This second vintage follows last year's successful debut of Silver, an effort to unite the crisp mineral essence of classic Chablis style with the tropical elements found in Chardonnay of the Pacific coastline.

Using Chardonnay grown in special blocks of the Mer Soleil Vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands of Monterey County, we harvested the grapes when just fully ripe, their gold color hued with green, expressing clean aromas of Chardonnay fruit and firm acidity.

The result is our latest presentation of a Chardonnay we consider as sleek and cool as Silver.
-Charlie Wagner II, Winemaker

This unoaked Chardonnay is a light gold color with a pale green tint. Clean, lively aromas of honeydew melon and green apple carry over to delicate tropical fruit flavors of pineapple and papaya, balanced with crisp mineral.

• 2007 Chardonnay (search item no. 91144)

Now winemaker and viticultural director at Mer Soleil Vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands of Monterey County, Charlie began his training while still in high school. He produced his first wine with the 1997 vintage of Mer Soleil Chardonnay.

SILVER Chardonnay grapes are grown in selected blocks of the Mer Soleil Vineyard and harvested at first ripening.

The grapes are then pressed and fermented slowly in stainless steel and cement vats, with no oak contact or malolactic fermentation.

The wine is capped with a twist top to maintain its fresh fruit character and crisp citrus finish.

About the Vineyard:
The Mer Soleil Vineyard is named for two natural forces that create its growing conditions: sea (mer) and sun (soleil).

The vineyard is planted at two separate locations in the Santa Lucia Highlands appellation of Monterey County, on east-facing lower slopes of the Sierra de Salinas range, one of the coolest, driest grape-growing areas in California.