2018 Tolosa 1772 Chardonnay

About Tolosa 1772 Chardonnay 2018:

Tolosa 1772 Chardonnay is the expression of owner’s commitment to spare no effort to craft nuanced and balanced Pinot Noir and Chardonnay of distinctive character to rival any in the world.

Tasting Notes:

Color: Lemon yellow with silver and green highlights.
On the Nose: Lemon curd, fresh tropical white pineapple, white stone fruit, an herbal note of thyme, honeycomb, and nutmeg with a hint of limestone.
On the Palate: Bright acidity floods the palate, showcasing notes of grapefruit, yellow peach pit, fresh cut flower stem, clove and a chalky minerality on the finish.

Barrel Selection:

The wine was fermented in 100% French oak barrels and stirred up to 3 times a week to build complexities. Malolactic fermentation was late to start and finish.

Growing Notes:

In 2018, the fall weather was mild yet consistent, which allowed the vineyard to take its time harvesting the grapes to make sure they were picked at preferred ripeness. The cooler vintage shines in this wine showcasing the fresh fruit, tension and minerality of Edna Valley.

Winemaking Notes:

2018 Tolosa 1772 Chardonnay wine was showing an attractive acidity, so the winemaker cut back on new oak to harmonize all components of the Chardonnay.

About The Vineyard:

Tolosa’s estate vineyard, Edna Ranch, is located in the cool climate Edna Valley. The Edna Valley lies within a transverse valley, an old extension of the sea. The vines receive a
moderating influence from the Pacific Ocean preserving the natural aromas and crisp acidity in the grapes. The cooler vintage allowed the grapes to hang on the vine longer to yield
intense flavor while maintaining the bright acidity. The grapes for this Chardonnay are planted on an elevated sea bed, with limestone and marine sediment, which supports the minerality in this wine.

Story Behind the Winery:

Cowboy dreams of owning a cattle ranch brought Robin Baggett to Edna Valley on the San Luis Obispo Coast. The cold Pacific wind and soils from ancient seabed to limestone made him realize he was on a frontier of a different sort: a microclimate ideal for ripening sensitive Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes.

Robin began planting his home ranch in 1988.  In Edna Valley, much as the soil and the climate come together, the passions of vintner Robin Baggett have converged. The revelation of the valley as a remarkable place for Pinot Noir ignited his zeal to build complex, nuanced and balanced wines of distinction.  Over time, his quest has expanded to find other special pockets of terroir throughout California that offer an exceptional environment for these delicate grapes.

Tolosa, established in San Luis Obispo in 1998, is an artisanal producer of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines. Helmed by vintner Robin Baggett, Tolosa epitomizes the special terroir that is San Luis Obispo Coast, nestled amongst the northwest to southeast running volcanic hills of San Luis Obispo County and the frontier for the most complex cool-climate varietals in California. Its Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays reflect the cold Pacific wind that sweeps down the coast and funnels into the valley, as well as the remarkable diversity of soil types: ingredients for nuanced and balanced wines of distinctive character. Tolosa combines traditional methods, such as hand punch down and whole berry uncrushed fermentations, with state-of-the-art equipment in the cellar and cutting-edge technology in the vineyard to handcraft exceptional wines that are the purest expressions of the San Luis Obispo Coast.

A true believer in terroir and the deepest evocation of place, together with his winemaking team, his mission is to discover the best pockets of soil, and through the art of uniting the right sites, clones, rootstocks and farming practices, create exemplary Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays that are the purest expressions of the place from whence they came.  Tolosa is the expression of his commitment to spare no effort to craft nuanced and balanced Pinot Noir and Chardonnay of distinctive character to rival any in the world.