Winemaker Notes
A sunny yellow hue, the 2016 vintage opens with the vibrant scents of lemon blossom and honeysuckle, infused by the warmth of vanilla. The whiff of a sea breeze can be detected on the nose, adding a bright freshness. Rich and lush, the palate features flavors of ripe peach and lemon meringue pie. Lively acidity balances this wine’s creamy roundness. Notes of toasted bread combine with a final kick of acidity to create an evocative, harmonious and refreshing finish.
Professional Ratings
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMPOSITION: I have tasted nearly every vintage of Mer Soleil since the wines were first produced in the early 1990s, and the wines are amazingly consistent. The 2016 Mer Soleil Reserve Santa Lucia Highlands Chardonnay is just as I expect it to be. TASTING NOTES: This wine offers ripe citrus and plenty of creamy oak in its aromas and flavors. Its rich palate invites a pairing of lobster in a cream sauce. (Tasted: July 18, 2018, San Francisco, CA)
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.