Mignanelli Nelson Vineyard Chardonnay 2014
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Wine Enthusiast
From Mt. Eden and Wente clones grown at 1,700 feet, this under-$30 bottling shows key lime and pomelo pith freshness on the nose, backed by chalk, crushed sea shell and tangerine blossom aromas. There is a fine-grained texture to the tannins on the palate, where bright citrus fruit meets with marcona almond touches. It's simultaneously refreshing and savory.
Editors' Choice. -
Wine & Spirits
This has the sun-warmed ripeness and minty, wild aroma of a California mountain chardonnay; it feels plump and almost butterscotch-rich at first, but air eats away at the sweetness, coaxing the fruit toward a sleek orange-blossom tone. For seared scallops.
Byron’s winemaking philosophy focuses on the vineyard and showcasing the unique time and place of each vintage rather than modern day production techniques. We strongly believe at Mignanelli Winery that the best wines are vine to table.
Mignanelli sources fruit from Santa Maria Valley to the Eola-Amity Hills of Willamette Valley. We’re lucky to work with some amazing sites and winegrowers who are focused on long-term sustainable practices. We are very strict with how we choose our vineyards - seeking unique soils, climates and growers who share our vision of creating organic and biodynamic vineyards. Mignanelli is lucky to also be sourcing fruit from several old vine, original plantings in California and Oregon.
One of the most popular and versatile white wine grapes, Chardonnay offers a wide range of flavors and styles depending on where it is grown and how it is made. While it tends to flourish in most environments, Chardonnay from its Burgundian homeland produces some of the most remarkable and longest lived examples. California produces both oaky, buttery styles and leaner, European-inspired wines. Somm Secret—The Burgundian subregion of Chablis, while typically using older oak barrels, produces a bright style similar to the unoaked style. Anyone who doesn't like oaky Chardonnay would likely enjoy Chablis.
A rugged and topographically diverse cool-climate appellation with a rich history, the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA stretches from Half Moon Bay, just south of San Francisco, to the northern border of Monterey County. Elevations range from 800 feet to upwards of 3,000 and microclimates vary substantially depending on which side of the mountains the vineyards lie; cool ocean winds and fog play an important role here. This can be a challenging region in which to grow grapes, but it is well worth the effort. Santa Cruz Mountains wines are noted for balanced acidity levels, often showing great aging potential. Wine has been made here since the 1800s, most notably from the legendary Ridge Vineyards, whose Monte Bello vineyard garners international admiration.
Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon are the stars of this region, while Merlot and Zinfandel also perform quite well. Organic and sustainable vineyard practices are becoming increasingly common.