cropthreash

 

 

2006 CHARDONNAY SOLOMON HILLS
Santa Maria Valley

Most of the time I just sit on the mountain here, contemplate my navel, and generally meditate on the meaning of wine. Lately though, I have been obsessing about what people think of what we're making. It might seem compromising, but it can be stimulating to get other people's views.

And so…this fellow I had never met before came by and tasted through the cellar with me. At once I realized he had a great palate, and he knew what he liked. So it vexed me no end when he tasted this wine and thought it was perfectly fine yet not particularly interesting. Oh well. I comforted myself with the thought that I presented him with something so interestingly outside the box that he didn't get it.

I love the fine fruit and excellent balance this vineyard gives. Solomon Hills is on the western edge of the Santa Maria Valley Appellation so it's climatically very cool. Planted to the Dijon clones of chardonnay, it has none of the typical California style of tropical fruitiness. It is all lemon curd, piney and minerally-making it a great match with seafood.