2021 Purlieu Le Pich Chardonnay estate spotlight
The market on this bottle
U.S. shop listings for this bottle, before sales tax. Auctions and markdowns are left out. The lowest regular in-stock shop price is $47.99. This bottle is $28. No Wine-Searcher average is used on this page. Checked 2026-10-06.
Russian River Valley Chardonnay
2021 Purlieu Le Pich Chardonnay, Russian River Valley, USA
Golden eagle in the Wappo language, on a Russian River Chardonnay.
Le Pich is the Wappo term for golden eagle, and it is the sister label to Purlieu. Julien Fayard makes both. This 2021 is Russian River Valley Chardonnay. The bottle is $28.
Fayard, and a river Chardonnay with a saline edge
Julien Fayard is the winemaker for Purlieu and for Le Pich. Le Pich is the sister label, and the name is the Wappo word for golden eagle. The 2021 is Russian River Valley Chardonnay.
Ripe pear, lightly toasted brioche, magnolia, and river rock open it, then golden apple, quince, and baking spice, with a saline edge, silky texture, and bright acidity. If that is the Chardonnay you keep describing, why are you still walking past the bottle?
The name
Le Pich is a Wappo term for golden eagle.
The label
It is the sister label to Purlieu.
The winemaker
Julien Fayard makes the wines of both labels.
The place
The 2021 is Russian River Valley Chardonnay.
Pear, brioche, quince, and river rock
Ripe pear and lightly toasted brioche open it. Magnolia and river rock sit underneath.
Golden apple, quince, and baking spice follow, with saline, a silky texture, and bright acidity.
Pear, brioche, quince, and river rock
Pear and brioche first. Then magnolia, golden apple, quince, baking spice, and the clean mineral of river rock. The texture is silky and the acidity stays bright.
Pour the 2021 at $28. Twelve bottles ship free in the lower 48. Hawaii and Alaska are quoted on their own.
Ripe pear, lightly toasted brioche, and magnolia.
Golden apple, quince, and baking spice, with a silky texture.
River rock, saline, and bright acidity.
One winemaker, two labels
Julien Fayard makes Purlieu and Le Pich, and this bottle is the river Chardonnay under the golden-eagle name.
Le Pich is the Wappo term for golden eagle. It is the sister label to Purlieu, not a separate cellar with a separate hand.
Fayard is winemaker of both. The 2021 cuvee is Russian River Valley Chardonnay.
The glass shows ripe pear, lightly toasted brioche, magnolia, river rock, golden apple, quince, and baking spice, then saline, a silky texture, and bright acidity.
A Wappo name, and Fayard's second label
Golden eagle in the Wappo language, beside Purlieu, with the same winemaker.
Le Pich is a Wappo term for golden eagle.
The label sits beside Purlieu as its sister, and Julien Fayard makes the wines of both.
This 2021 is his Russian River Valley Chardonnay: ripe pear, lightly toasted brioche, magnolia, river rock, and a saline finish.
Crab cakes, then vinegar slaw
Silky pear and brioche want a crab cake, and the saline finish wants a sharp vinegar coleslaw.
Two plates. Crab cakes. Vinegar coleslaw. Both can take pear, brioche, and that saline edge.
Serve this white cool. It does not need a decant.
Crab cakes
Lump crab with a little mayonnaise and mustard, formed into cakes and browned in a skillet.
Why it works: Sweet crab meets ripe pear and brioche, and the crisp edge keeps the silky texture from going soft.
View Recipe for Crab cakes (opens in a new tab)Vinegar coleslaw
Shredded cabbage, carrot, and onion in a sweet apple-cider vinegar dressing.
Why it works: The vinegar matches the saline finish and the bright acidity without a heavy cream dressing.
View Recipe for Vinegar coleslaw (opens in a new tab)Pour the golden-eagle Chardonnay
Russian River Valley Chardonnay from Julien Fayard, under the Le Pich label, at $28.
Open the 2021 Le Pich Chardonnay with crab cakes.
