2018 Talley Estate Chardonnay

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About 2018 Talley Chardonnay:

The Talley Estate Chardonnay 2018, the signature white wine of Talley Vineyards. A pure expression of Arroyo Grande Valley’s cool climate and calcareous soil.

Tasting Notes:

Aromas of lemon blossom, saline, white peach, lime rind and almond paste. Mouthwatering white nectarine, gardenia, grapefruit, golden apple, pear, and marcona almond on the palate.

Barrel Selection:

11 months in 25% new French oak barrels, 3 months in tank

Growing Notes:

Arroyo Grande Valley’s cool climate and calcareous soil have contributed to the growth of Chardonnay grapes.

Harvest Dates: August 30 – November 7, 2018, hand-harvested

Winemaking Notes:

Made in a classic old world style, incorporating barrel fermentation and aging, it was the first Chardonnay produced in the AVA dating back to the winery’s inaugural vintage of 1986.

Talley family source their chardonnay grapes from 3 of their vineyards: Rosemary’s Vineyard, Rincon Vineyard, and Oliver’s Vineyard.

Rosemary’s Vineyard: The vineyard that surrounds Rosemary Talley’s home. As their coolest vineyard and home to shaly loam soils, Rosemary’s Vineyard produces Chardonnay with a higher level of acidity and slightly thicker skin than the other vineyards. Because of this, the wines from this vineyard consistently shine with both freshness and elegance.

Rincon Vineyard: Rincon is the vineyard you’ll see as you drive up to their tasting room. The very first vineyard, planted in 1982 by Don Talley, it’s also their warmest site with calcareous clay and weathered sandstone. This enhances the stone fruit character of the Rincon Vineyard Chardonnay which, because of its lower acidity, is broader and more expansive on the palate.

Oliver’s Vineyard: Named for Oliver Talley, the first of four generations of farmers and the founder of Talley Farms. You can consistently see green apple from Oliver’s Vineyard Talley Chardonnay, and it’s always their midpoint in terms of acidity and texture–a little softer than Rosemary’s, a bit sharper than Rincon. What makes this Chardonnay truly special is that it always tastes great both freshly bottled and with a bit of age.

About The Winery:

For four generations the Talley family has farmed on the San Luis Obispo Coast, a tradition that began in 1948 when Oliver Talley founded Talley Farms.

Wines Reflective of the San Luis Obispo Coast Talley family farmed estate vineyards harness the terroir of the SLO Coast, allowing our wines to express unique authenticity.

Chardonnay is often referred to as “the winemaker’s wine,” meaning its style is typically directed by a winemaker’s influence. With Talley Chardonnay, instead of overpowering the delicate flavor of the fruit with butter and ripeness, their goal is to craft wines that express the vineyard itself. The coastal climate, coupled with their hands off winemaking approach, results in refreshingly drinkable wines.

Talley Chardonnay tends to express a unique combination of fruit flavors that make it quite approachable and bright. Citrus flavors and aromas are a constant, with a sleek and supple texture that pairs well with a variety of foods and makes it easy to enjoy more than one glass.