Winemaker Notes
This Chardonnay is representative of the world-class Chardonnay consistently produced from the celebrated Sleepy Hollow Vineyard. This wine offers aromas of jasmine, sandalwood and vanilla along with richer notes of brioche and butterscotch. On the palate, lively minerality adds complexity to characteristics of green apple, Crenshaw melon, ripe Bosc pear and Meyer lemon accented by notes of butter and cream. Rich and vibrant, this elegant Chardonnay has a satiny smooth finish with alluring hints of cinnamon and hard spices.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Spice, coconut, dried-apple and pear aromas follow through to a full body with density and intensity. Full and oily with a long and flavorful finish. Layered. Foursquare. Screw cap.
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.