A light golden color, this wine opens with warm, lush scents of apricot cobbler and brown spice, layered with notes of honeysuckle and a whiff of toasted bread. Entry on the palate is mouth-coating and creamy. Ripe fruit flavors of apricot and peach are perfectly balanced by a vibrant acidity, making this wine both luxurious and bright. The finish is unusually long, filling the mouth with a soft fruitiness and lingering natural acidity.
Taking its name from the sea and sun – the two forces of nature that shape its exotic character – this wine is as dramatic as the place where it is sourced. With morning fog, bright sunshine and gusting winds, the Santa Lucia Highlands has an extended growing season, leading to the development of tropical aromas, lush fruit flavors and a vibrant acidity.
Never seeing the inside of an oak barrel, Mer Soleil SILVER is a pure expression of Chardonnay. It is fermented and aged in a combination of stainless steel and small concrete tanks imported from Burgundy, France. Fresh from start to finish, this wine features aromas of flower blossoms and crisp pears. It is round and layered on the palate, with vibrant acidity and depth.
It was only natural that we would make a Pinot Noir in addition to Chardonnay. The Santa Lucia Highlands is well-known as the perfect home for both these varietals. Grapes ripen slowly, enabling us to make wine of heightened complexity, with layers of aromas and flavors. We named Mer Soleil after the two forces of nature – the sea and sun – that shape this singular character, and they are every bit as powerful in creating our Pinot as our Chardonnay.