2020 Keller Estate Oro De Plata Chardonnay, Petaluma Gap
Bright aromas of lemon curd, crisp green apple, and jasmine excite the senses, while notes of orchard fruit meld with creamy lees and mineral nuances on the palate. The elegant balance of fruit, acid, and rich mouthfeel leads to a long, rounded finish.
Specs
Vintage: 2020
Varietal: Chardonnay
Appellation: Petaluma Gap
Harvest Date: September 10, 2020
Bottle Date: June 8th, 2021
Alcohol: 14.22%
Total Acidity: 6.4 g/L
pH: 3.47
Production: 273 cases
2021 Keller Estate Oro De Plata Chardonnay, Petaluma Gap
The 2021 Keller Estate Oro de Plata Chardonnay has aromas of lychee and just ripe pineapple, followed by floral notes of white petals. In the mouth, the wine has an apple or pear skin flavor paired with a palate-cleansing astringency which gives the wine length and dimension. There are notes of tres leches cake and waffle cone. This wine is lively in the mouth and full of fruit flavor. Without oak contact, the true essence of the Chardonnay grape varietal is delivered here.
Specs
Vintage: 2021
Varietal: Chardonnay
Appellation: Petaluma Gap
Harvest Date: September 9-21, 2021
Bottling Date: February 16, 2022
Alcohol: 14.1%
pH: 3.39
Production: 148 cases
Vintage-Vineyard
The 2020 vintage was vastly characterized by a series of environmental challenges, putting vineyard crews and winemakers to the test. The season started well, growing conditions were nearly ideal. Spring frost was an issue for some of our neighboring AVA’s, but our windy site was spared any frost. An August heat spell accelerated ripening, resulting in an early start to harvest and yielding a small crop. However, when the fire broke in Bodega bay on Sunday, August 24th the same winds that protected our site from frost brought days and days of smoke. Immediate sampling, analysis, and micro-fermentations allowed us to determine how to proceed.
Winemaking
Our 2020 Oro de Plata, comprised of 100% Old Wente Clone, was carefully hand-harvested over several cold autumn nights. The fruit was gently pressed and transferred to stainless steel tanks for slow fermentation under low temperatures. After four weeks, fermentation was complete, and the wine was left in the tanks to age on the lees for three months, never undergoing malolactic fermentation. After aging, the Oro de Plata Chardonnay was filtered, then bottled using a Nomacorc 100 closure, with a specific low oxygen ingress rate.
Vintage-Vineyard
By November 2020, it became apparent that the persistent, multi-year drought was adversely impacting the ponds’ levels. To reduce vine stress, we irrigated the vineyards early in the growing season to encourage them to pull nutrients from the soil and establish a healthy canopy. Keller Estate’s three rain-collection ponds, which irrigate our vineyards, olive groves, and landscaping, were almost dry by May. Fortunately, we had fewer than anticipated heat spells in the summer. With well-established vineyard sites and intensive canopy management, the vines produced beautiful clusters, albeit with small berries. As a result, the 2021 wines were concentrated, succulent, and rich.
Keller Estate was once part of the ancient seabed below San Pablo Bay. These mineral-rich, clay soils define our site and result in a rich minerality, a signature of our wines. The site’s proximity on the Western edge of Sonoma Mountain, above the Petaluma River, is the southern stretch of the Petaluma Gap. Winds from the Pacific Ocean are pulled through the ‘Gap’ by the warming Central Valley interior which impart distinctive fruit and floral aromatics which define this AVA.
We implement regenerative farming which focuses on top-soil renewal and increased cover crop and beneficial insect biodiversity, enhancing our own regional ecosystem as well as contributing to the health and vitality of the earth.
What’s Included
6-bottles:
3x - 2020 Keller Estate Oro De Plata Chardonnay, Petaluma Gap
3x - 2021 Keller Estate Oro De Plata Chardonnay, Petaluma Gap
Case:
6x - 2021 Keller Estate Oro De Plata Chardonnay, Petaluma Gap
6x - 2020 Keller Estate Oro De Plata Chardonnay, Petaluma Gap
Our mission is to share the passing of time through our family’s vineyard.
