2015, Lucia SLH Chardonnay

Lucia Chardonnay is a blend from the renowned Pisoni and Soberanes Vineyards. the Lucia appellation-based wines are a wonderful representation of our estate vineyards, of which each block is cultivated to the same high standards. These wines offer excellent value, and Jeb Dunnuck of Wine Advocate has previously described these AVA blends as “a perfect example of the incredible quality that’s consistently coming from this estate.”

Farming was extremely important in 2015.  An unseasonably warm winter led to the earliest bud break on record in the Santa Lucia Highlands, effectively shifting the growing season to the early months of the year. May was cold, overcast and windy. Flowering occurred during these fierce weather conditions, resulting in a poor set.  Shatter was rampant.   It became clear early on that 2015 would be a low-yielding vintage.  With crop levels down 70% in some blocks, it was imperative that the remaining fruit be tended with utmost care.  Fortunately, summer cooperated with mild temperatures and normal levels of fog, so vine development kept its usual pace.  Harvest began the last week in August and spanned the month of September.  Despite the early start and finish to harvest, total time for fruit on the vines was relatively typical, and Brix levels were lower than normal due to one more year of drought stress on the vines and early phenolic maturity.