The 2001 Chardonnay from Mt. Carmel Vineyard marks our third vintage bottling from this highly regarded source of great Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes. Located on a sloping mesa overlooking the Santa Ynez River, the vineyard is in the midst of other great Santa Rita Hills vineyards, including our own estate Fe Ciega, Sea Smoke, Sanford & Benedict, Fiddlestix and La Rinconada.

Our winery, along with Brewer-Clifton and Au Bon Climat form the small exclusive group producing Chardonnay from this vineyard.

The grapes were harvested on October 17, 2001, with a sugar level of 24.5. The grapes were whole cluster pressed, the juice settled and then transferred to French oak barrels for fermentation. The wine aged in French oak barrels, one third of which were new, for twelve months. The wine was blended, fined and filtered before being bottled on September 14, 2002.

This vintage has the typical deep golden color that previous Mt. Carmel bottlings have displayed. The aromas can be described as hazelnuts, butter, oak vanillin, with hints of juniper. On the palate the wine has a medium body, with creamy, rich flavors of butterscotch, hazelnut and pralines. The finish is long and ends with a satisfying sweet note. The wine also has the characteristic mineral quality which is part of the Mt. Carmel identity.

This wine will develop for another two to three years with careful cellaring. It is an excellent example of the melding of great California Chardonnay grapes with Burgundian winemaking techniques. Serve with lobster ravioli with white wine cream sauce, or a variety of seafood.

Rick Longoria
Winemaker

Release date: November 1, 2003

Composition: 100% Chardonnay: Mt. Carmel Vineyard

pH: 3.38
Alcohol by volume: 14.9%
Titratible acidity: .67 g/100 ml.
Production: 188 cases
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