Luli Chardonnay 2022
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Robert
Parker -
Wine
Enthusiast -
Jeb
Dunnuck
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
The 2022 Luli Chardonnay presents itself with a bold lemon-hued core that stretches to the edge of glass, where tinges of youthful green brilliance become perceptible. Ripe notes of red apple, fresh pear, and subtle hints of stone fruit act as a veritable aromatic orchard, while undertones of flint and baking spice add complexity. Seamlessly traveling from nose to palate, this Chardonnay continues with flavors of crisp apple, toasted vanilla bean, and a hint of lemon oil. Aging in 100% neutral oak and without any malolactic fermentation allows the truest expression of this variety to shine. Chalky texture from sur lie aging and fresh acidity from the influences of the Pacific Ocean create a dazzling and lengthy finish.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2022 Chardonnay Santa Lucia Highlands, matured for four months in used French oak, is scented of green pear, nectarine and Meyer lemon with accents of hazelnut and saline. The light-bodied palate has restrained, perfumed fruit, shimmery acidity and a long, gently creamy finish. It's very easy to drink without sacrificing nuance.
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Wine Enthusiast
Brisk aromas of apple and pear grow more complex with foggy-morning herbs and grape- fruit peel on the delicate nose of this bottling. The palate is chalky in texture and tart with more grape- fruit and green citrus flavors. Hints of lemongrass and makrut lime show on the finish of this young wine.
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2022 Chardonnay Santa Lucia Highlands is classy stuff, with some spiced orchard fruits, honeyed mineral, and dried herb nuances, medium body, plenty of richness and depth, and a clean, lengthy, classy finish. It's another impeccably made, impressive wine from this label that readers will love.
Other Vintages
2019-
Jeb
Dunnuck
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Jeb
Dunnuck
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Jeb
Dunnuck
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Robert
Parker
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Robert
Parker
Together, they want to make wonderful and enjoyable wines that are meant to be consumed on many occasions. The Santa Lucia Highlands is one of the best regions in California to grow Chardonnay and Pinot Noir: Two varieties that are very complex, approachable and pair well with many foods.
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.
Perhaps the most highly regarded appellation within Monterey County, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA benefits from a combination of warm morning sunshine and brisk afternoon breezes, allowing grapes to ripen slowly and fully. The result is concentrated, flavorful wines that retain their natural acidity. Wineries here do not shy away from innovation, and place a high priority on sustainable viticultural practices.
The climatic conditions here are perfectly suited to the production of ripe, rich Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. These Burgundian varieties dominate an overwhelming percentage of plantings, though growers have also found success with Syrah, Riesling and Pinot Gris.