2006 Represents our sixth vintage of the bright, fresh styled, tank-fermented Metallico Chardonnay. Our goal is to product a pure, unadorned Chardonnay that showcases the region's terroir, with bright, intense fruit and crisp acidity.
The Vineyards
The 2006 Metallico is primarily composed of fruit from the Arroyo Seco appellation, and also includes fruit from the winery’s Double L Vineyard, and its neighbor, the Lucia Highlands Vineyard, in the Santa Lucia Highlands. The backbone of the wine is the Chardonnay Musque clone, chosen for its aromatic complexity and clear expression of Chardonnay fruit.
The Vintage
The 2006 vintage ran about a month later than normal, due to a cold, wet spring that delayed the fruit set. The summer weather was typical for the region. The Chardonnay harvest continued into mid-November, with average crop loads showing intensely flavored fruit that retained much of its natural acidity.
Vinification & Aging
Metallico is cold-tank fermented to retain the essential bright fruit that cool climate Chardonnay offers. Whole cluster pressing produces a clean, high-quality must. Cold tank fermentation followed settling. The wine was racked to neutral three year-old French barrels for brief aging and lees stirring to soften it and add complexity without adding oak character. The wine does not go through malo-lactic fermentation, so it retains all of its natural crispness.
Aromas & Flavors
Include apricot, green apple, lemon, creamy, orange blossoms, nectarine, mineral, and honey. The wine finishes crisply with a mineral note and a moderately creamy texture, and works well with poultry and other light fare.
Reviews
89, Wine Enthusiast, December 2007
Highly Desired, Laurie Daniel: San Jose Mercury News, July 2008
