Jackson Estate Camelot Highlands Chardonnay 2017
Grown on the hillside above the Santa Maria Bench in Santa Barbara, the premium blocks of the Camelot Highlands Chardonnay vineyard are dedicated to the Jackson Estate bottling. The ancient vines in these blocks have struggled through daily dense fog for over forty years on their own roots stretching down to the prehistoric, seabed soils below. Pineapple, mango and papaya with a creamy, lush, rich palate. Notes of cinnamon, candied lime and vanilla crème brûlée create an appealing and lingering finish.
Acclaim
92 points, Patrick J Comiskey, Wine & Spirits Magazine, Oct 2019
Made from old-vine fruit from hillside blocks planted above Santa Maria’s benchland, this is chardonnay in a classical vein. It’s sumptuous and flavorful, the pear and apple flavors driven by oak without being over the top. Powerful and stylish; for fried chicken.
92 points, Erin Brooks, Robert Parker Wine Advocate, Sep 2019
The 2017 Jackson Estate Camelot Highlands Chardonnay has an expressive, pleasantly reductive nose of struck flint, toast, dried hay and mushroom with red apple, saline and chamomile hints. The palate is medium to full-bodied, gaining in amplitude before the juicy acidity kicks in, finishing long and savory. This is well made and a great value.
91 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous, May 2019
The 2017 Chardonnay Camelot Highlands offers a bit more density and structure than the Santa Maria Chardonnay, and yet retains a good bit of freshness as well. Apricot, chamomile, vanilla, hazelnut, dried flowers and tangerine all develop in a juicy, layered and laid-back Chardonnay. The Camelot has a remarkable sense of textural depth that builds as the wine sits in the glass. Drinking window: 2019 - 20125.
91 points, Jeb Dunnuck, jebdunnuck.com, Oct 2019
More reserved aromatically, the 2017 Chardonnay Camelot Highlands is another ripe, textured, medium to full-bodied Chardonnay that has plenty of orange blossom and spice nuances, integrated acidity, and a good finish.
Winemaking
40+ year old vines of 100% Clone 4 Chardonnay on its own root stock. Fermented and aged sur lees 8 months in 100% French oak, 45% new, with a medium plus toast.
Vineyards
Elevation: 350 - 450 feet
Soil: Sedimentary rock with small rhombohderon pieces of calcium carbonate and limestone.
Climate: A direct infusion of daily fog and moderate temperatures combine for an extremely long growing season.
