Vintage
2017
2017 Pearl Chardonnay
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Our estate Margarita Vineyard is cradled along the coastal Santa Lucia Mountains just 14 miles from the Pacific Ocean. This is one of the coolest locations in Paso Robles—and coolness is exactly what the Chardonnay grape craves. Additionally, the 2017 Chardonnay Pearl Collection comes Block 26, where the vineyard’s brisk air is most pronounced. The result is a rare find in Paso Robles: a varietally true Chardonnay with a singular sense of place.
Aging
12 months in French Oak (30% new)
Alcohol %
13.9
Tasting Notes
The 2017 Chardonnay opens with luscious aromas of citrus, butterscotch, and crème brûlée. A soft, creamy texture unfolds with flavors of pear, pineapple, caramel and vanilla. The creaminess ultimately comes into focus on the finish, with notes of lemon zest and mineral adding lift to a lively, lingering conclusion.
Vineyard Notes
The 2017 Chardonnay Pearl Collection comes from Block 26, which is planted to granitic soils that naturally limit vigor for intense fruit flavors. This block also occupies one of the lowest and coolest areas of the vineyard, allowing for an optimal pace of ripening for the Chardonnay grape. Margarita Vineyard stands alone as the southernmost vineyard in the Paso Robles region, nestled into the rugged Santa Lucia Mountain range in the Santa Margarita Ranch AVA. The mountain peaks act as a gateway for cool marine air, resulting in an extended growing season that yields fruit with uncommon depth and structure. The peaks are also testaments to the tectonic forces that created Margarita Vineyard’s rare diversity of soils, ultimately fostering natural complexity in our wines.
Production Notes
The 2017 Chardonnay Pearl Collection is a limited-edition wine that aims to offer both opulence and balance. We held nothing back on the making of this wine. It was entirely fermented in 30-percent new French oak barrels, and later underwent full secondary malolactic fermentation for added dimension and fullness. It was also matured for 12 months in French oak, with periodic lees stirring to develop an enhanced mouthfeel. The result is a Chardonnay that is unabashedly rich without sacrificing elegance.