Freddy R. Troya

9.2

Flowers Vineyards & Winery – Chardonnay – 2022
Sonoma Coast AVA – Sonoma County, California 🇺🇸

Overview
A pure expression of the broader Sonoma Coast AVA, this Chardonnay blends fruit from multiple coastal sites to deliver Flowers’ signature style: bright, fresh, and mineral-driven. Less oak-forward and less textural tension than their single-vineyard bottlings, this cuvée leans into steeliness, lift, and coastal clarity. Tropical fruit plays a leading role while creaminess takes a gentle back seat, exactly the balance that makes this wine so inviting.

Aromas & Flavors
Pineapple, Meyer lemon, green apple, and white peach, intertwined with coastal salinity, crushed shells, and light honeysuckle. Subtle hints of vanilla and toasted almond sit quietly in the background.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied, clean, and vibrant. Marked by high natural acidity and a steely mineral line that keeps everything refreshing. The finish is bright and persistent, more fruit-driven than creamy.

Food Pairings
Lemon-herb chicken, grilled halibut, shrimp linguine, caprese salad, or sushi with citrus accents.

Verdict
A beautifully balanced, coastally expressive Chardonnay that prioritizes freshness over opulence. Tropical lift, minerality, and gentle oak integration make this a standout for those who prefer precision over butter.

Did You Know?
Flowers was one of the pioneers of the far Sonoma Coast, planting vineyards in the early 1990s when few believed coastal farming was viable. Their Sonoma Coast Chardonnay is crafted to showcase the AVA as a whole, combining multiple sites to capture the region’s signature brightness and maritime drive. — 20 days ago

Conrad Green

9.7

spectacular nose. Opening up but tightly wound at first. Lime, acacia, honeysuckle, oyster shells, a soft plasticine rounding it out. Gorgeous and refined and improving in the glass enormously. — 6 months ago

with Walker and David

John Willison

9.0

Crushed oyster shells, ocean water, crisp acidity. Clean. — a year ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.5

Medium lemon , hints of gold , quite a healthy colour with fine pretty persistent bubbles still . This quite intense with candied lemon peel , brioche , oyster shells , touch of porcini . On the palate this is intense ,with good volume and vibrant acidity. Buttered brioche , oyster shell , candied orange and lemon peel . Really quite lovely and intense , long and toasted brioche , chalky finish . This is at peak now , but no rush from here over the next 5 perhaps 10 years . — 2 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.4

Quite light straw . Very complex and taut on the nose , with crushed shells , touch of honied citrus fruits , gun flint , green apple , camomile . On the palate this is very mineral and intense with chalk dust and citrus , apple peel , really long and mineral . Good volume but really excellent balance . Perfect fresh acidity, and saline mineral intensity on the finish . Really young still but so good at the moment , though will continue on like this , probably improving for a further decade at least . Restaurant Drouant , Paris . — 5 months ago

Conrad Green

9.5

Fully mature. Some light notes of sherry, limpid lime, oyster shells, lemon oil, slate. Complex, long and delicious. Very good. — 7 months ago

with Bex

Tom Garland

9.4

Pop and pour 375ml. A brilliant medium gold color. On the nose: lemon, floral, oyster shells, saline. Taste: bright, chalky wine with apple, lemon, floral, caramel and a nice never-ending finish. YUM! young and will improve. — 3 months ago

with Brenda

Conrad Green

9.5

Not poxed! Hints of age. Corn and lemon oil, oyster shells. Intense and balanced. Great — 5 months ago

with Steve

Conrad Green

9.7

Fabulous stuff. This is so complex and delicious. Oyster shells. Soft lemon, stone, light salinity. Profound and long and delicious with none of the overbaked qualities of some 2010’s. Spectacular. — 7 months ago

GaryWEdwards

9.6

Deep golden color with a citrus undertone and distinct minerality, if not oyster shells. Delightfully pleasant wine. — 2 years ago