The Wine
This is a big Chardonnay. It weighs in at 14.7% ABV and every drop went through Malolactic fermentation (turning the grape's crisp malic acid into softer lactic acid). To add to this depth of flavors, the wine saw barrel aging with 39% of the barrels being new, for that extra-rich vanilla and spice.
Even so, the wine is deceptively easy to drink! It deftly balances its weight with a pH of 3.44 - almost the same as a grapefruit! The wine is like a bodybuilder who happens to be a graceful dancer. Or... a Simone Biles wine??
Pale yellow with focused aromatics. A bright and energetic Chardonnay showcasing the best of the Central Coast - lemon zest, jasmine, apricot, cotton, and chamomile tea. Acid remains a dominant component of its structure, which makes this an ideal companion for a wide variety of dishes.
"95 pts" Jeb Dunnuck
"93 pts" Wine Enthusiast
The Winery
To get this wine for you, our shop had to be approved by the winery, complete with industry references. I presume it was mostly to see if we paid our bills on time, but I like to think it was also an affirmation of the quality of our portfolio (Eric, if this isn't true, let me live with this small deception?!)
The winery is owned by the Wagners, John and Gillian, and are assisted by a young and talented winemaker, Wynne Solomon, and their grower, Michael Anderson. They three of Sta Rita Hills' more prestigious vineyards (Peake Ranch, John Sebastiano and Sierra Madre). This wine is a blend of fruit from their three estate vineyards.