Winemaker Notes
A pale straw color with sunshiny highlights, Sea Sun has a subtle nose, with scents of lightly grilled mango, soft butterscotch, juicy red apple, and newly ripened pineapple and apricot. Hints of a springtime meadow, fresh sea air and a trace of smokiness add intriguing layers. Entry on the palate is round and creamy, with flavors of lemon curd and brown spice on the mid-palate. This wine’s fruit flavors, oak, and acidity are seamlessly integrated, with no one element standing out. The finish has a grippy, toasty quality, with notes of cinnamon and lemon squares. A final kick of bright acidity draws you back for another sip.
California’s most praised white wine, Chardonnay is also the state’s most planted white grape variety. Diverse terrain and microclimates allow for an incredible range of wine styles.
Chardonnay planted in the cooler, coastal zones takes on bright characteristics like lemon zest, key lime, green apple and wet flint. For this style, look to the chilly Sonoma Coast, Carneros, Santa Cruz Mountains, Santa Lucia Highlands and Edna Valley.
The inland zones of California’s coast, such as the Russian River, Sonoma, Napa and Livermore Valleys maintain a more Goldilocks-esque climate where both styles go. Early picking retains acidity and creates a leaner style but leaving the grapes to hang creates an approachable Chardonnay, balancing richness and finesse.
Chardonnay also plays a major part in the sparkling wine production of the Anderson Valley and Carneros.