Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
A most satisfying Chardonnay, the 2013 Morgan Double L Vineyard, with 100% malolactic tucked in its back pocket simply stays rich and fresh on the palate. Morgan has a great history with its Chardonnays from this vineyard and this may well be the winery's best effort to date. Deep straw, yellow color; superior aromas of ripe citrus, apples and cream, excellent depth and persistence; medium to full bodied, nicely packed and built on the palate; dry, medium acidity, well balanced; ripe apple, citrus and a bit of sweet oak tossed in; long finish, creamy aftertaste. Drinking gloriously fine now. (Tasted: August 24, 2015, 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.