Winemaker Notes
The cool coastal climate, with morning fogs that often linger until mid-day, allows the intricate fruit flavors to develop while preserving crucial acidity. These just-right conditions place Monterey County on par with the best growing regions of the world. Each vintage, they strive to craft a Chardonnay that allows the beauty of the Monterey AVA to shine. Through the judicious use of oak, they seek to complement, not detract from, the gorgeous fruit flavors that are the hallmark of Monterey Chards. With a fruit-driven core of pineapple, pear and citrus, their 2021 Chardonnay is made in a bright and lively style that strikes the perfect balance between rich and refreshing. Medium-bodied with crisp balanced acidity, it has a lingering finish with hints of vanilla and subtle oak.
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.
A geographic and climatic paradise for grape vines, Monterey is a part of the greater Central Coast AVA and contains within it five smaller sub-appellations, including Arroyo Seco, San Lucas, San Bernabe, Hames Valley and the famous Santa Lucia Highlands. The climate is relatively warm but tempered by cool, coastal winds, allowing the regions in Monterey County an exceptionally long growing season. Bud break often happens two weeks sooner and harvest tends to be two weeks later compared to other surrounding regions.
Monterey’s coastal side, where the cooling ocean fog allows grapes to develop a perfect sugar-acid balance, excels in the production of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Riesling. Warmer, inland subzones are home to fleshy, concentrated and full-bodied reds like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Zinfandel.
Chardonnay, covering about 40% of vineyard acreage, is the most widely planted grape in all of Monterey County.