Arturo Keller and his wife Deborah first fell in love with the site while driving a vintage car through the meandering Sonoma roads, and selected the property for its potential as a site for a world-class vineyard. Clearly, the property’s beauty, setting, and history influenced our decision to make it our home.
In 1989, we planted the first Chardonnay vines, and La Cruz vineyard was born. Our first vintage was sold to Rombauer Vineyards, who rapidly became excited with the potential of the site, giving us confidence in our fruit. By 1999, we planted a few acres of Pinot Noir and recognized the potential to make our own exceptional wines. In 2000, the Keller Estate label became a reality. Shortly after, in collaboration with the prestigious Mexican firm of Legorreta+Legorreta we designed and built our stunning and functional winery, designed specifically for gravity-flow winemaking.
Ana Keller, Arturo’s daughter and a biochemist by training, joined the team eager to create the most exquisite wines from the Estate’s vineyards. With Arturo’s constant vision and encouragement, Ana’s passion has established Keller Estate as a benchmark for producing some of the best wines in the Sonoma Coast. Her passion and dedication have been instrumental in establishing Petaluma Gap AVA and promoting the wines of this region worldwide.
We invite you to visit us and share our passion.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, WA, WI, WY
Keller Estate Oro De Plata Chardonnay Mix
6 bottles for $99.99 $16.67/bottle + $1.33/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $159.99 $13.33/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
I’ve got 2 cases of Iron Horse unoaked Chardonnay en-route to me from Casemates, but this does sound really interesting and sounds similar. Hoping for rats to give some details.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations).
Keller Estate Oro De Plata Chardonnay Mix - $40 = 20.00%
Owen Bargreen, 2020 Vintage:
92 points. This wine comes from the Petaluma Gap and was aged in stainless steel before bottling. This shows a silky texture coming off very elegant with bright underlying acidity. Starfruit and pear tones combine with copious minerals on the palate. Drink 2023 - 2031 Owen Bargreen May 2023
Hudin dot com, the 2020, an 87 pointer behind a paywall (useless info right?)
Top Flight Wine Club (?) the 2020…Fresh in anise, peach and stone, this wine has a nuanced texture and crisp, mineral-driven steeliness that keeps it lively and vibrant in the glass. Stainless-steel fermented and aged in neutral oak, it is a lovely take on the cool-climate appellation. (more useless info, can’t help myself)
Jeb Dunnuck dot com, the 2020:
92 points. The 2020 Chardonnay Oro De Plata is bright with lime zest, crushed rock, and fresh pear that carries over to the palate. Medium-bodied and silky textured, with fresh, energetic citrus and mineral lift, this white delivers a very pure and clean style to enjoy over the next 6-8 years. Drink 2022 - 2030 Audrey Frick 8/2/22
Wine Spectator, the 2021:
87 points. Plump peach and apricot flavors, with a touch of lemon, make for a fresh combination, backed by a hint of toasted fennel and a juicy finish. Drink now. 148 cases made. MaryAnn Worobiec April 15, 2024
The 2021 was a Press Democrat wine of the week Sept '23…the Keller Estate, 2021 Oro De Plata Chardonnay, Petaluma Gap, Sonoma County, 14.1%, $42. Stone fruit meets citrus in this impressive bottling, a supple chardonnay with great minerality. Balanced, it finishes crisp.
sidenote…the 2020 Keller Estate La Cruz was offered here in Sept '25 for 109.99, box of 12. (annnd more useless info)
@rjquillin it was a good wine; I liked it…different vineyard and it was in oak barrels, though. This one sounds more interesting to me from the reviews that @kaolis posted.
I pulled the trigger and purchased a case. Based on liking that other Chard from Keller and on the pro reviews for these unoaked variants.
