Winemaker Notes
Windstream Chardonnay is a luscious, structured wine with intense flavors of ripe pear and green apple. Barrel fermentation contributes nuances of oak spice and honey, while malolactic fermentation creates a round mouthfeel with a supple, creamy texture.
The maritime influence of the Pacific Ocean creates morning fog and afternoon winds: an ideal climate for the production of world-class Burgundian varietals. This “stream of winds” directly affects the Sarmento Vineyard, which is located in the prestigious Santa Lucia Highlands appellation of Monterey. The soil is well-drained loamy sand with many fist-sized cobblestones. Winemakers Anthony Riboli and Arnaud Debons employ traditional techniques and modern technology to create wines that express ripe fruit flavors with balance and finesse: barrel fermentation, lees stirring, and sur lie aging.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Broad aromas of peach oil, melon, sea salt, grapefruit rind, sweet brioche and marmalade show on the dynamic nose of this bottling by the Riboli family. The palate pairs both ends of the Chardonnay spectrum, from broad, ripe apple to grapefruit juice and lime peel, with savory accents of sea salt and butter washing into the 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.