Winemaker Notes
2011 was another beautiful vintage on the Central Coast: mild, sunny summer weather with warm, dry conditions throughout harvest and low yields. This provided us with superb grapes in 2011.
Our 2011 Rosella's Chardonnay exhibits classic aromas of the candied citrus peel along with mineral and spice notes. The palate is intense and well-focused with flavors of baked apple, cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg, accented with notes of mineral and toasty oak. Our 2011 Rosella's Chard has an excellent structure to age for several years in a good cellar.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
An off-the-hook Chardonnay that got a big "Wow" in my notes, the 2011 Chardonnay Rosella's Vineyard leads off with gorgeous aromas of white peach, apple, toast, brioche and classic minerality on the nose. Lively, beautifully fresh and seamless, with building, understated richness, this totally gorgeous wine should not be missed! Drink now-2016.
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Wine Enthusiast
Fermentation and aging in French oak barrels with battonage have given this extraordinarily ripe Chardonnay a creamy, leesy mouthfeel. It's the perfect accompaniment to lush tropical fruit, citrus, apricot and baking spice flavors.
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.
Perhaps the most highly regarded appellation within Monterey County, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA benefits from a combination of warm morning sunshine and brisk afternoon breezes, allowing grapes to ripen slowly and fully. The result is concentrated, flavorful wines that retain their natural acidity. Wineries here do not shy away from innovation, and place a high priority on sustainable viticultural practices.
The climatic conditions here are perfectly suited to the production of ripe, rich Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. These Burgundian varieties dominate an overwhelming percentage of plantings, though growers have also found success with Syrah, Riesling and Pinot Gris.