Fabio Viviani Chardonnay No. 19

Fabio Viviani Chardonnay No. 19 is a French Oak-aged California Chardonnay at 13% ABV in a standard 750ml bottle. The 2014 vintage earned 90 points from Tastings.com, highlighting its balanced interplay of tree fruit and toasty oak character achieved through partial malolactic fermentation.

Quick Facts: ABV: 13%  |  Origin: California, USA  |  Varietal: Chardonnay  |  Producer: Fabio Viviani Wines (produced in Santa Ynez, Santa Barbara County)

Production & Heritage

Fabio Viviani Chardonnay No. 19 is sourced from a selection of California vineyards and produced in Santa Barbara County's Santa Ynez wine country. The wine undergoes partial malolactic fermentation — a deliberate choice that preserves mid-range acidity and bright fruit while allowing a measure of creamy roundness to develop. Aging in French Oak barrels imparts the toasty, vanilla-laced dimension that distinguishes this bottling from fully stainless-steel-fermented Chardonnays, striking a middle ground between lean and buttery styles.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Subtle oaky notes greet the nose first, followed by ripe tree fruit — golden apple and summer pear — layered with a praline-like sweetness. A gentle toastiness ties the aromatics together without overwhelming the fruit.

Taste: The entry is lush and fresh, with golden apple and pear arriving immediately on the palate. Mid-palate, caramel undertones emerge alongside bright acidity, giving the wine a satiny, vibrant medium body. At its peak, flavors of pineapple cake and crème brûlée develop, adding unexpected richness without cloying sweetness.

Finish: Medium-long and seamless, with smoked nuts and lingering vanilla spice trailing off smoothly. Fine tannins from the French Oak provide gentle structure, leaving a clean and toasty impression.

How to Drink Chardonnay No. 19

Serve lightly chilled at around 50–55°F to let the oak and fruit notes express themselves fully; too cold and the toasty vanilla disappears. This Chardonnay also works well in several classic wine cocktails: a White Wine Spritzer, where the mid-range acidity and pear notes shine with club soda and a citrus twist; a French 75 variation substituting Chardonnay for Champagne, where the toasty oak adds depth to the lemon-gin base; and a Sangria Blanca, where its apple and caramel character pairs naturally with sliced stone fruits and a splash of brandy.

Best For

• Weeknight dinners featuring roast chicken or creamy pasta dishes
• Hosting a casual wine tasting focused on California Chardonnay styles
• Gifting to fans of balanced, not-too-oaky white wines
• Summer patio sipping with a light cheese board

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Chardonnay No. 19 taste like? It leads with golden apple and summer pear, transitions into caramel and crème brûlée at mid-palate, and finishes with smoked nuts and toasty vanilla from French Oak aging.

How does Chardonnay No. 19 compare to Kendall-Jackson Vintner's Reserve Chardonnay? Both are California Chardonnays with tropical and apple fruit notes, but Chardonnay No. 19 uses partial malolactic fermentation rather than full, resulting in brighter acidity and a less overtly buttery profile. The French Oak aging on the Viviani bottling also leans more toward toasty praline than the vanilla-forward American Oak influence common in Kendall-Jackson's flagship.

Is Chardonnay No. 19 good for sipping on its own? Yes — its balanced acidity, moderate oak influence, and lush fruit make it an enjoyable sipper slightly chilled, particularly for drinkers who find heavily oaked Chardonnays too rich.

Where is Chardonnay No. 19 made? The wine is sourced from multiple California vineyards and produced and bottled at a facility in Santa Ynez, located in Santa Barbara County's renowned wine country on California's Central Coast.

What foods pair well with Chardonnay No. 19? Roast chicken with herbs benefits from the wine's toasty oak and apple fruit. Grilled shrimp or lobster complements the crème brûlée richness. Creamy mushroom risotto mirrors the satiny texture. Aged Gruyère or Comté cheese echoes the nutty, toasty finish. Apple tart or pear galette harmonizes with the matching tree fruit notes.

What sizes does Chardonnay No. 19 come in? Fabio Viviani Chardonnay No. 19 is available in the standard 750ml bottle.

Is Chardonnay No. 19 worth the price? It positions as a solid mid-range California Chardonnay that over-delivers on complexity, particularly with its 90-point Tastings.com score validating its balanced oak and fruit integration at a competitive price tier.

Why Chardonnay No. 19?

The defining choice behind this wine is its partial malolactic fermentation — a technique that preserves bright acidity while still allowing creamy texture to develop, placing it squarely between the lean, unoaked school and the heavy, buttery style that divides Chardonnay drinkers. Its 90-point score from Tastings.com, which specifically praised the seamless finish and vibrant body, supports its standing among well-made California Chardonnays. French Oak aging adds a layer of toasty praline and smoked-nut complexity rarely found at this price tier. For anyone seeking a versatile, food-friendly Chardonnay with genuine depth, this bottling from Santa Ynez wine country delivers a compelling argument.