Mer Soleil Barrel Fermented Chardonnay 2005 Front Label
Mer Soleil Barrel Fermented Chardonnay 2005 Front Label

Winemaker Notes

This marks the 13th vintage for Mer Soleil Chardonnay, and captures the best of what the coastal landscape of Monterey County's wine country offers each year. Lots were aged separately in French oak barrels, about 40 percent of which were new oak. The wine was then crafted in the cellar until it was ready for bottling, producing the fully-ripened, sea-and-sun brilliance of flavor for which Mer Soleil is known.

The wine opens with tropical fruit and honeysuckle aromas. Luxurious flavors of crème brulee and even a hint of butter are framed by notes of fine oak and the lively acidity of citrus zest. The mouthfeel is full and lush and brings all the wine's elements through to a long, persistent finish.

"Exotic aromas of orange marmalade, lychee, honey and brown spice. Oily flavors of candied mango, lemon butter and pineapple. Honeyed close exudes butter."
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Mer Soleil

Mer Soleil

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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.

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Central Coast

California

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The largest and perhaps most varied of California’s wine-growing regions, the Central Coast produces a good majority of the state's wine. This vast California wine district stretches from San Francisco all the way to Santa Barbara along the coast, and reaches inland nearly all the way to the Central Valley.

Encompassing an extremely diverse array of climates, soil types and wine styles, it contains many smaller sub-AVAs, including San Francisco Bay, Monterey, the Santa Cruz Mountains, Paso Robles, Edna Valley, Santa Ynez Valley and Santa Maria Valley.

While the Central Coast California wine region could probably support almost any major grape varietiy, it is famous for a few Central Coast reds and whites. Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel are among the major ones. The Central Coast is home to many of the state's small, artisanal wineries crafting unique, high-quality wines, as well as larger producers also making exceptional wines.

VWD4391021_2005 Item# 89699