Winery Tasting Notes: HMR is the abbreviated name of Hoffman Mountain Ranch, the original vineyard planted by Dr. Stanley Hoffman. This historic property dating from the early 1960s is devoted exclusively to Burgundian grape varieties, rarely found in Paso Robles.

Winery Tasting Notes: Classically Bien Nacido, which is to say sun kissed with a cool ocean breeze. Perfectly ripened banana with a hint of fresh-baked rolls. A sweet and savory note comes through with Marcona almonds and sea salt. There is a richness and viscosity which ties it all together. We expect this wine will age gracefully for ten years and beyond.

Winery Tasting Note: A youthful pale to medium gold in the glass is matched by slight hints of brioche, citrus and hazelnut aromatics combined with a round smooth texture on the palate. Bright but powerful and beautifully layered with Meyer lemon, grapefruit and a light hint of vanilla. Light white flower notes intertwine with zip acidity and mineral undertones that make this offering a killer with shellfish. A superb and multi-dimensional wine with great balance and structure that will continue to evolve gracefully for years to come.

From The Winery:

100% Chardonnay. Oak Savannah Vineyard (Los Olivos). Fermented in concrete eggs and aged in neutral French oak barrels for 10 months on the lees. Fermented with native yeast, minimal sulfur additions.

From the Winemaker:

Winery Tasting Note: A defining example of terroir, the 2019 Lucia Soberanes Vineyard Chardonnay is the textbook iteration of what this unique Santa Lucia Highlands vineyard can produce. Beaming from rim to core with a pale lemon hue, this wine displays bright notes of Meyer lemon and white peach on the nose, but it is the distinct undertones of wet stone and crushed rock that transport the senses to the rocky soils of this famed vineyard. Here, the vines struggle in the nutrient poor soils, creating depth of flavor and great complexity. Notes of green apple, lemon curd, and crisp pear dance on the palate, pairing gracefully with texture and weight from undisturbed sur-lie aging of 15 months in French oak barrels and foudre. As this wine begins to breathe, the palate becomes broad and expansive, though its focus is maintained by refreshing, balanced acidity.

Tasting Notes:
A lively flaxen gold, this wine features a harmonious nose that previews the playful balance to come on the palate. Scents of brown spice, toasted almonds, custard and light oak mingle with Meyer lemon zest, honeysuckle and a hint of apricot. Entry is round, as this wine's fruit and natural acidity build on each other, with echoes of brown spice, citrus and apricot enveloped in a creamy texture. A vibrant finish of lemon/lime showcases the distinctly bright acidity produced from the Monterey coast, leaving an enticing freshness that prepares the palate for another sip.

Winery Tasting Note: This focused, elegant chardonnay’s aromas feature asian pear, graham cracker, and baking spices. On the palate, aromas are complemented by a light touch of toffee and Nilla wafer. Incredibly food-friendly, the Highland Chardonnay is a perfect match for cream-sauced pastas, roast pork, and seafood.

A deep and rich hue of golden straw gives the first clue that this is a serious Chardonnay. Aromas of pear, green apple, and lime peel jump out of the glass followed by more nuanced fragrances of orange blossom, ginger root, and brioche. The sensation on the palate casually demonstrates both broad depth and laser-like focus. An assertive core of acid and saline minerality rests completely ensconced in rich flavors of pie crust, clotted cream, and burnt caramel. Drink now for fresh vibrance, or in ten years for wild complexity. 

Winery Tasting Notes: A perfect amount of oak aging provides distinct notes of blanched marcona almonds, toasted lavash bread, crème brûlée, and brown spice that round out the wine and lead to a long and bright finish.

"This intriguing and mineral-driven wine is defined by tension and balance. Le Souvenir opens with vibrant Hawthorne flowers, crushed rock, and key lime pie. The palate offers a steely entry of high-toned acidity and follow-through, marked by Meyer lemon zest and lime rind. The crisp and bright flavors linger for one of the lengthiest finishes in the lineup."

Winery Tasting Notes:

Matt Dees, Winemaker Notes: 

From The Winery

Whitcraft Winery: Drake Whitcraft makes beautifully balanced, site-specific wines in his low-fi Santa Barbara winery. Growing up in Santa Barbara under the tutelage of his father, who started Whitcraft Winery in 1985, and his friend Burt Williams, founder of Williams-Selyem in Sonoma, Drake has formed good relationships with some of the best vineyards in the Central Coast with a focus on the cool climate and diverse terroir of Sta. Rita Hills.

This exceptional Chardonnay has a nose of pear and baked apple notes followed by citrus scents of honeyed lemon with a freshness minerality underlining the wine’s acidity. The palate holds a combination of candied lemon zest, with notes of browned butter and fresh flowers, complimenting the wines briny minerality.