WINEMAKER NOTES

This Chardonnay is a delicate yet rich representation of the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA. The fragrance is captivating, revealing notes of nectarine, apricot, melon, spicy oak, and floral tones. On the palate, hints of pear, pineapple, nutmeg, and lemon meringue culminate in soft brioche flavors on the finish. This wine has excellent aging potential and will continue to evolve over the next five to seven years.

WINEMAKING TECHNIQUES

The grapes are hand-picked at dawn and delivered cool to the winery, where they are hand-sorted and whole-cluster pressed directly to 30% new French oak barrels. The juice is fermented and aged sur lie for 11 months, and undergoes 100% malolactic fermentation to balance acidity. The lees are stirred twice a month for the first five months to enhance texture and complexity. Finally, the wine is racked clean off the lees and bottled.

FRUIT SOURCE: SOBERANES VINEYARD

The Soberanes Vineyard is a premium, 38-acre vineyard located in the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA in the Salinas Valley. The property has an eastward-facing alluvial terrace split into three distinct parcels, with soils that drain well and allow for desirable root penetration. Between the morning fog and cool, steady winds from the Monterey Bay, the vineyard experiences a long and steady growing season, ideal for producing exceptional wine grapes.

VINTAGE NOTES

Despite the challenging circumstances of 2020, we were able to make small amounts of great wine. Short yields and extra stress on the vines led to intense fruit flavors, which are evident in all of our wines. We were fortunate to harvest all of our fruit before the fires, and as usual, the natural acidity of the wine shines through.

THE WINERY

Bailarín Cellars was created in 2014 by a collective of family and friends, each following their respective passions. Together, we focus on producing small lots of handcrafted wines from unique vineyard sources. We are proud to share the fruits of our labor and love with you.