About two-thirds of this Chardonnay fruit was grown in the Double L Vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands, which has been certified organic since 2002. The remainder was grown in the region’s McIntyre and Tondre vineyards. Fruit was hand-picked and barrel-fermented in a French oak, part new. Three-quarters of the wine went through malolactic.
The wine is a medium yellow gold color with a classic Chardonnay aromatic profile of citrus, musk melon, wet stone, and cultured cream. It’s a wine of substantial body and character that delivers a mouthful of citrus and succulent tree fruits, nut, and spices. Creamy but not too heavy, it offers a ginger-aid freshness and a finishing flourish of bitter herbs.
Pair it with roasted poultry, medium-aged cheeses, cream sauces, and rich seafood.
14.2% abv | $28 (sample)