Jackson Estate Santa Maria Valley Chardonnay 2021
Our Santa Maria Valley Chardonnay is rich and creamy in golden mango, pineapple, yellow peach and honeysuckle flower flavors, with oak barrel aging bringing notes of buttered biscuits and vanilla bean to the palate and finish. The chilly climate and very long growing season allows the grapes to retain a high natural acidity, while the narrow diurnal temperatures of the growing season results in extraordinarily flavorful grapes.
Acclaim
2018 Vintage
91 points, Kim Marcus, Wine Spectator, Apr 2020
Open-textured and lush, with toasty accents to the glazed pear and lemon meringue flavors. The buttery finish shows a savory richness that lingers with smoky hints. Drink now through 2024.
2017 Vintage
91 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous, May 2019
The 2017 Chardonnay (Santa Maria Valley) is one of the more expressive wines in this range. All of the nuance and pedigree of Santa Maria comes through in an open-knit, beautifully layered
Chardonnay. Lemon peel, apricot, almond and dried flowers are all woven together in a wine of finesse. Drinking window: 2019 - 2025
91 points, Jeb Dunnuck, jebdunnuck.com, Oct 2019
The 2017 Chardonnay Jackson Estate Santa Maria Valley offers a solid bouquet of caramelized citrus, orange blossom, brioche, and a hint of spice. It's rich and medium-bodied, with terrific purity, plenty of ripe, sweet fruit, and a great finish.
Winemaking
7 months in 85% French oak (31% new). Full malolactic secondary fermentation, lees stirred every 2 weeks.
Vineyards
Established in 1981, the Santa Maria Valley AVA is nestled along the California Coast in a rare east-west mountain range, unlike the more common north-south valleys. This creates a giant funnel from the Pacific, ushering a cooling marine influence into the region on an almost daily basis.
Vineyards: 50% Byron Vineyard, 40% Cambria Vineyard, 9% Camelot Vineyard, 1% Jensen Vineyard
Clones: Clones 4, Santa Maria Clone & Wente
