Winemaker Notes
Bernardus 2018 Rosella’s Chardonnay exhibits complex aromas of ripe white fruits, honey suckle and baking spice. The intense flavors mirror the aromas which linger beautifully through its long, crisp finish.
Professional Ratings
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Connoisseurs' Guide
Hailing from one of the Santa Lucia Highlands’ more notable sites and a wine that goes right for the richness for which its appellation is known, this full and effusive Chardonnay is at once weighty, mouthfilling and well-balanced with a wealth of oak-sweetened, ripe apple fruit at the fore from beginning to end. It is so deep and abundantly fruity that its scant finishing heat will go unnoticed by all but the pickiest few, and it is an altogether delicious wine that will drink splendidly in the near- to mid-term with all of the full-flavored foods that very rich Chardonnays commend.
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Wine Enthusiast
Rounded aromas of lychee, cherimoya, Meyer lemon peel and light cream are very soft and inviting on the nose of this bottling. The palate is broad and full, with lush flavors of baked apple, roasted white peach, light macadamia nut and a lingering sense of sea salt.
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.