WINEMAKER NOTES

The 2020 SLH Chardonnay is a delicate yet rich representation of the Santa Lucia Highlands. With notes of nectarine, apricot, melon, spicy oak, and floral tones, the fragrance is captivating. On the palate, hints of pear, pineapple, nutmeg, and lemon meringue are present, culminating in soft brioche tones. This wine has excellent aging potential and will continue to be enjoyable for the next 5-7 years.

WINEMAKING TECHNIQUES

The grapes are hand-picked at dawn and delivered to the winery, where they are sorted and whole-cluster pressed directly to the barrel. The juice is fermented and aged sur lie for 11 months, and undergoes 100% malolactic fermentation to balance the acidity. The wine is stirred twice a month for the first 5 months to enhance texture and complexity, then racked clean off the lees and bottled.

FRUIT SOURCE: SOBERANES VINEYARD

Soberanes Vineyard is a premium 38-acre vineyard located in Santa Lucia Highlands, adjacent to the renowned Garys' Vineyard. The vineyard has an eastward-facing alluvial terrace, split into three distinct parcels, with soils that drain well and allow for great root penetration. With morning fog and cool, steady winds from the Monterey Bay, the vineyard experiences a long and steady season, ideal for producing exceptional wine grapes.

VINTAGE NOTES

Despite the challenging circumstances of 2020, we put all of our mental and physical energy into creating our wines. 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 a result, 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.