediately after opening, a brief splash decant can help.

The 2016 Coastview Vineyard Chardonnay is particularly appealing for drinkers who enjoy mature California Chardonnay with freshness and site character rather than overt richness. Its developed texture makes it a natural partner for roast chicken, richer fish, scallops or mushroom dishes, while the remaining acidity keeps it composed at the table.