Talley Vineyards! Straight up glorious golden nectar with 94 points (and a bonus 93) for nearly HALF OFF.

“I was blown away… across the board, the wines have fabulous typicity, purity and class, and are some of the greatest expressions of the varieties coming out of California today. I can’t recommend them enough.” - Jeb Dunnuck, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

Talley is peerless when it comes to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. As Vinous notes: “The standard here is very high, starting with the impeccably maintained vineyards and extending to the winemaking, overseen since 2010 by Eric Johnson, who has helped place Talley in the upper tier of New World Pinot Noir and Chardonnay producers, a slot that they easily maintain with the 2018 vintage.”

Josh D. - if you like that Sanford we sold a while back, you’re gonna LOVE this one, but act fast!

The family has been farming the Central Coast for decades, churning out wines that are neoclassical expressions of the greatest heights Chardonnay and Pinot Noir can achieve anywhere in the world. Robert Parker sure helped get the word out, as he put Talley above almost anyone, year in year out: “This small oasis is essentially a mono-appellation consisting of one winery dedicated to classy, elegant, long-lived Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs… As long time readers of The Wine Advocate are aware, these wines have consistently received terrific reviews since I first visited the property many years ago.”

He adds, “their pricing strategy makes these wines among the finest values for world-class Chardonnay and Pinot Noir that exist. That in itself should peak consumers’ interest in these wines… Pricing has always been fair and with prices of approximately $65 a bottle, they represent reasonable bargains for wines of such aromatic and flavor dimensions. While they are not inexpensive, compared to French white and red Burgundies of similar quality, they are steals.”

Well Bob, how about a Talley single vineyard in the high $20s??!! Unheard of!

Weighty, polished, and lusciousness meet vibrance, elegance, and poise. Everything held in perfect equilibrium here. It leans into the mineral side first on the nose but with restraint, keeping a ton of fresh lemon and citrus pith notes to pull it back from oak and butter being at all overblown. Pear, peach, pineapple, and lemon meringue pie play nicely with all manner of white flowers, honeysuckle, and vanilla crème topped cronuts. A masterpiece of complexity and balance, destined to become the new favorite Chard for more than a few Operatives.

Oh, last but not least, we snuck in a tiny bit of a single vineyard Pinot from Talley into the Store too for the collector hive who are swift and savvy, do not miss either of these CRAZY deals!

94 points – Antonio Galloni’s Vinous

“2018 marked Talley’s 36th anniversary as the oldest vineyard in Arroyo Grande and the 32nd vintage for their wines. It’s hard to overstate the impact that the Talley family has had on high-quality grape-growing and winemaking (not to mention vegetable farming) in California’s Central Coast. The standard here is very high, starting with the impeccably maintained vineyards and extending to the winemaking, overseen since 2010 by Eric Johnson, who has helped place Talley in the upper tier of New World Pinot Noir and Chardonnay producers, a slot that they easily maintain with the 2018 vintage. Pale yellow-gold. Mineral-accented nectarine, orange, pear nectar and white flowers on the intensely perfumed nose. Smooth, fleshy and energetic in the mouth, offering concentrated orchard and citrus fruit flavors complemented by suggestions of fennel, sweet butter and vanilla. Shows excellent depth as well as energy and finishes minerally, floral and impressively long, delivering fine definition and spicy lift. Drink 2022-2029.”

93 points – Jeb Dunnuck

“The 2018 Chardonnay Oliver’s Vineyard saw a similar upbringing and was raised in 23% new French oak. Lots of ripe orchard fruits, pear, sappy herbs, and mint all emerge from the glass, and it’s medium to full-bodied, with a supple, elegant texture, plenty of fruit, and a solid decade of life ahead of it. Drink 2020-2030.”