Taste: Vibrant, yellow, almost glowing! The nose is positively dripping with honey and pears. The palate is broad and expansive, with creamy oak and rich fruits held together by a glistening minerality that keeps it all together. This is a gorgeous wine with its rich texture and tremendous length. For those of you who have been waiting for a bigger, richer style from us: Here's your wine.
Cameron Confidential: Lot 80 stands in contrast to many of the Chardonnays we have done here at CHW—it's a fruit bomb. However, it's not just any fruit bomb: It's the entire 2006 single-vineyard designate Chardonnay for one of the Central Coast's best winemakers (according to Robert Parker). What differentiates this wine from so many other fruit bombs is that it really sings—as big as it is, it's still lithe and electric, never ponderous or excessive. The deft hand of the winemaker is evident here in spades.
In many respects, Santa Ynez is very similar to the Russian River Valley with its significant diurnal temperature swings, making it a prime region for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. That said, this is a different style than many of our Russian River Chardonnays, with a bit more oak and malolactic fermentation.
The wine was made in partnership with a vineyard that was subsequently sold, forcing the liquidation of the wine as part of the partnership. Previous bottlings sold for $30 a bottle and were tasting-room-only wines.
Customers who bought this wine also bought these:
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Lot 110 2007 Los Carneros Pinot Noir |
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Lot 93 2004 Rioja Tempranillo |
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Lot 114 2007 Sonoma County Zinfandel |
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Lot 118 2007 Santa Barbara County Viognier |
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Lot 159 2008 Santa Barbara County Chardonnay |
