Winemaker Notes
One of the finest food wines, the Double L Chardonnay will pair wonderfully with seafood and poultry dishes, as well as a buttery steak.
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
Pale, glistening gold. A suave, expressive bouquet features fresh mango, pear, fresh fig and buttered toast, and spicy ginger and floral nuances emerge as the wine opens up. Well-concentrated and focused on the palate, the spine of juicy acidity supporting powerful tropical and orchard fruit, Meyer lemon, honeysuckle and saffron flavors. Rich but lithe as well, with strong finishing energy and floral-tinged persistence. 30% new French oak.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Moving to the two 2018s, the 2018 Chardonnay Double L Vineyard is another racy, crisp, yet concentrated Chardonnay in the lineup that has loads to love. Caramelized citrus, toasted bread, honeycomb, and some orchard fruit notes give way to a medium-bodied, nicely textured, balanced Chardonnay offering bright acids and a clean, lengthy finish.
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.