- Vineyard:
- Paraiso Vineyard
- Varietal Composition:
- 100% Chardonnay
- Alcohol:
- 13.1%
- TA:
- 0.57g / 100ml
- pH:
- 3.55
- Aging:
- 10 months equal parts French and Hungarian used oak barrels
- Release date:
- June 2021
- Production:
- 495 cases
Tasting Notes:
The Morrows 2019 Paraiso Vineyard Chardonnay is pure, precise and perfectly balanced. A brilliant yellow gold color in the glass, the wine opens with aromas of apple, white peaches, saltwater taffy and white flowers. On the palate, the wine’s soft, juicy entry leads into delicious apple, nectarine, apricot and lemon meringue flavors with nascent depth and a lightly creamy texture. This evolves pleasingly into racy acidity and a minerality that builds on the back half to a finish that is clean, crisp and vivacious. This wine pairs beautifully with fish, shellfish, poultry and white meat, whether simply grilled or served in a luscious cream sauce.
Paraiso Vineyard
The grapes for this Chardonnay are sourced from Paraiso Vineyard, which was founded by Rich Smith, one of the area’s visionary leaders who succeeded in establishing the Santa Lucia Highlands as an approved American Viticultural Area in 1991. The vineyard is certified sustainably farmed, and the Chardonnay comes from 15-year-old vines planted in gravelly and sandy clay loam soils at an elevation of 800 feet above sea level, which contribute to the complex flavor development in the fruit.
Winemaking
Our winemaker, cool-climate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir expert Derek Rohlffs, takes a minimalist approach with grapes from the Santa Lucia Highlands in order to allow the cool-climate, Central Coast terroir to shine through. The grapes were harvested in mid- September and after fermentation, underwent complete malolactic conversion in the barrel on the lees with no battonage. The wine then aged 10 months in used barrels. Oak fermentation and aging add a rounder, creamier flavor and texture component to the bright, vibrant elements.
