The Chardonnay Diamond Collection Pavilion is the white equivalent of the Claret from the same series. In most years it is also a blend, just like the Claret. The Chardonnay is then mixed with some Viognier or Muscat. The grapes come from the Santa Lucia Highlands. The vineyards of this appellation (American Viticultural Area, AVA) are located on the foothills of the Santa Lucia Range, near Monterey. This is a special place, because cool air flows into the valley in the afternoon, and because the vineyards are located on east-facing slopes, above an altitude of 100 meters. The cool conditions that result from this ensure a slow, very even ripening process, which ensures grapes with a high concentration. It has enough acids to undergo malolactic fermentation, which gives it a beautifully rich, slightly buttery character. It is aged for eight months in French oak barrels of the highest quality, which gives it a beautiful, subtle wood tone. But the beautiful tropical fruit prevails.

The Pavilion Chardonnay is straw yellow in the glass. In the nose, the wine has a seductive scent with notes of toast, deliciously exotic, peach, guava, honeysuckle, a touch of orange peel. On the palate the Pavilion is full bodied, powerful, with pear and ripe peach, buttery, wide and intense, beautiful citrus, vanilla, toasted bread but certainly not excessive in the oak tones which is too often the case. The Pavilion is delicious with monkfish, scallops saint-jacques, salad with crab, but also with chicken or turkey and veal.