Mer Soleil 2023 Reserve Chardonnay, Santa Lucia Highlands

Mer Soleil is a beautiful Chardonnay produced by Chuck Wagner of Caymus Vineyards and his son Charlie.

Mer Soleil Chardonnay is made in a complex, barrel-fermented style reminiscent of the white wines of Burgundy but with the generous sun-ripened flavors of California. They grow fruit at the Mer Soleil Vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlandsn near Monterey on an east-facing lower slope which provides a barrier from the Pacific Ocean. This Chardonnay has Mer Soleil’s signature aromas of tropical fruit and toasted spice.

93 Points Wine Enthusiast: "Year in and year out, Mer Soleil's Chardonnay is one of the biggest, most distinctive ones in California.  Rich in apricot jam, pineapple custard and new oak butterscotch flavors, but for all the opulence, it's entirely dry, and has zesty Monterey acidity. Almost a food group in itself, it will challenge chefs to rise to the occasion."