Winemaker Notes
Brilliant yellow profile. Vibrant notes of mango, caramel, grapefruit, and lemon-zest, followed by subtle elements of brioche, honey, marmalade, and apricot pie. This complex and engaging aroma profile is equal and enticing on the palate. Lively acidity, characteristic of the cooler, northern end of this wine growing region and paired with light touch of French oak spice leads to a very intricate and exciting textural balance. While this wine is very youthful now, it will continue to unravel and please for many years to come. Enjoy now through 2026.
Professional Ratings
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Tasting Panel
Juicy and crisp with racy acidity and tangy style; a balanced and ultra-smooth wine from a vineyard on the northern end of the region with rocky loam soils.
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.