Winemaker Notes
The Bernardus 2023 Santa Lucia Highlands Chardonnay showcases elegant aromas of citrus blossom, pear, and golden apple, gracefully intertwined with touches of vanilla and toasted almond. On the palate, it's rich yet refined, featuring layers of Meyer lemon, stone fruit, and a delicate minerality that reflects its coastal origins. Balanced by bright acidity and a silky texture, the wine concludes with a lingering, harmonious finish that highlights the craftsmanship behind this classic Bernardus Chardonnay.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Fresh aromas of orchard fruit, melon and spices before a weighty palate with vivid acidity and flavors of honeydew, caramel apples, crushed hazelnuts and warm spices. Creamy and well crafted, with a touch of minerals. Drink or hold. Screw cap.
One of the most popular and versatile white wine grapes, Chardonnay offers a wide range of flavors and styles depending on where it is grown and how it is made. While it tends to flourish in most environments, Chardonnay from its Burgundian homeland produces some of the most remarkable and longest lived examples. California produces both oaky, buttery styles and leaner, European-inspired wines. Somm Secret—The Burgundian subregion of Chablis, while typically using older oak barrels, produces a bright style similar to the unoaked style. Anyone who doesn't like oaky Chardonnay would likely enjoy Chablis.
A geographic and climatic paradise for grape vines, Monterey is a part of the greater Central Coast AVA and contains within it five smaller sub-appellations, including Arroyo Seco, San Lucas, San Bernabe, Hames Valley and the famous Santa Lucia Highlands. The climate is relatively warm but tempered by cool, coastal winds, allowing the regions in Monterey County an exceptionally long growing season. Bud break often happens two weeks sooner and harvest tends to be two weeks later compared to other surrounding regions.
Monterey’s coastal side, where the cooling ocean fog allows grapes to develop a perfect sugar-acid balance, excels in the production of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Riesling. Warmer, inland subzones are home to fleshy, concentrated and full-bodied reds like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Zinfandel.
Chardonnay, covering about 40% of vineyard acreage, is the most widely planted grape in all of Monterey County.