Winemaker Notes
Medium yellow hue. Enchanting scents of mango, brioche, fig, and ripe lemon start the aromatic experience along with subtle notes of honey, apple, and jasmine. These elements continue into the palate and are aligned with flavors of custard. There is dense concentration to this Chardonnay, which is tamed by bright acidity. This wine finishes full, rich, and creamy.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Focused aromas of lemon tonic cut through the nectarine flesh on the nose of this bottling. The palate lands with a zippy texture, showing yuzu and mandarin flavors against an alkaline backbone.
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James Suckling
Aromas of mangoes and pear skins with hints of bread dough and white flowers. Medium- to full-bodied, juicy and sleek with polished texture. Fruity 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.