Rancho Arroyo Grande Winery & Vineyard

Rancho Arroyo Grande is a 4,000 acre ranch on California’s Central Coast that was originally a Spanish land grant. Today 200 acres are planted to vineyards. The soil here has rich deposits of fossilized oysters, gravel, sand, and limestone. Days are warm and nights are cool - the diurnal variation is 40 to 50 degrees – so grapes ripen at a slow, leisurely pace. This particular Chardonnay, of which only 461 cases were produced, comes from the sandy Thereza vineyard. The winemaker whole-cluster pressed for maximum fruit extraction, and it shows. Later it underwent 100% malolactic fermentation in French oak, and then was aged sur lie in 20 percent new French oak for 12 months.

It is bright and golden yellow with well-marked legs. As expected from the fruit source and winemaking technique, this wine is very opulent. It has aromas of buttered popcorn, mango, peach nectar, guava, starfruit, cantaloupe, cinnamon, and vanilla extract. On the palate it is rich, viscous, and fruit forward with vibrant tropical and orange zest notes. It is soft and creamy with pleasing underlying tingly acidity for lift and balance. The finish is long and fruity with notes of violets.

Reviewed August 23, 2007 by Catherine Fallis.