/giphy illiterate-floppy-attack
An interesting take on Chardonnay, with none of the hallmarks one would usually expect. It was however a pleasant drinking wine, bright and crisp, aromatics leaning towards the floral side, with medium bodied texture, some interesting flavors that were inline with the production methods, a slight leesy note to the palate, alongside peach and honeysuckle, clean on the finish. Drink this year.
Keller Estate Oro De Plata Chardonnay Mix
2020 Keller Estate Oro De Plata Chardonnay, Petaluma Gap
Specs
2021 Keller Estate Oro De Plata Chardonnay, Petaluma Gap
Specs
Vintage-Vineyard
Winemaking
Vintage-Vineyard
What’s Included
6-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
not for sale on winery website, $480/case MSRP
About The Winery
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, WA, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Monday, Aug 17 - Tuesday, Aug 18
Keller Estate Oro De Plata Chardonnay Mix
6 bottles for $99.99 $16.67/bottle + $1.33/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $159.99 $13.33/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
2020 Keller Estate Oro De Plata Chardonnay
2021 Keller Estate Oro De Plata Chardonnay
I’ve got 2 cases of Iron Horse unoaked Chardonnay en-route to me from Casemates, but this does sound really interesting and sounds similar. Hoping for rats to give some details.
@forlich you specifically mentioned this wine in the comments on a previous Keller Chardonnay.
2020 fires
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations).
Keller Estate Oro De Plata Chardonnay Mix - $40 = 20.00%
Owen Bargreen, 2020 Vintage:
92 points. This wine comes from the Petaluma Gap and was aged in stainless steel before bottling. This shows a silky texture coming off very elegant with bright underlying acidity. Starfruit and pear tones combine with copious minerals on the palate. Drink 2023 - 2031 Owen Bargreen May 2023
Hudin dot com, the 2020, an 87 pointer behind a paywall (useless info right?)
Top Flight Wine Club (?) the 2020…Fresh in anise, peach and stone, this wine has a nuanced texture and crisp, mineral-driven steeliness that keeps it lively and vibrant in the glass. Stainless-steel fermented and aged in neutral oak, it is a lovely take on the cool-climate appellation. (more useless info, can’t help myself)
Jeb Dunnuck dot com, the 2020:
92 points. The 2020 Chardonnay Oro De Plata is bright with lime zest, crushed rock, and fresh pear that carries over to the palate. Medium-bodied and silky textured, with fresh, energetic citrus and mineral lift, this white delivers a very pure and clean style to enjoy over the next 6-8 years. Drink 2022 - 2030 Audrey Frick 8/2/22
Wine Spectator, the 2021:
87 points. Plump peach and apricot flavors, with a touch of lemon, make for a fresh combination, backed by a hint of toasted fennel and a juicy finish. Drink now. 148 cases made. MaryAnn Worobiec April 15, 2024
The 2021 was a Press Democrat wine of the week Sept '23…the Keller Estate, 2021 Oro De Plata Chardonnay, Petaluma Gap, Sonoma County, 14.1%, $42. Stone fruit meets citrus in this impressive bottling, a supple chardonnay with great minerality. Balanced, it finishes crisp.
sidenote…the 2020 Keller Estate La Cruz was offered here in Sept '25 for 109.99, box of 12. (annnd more useless info)
fwiw
that previous offer from 2025.09.15 where there are some LLRs and a bit from the producer as well
@rjquillin it was a good wine; I liked it…different vineyard and it was in oak barrels, though. This one sounds more interesting to me from the reviews that @kaolis posted.
I pulled the trigger and purchased a case. Based on liking that other Chard from Keller and on the pro reviews for these unoaked variants.
/giphy illiterate-floppy-attack
An interesting take on Chardonnay, with none of the hallmarks one would usually expect. It was however a pleasant drinking wine, bright and crisp, aromatics leaning towards the floral side, with medium bodied texture, some interesting flavors that were inline with the production methods, a slight leesy note to the palate, alongside peach and honeysuckle, clean on the finish. Drink this year.
@Apsarawinemaker
Did you get a Rat bottle?
Which vintage?
@Apsarawinemaker What hallmarks one would usually expect are missing here?