The aromas of this Chardonnay are complex, they are very forward and pure with hints of stone fruit, grilled almonds and toasted oak. On the palate the wine delivers the perfect mix of flavor, richness and structure. This is one of those Chardonnays that pairs perfectly with everything from fresh seafood to ripe cheeses.

The estate Riverview Vineyard is a 340-acre, cold-climate (Region 1), sustainably-farmed, benchland site that overlooks the Salinas River. It is situated on the east side of the Salinas Valley just below the Pinnacles National Park. This property features granitic soils, great exposure and little protectionom the strong winds that scrub the valley every aernoon. It is significantly cooler than comparable sites in the Santa Lucia Highlands and Arroyo Seco. Riverview’s location, four miles east of the Santa LuciaMountains, provides additional aernoon sunlight to help ripen the uit. It is planted to an assortment of varieties, clones and rootstocks specifically matched to the various micro-climates, soils and aspectsof the terrain. The namesake Metz Road runs alongside the property.

The grapes were hand-picked in the early morning hours, brought to the winery and gently whole-cluster pressed. The juice was chilled and lightly settled, then racked off of the heavy lees to a stainless steel tank. A slow, cool fermentation helped preserve the esh aromatics and lively texture. Following fermentation, the wine was aged in 100% French oak barrels (42% new).