Winemaker Notes
We have chosen three from among the several clones of Chardonnay planted here: the celebrated Wente Clone and Dijon clones 95 and 96. As usual at Bernardus, we use only hand-picked and sorted grapes for our wines.
On the nose we find aromas of ripe apple and pear with notes of orange blossom and caramel. The palate is beautifully rich with flavors of baked pear and candied orange peel, with hints of fresh, creamy butter accented by cinnamon and nutmeg. The finish is long and well-structured promising wonderful ageing potential for this delicious wine.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Almost as good and offering more stone fruits, pear, citrus rind, flowers and brioche, the 2011 Chardonnay Sierra Mar Vineyard is vividly defined and pure on the palate, with beautiful acidity and a lengthy, seamless finish. As with the Rosella’s Vineyard, it is a thrilling Chardonnay that will drink nicely through 2016 or beyond. Drink now-2016.
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Wine Enthusiast
This is a very fine, distinctive Chardonnay that's tight and streamlined. It's tangy with lemony acidity and a brisk minerality, but there’s also plenty of tropical fruit, apricot and honey flavors as well. Creamy notes of buttered toast and lees add richness to the palate.
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.