Description
Benziger Family Winery | Chardonnay | 2023
A bright, food-friendly Chardonnay sourced primarily from Monterey County — California’s premier cool-climate home for Burgundian whites. The Pacific Ocean’s maritime fog rolls in to slow ripening, preserving crisp acidity while allowing flavors to fully develop over the long growing season. Limestone-rich Lockwood shale adds a layer of complex minerality that lifts the wine beyond its price point. In the cellar, cold fermentation in neutral French oak followed by six months of sur lie aging in new French oak builds texture and depth, while 75% malolactic fermentation softens the mid-palate without sacrificing freshness. The result: a clean, balanced Chardonnay with a long finish that overdelivers at the table.
- Appellation: Monterey County, California
- Varietal: Chardonnay
- Vintage: 2023
- Format: 750ml | Screwcap
- Cellaring: Drink now through 2027
- Oak: Cold fermented in neutral French oak; sur lie aged 6 months in new French oak
- MLF: 75%
Tasting Notes
Dry and crisp with medium body and a long finish. Notes of lemon zest, green apple, ripe pear, and apricot, with a subtle mineral thread and a hint of toasted oak on the close.
Winemaker’s Notes — 2023 Vintage
Moderate conditions during the growing and ripening seasons produced healthy yields and superb quality. Mild temperatures and extended hang time allowed acidity to remain in balance with full flavor development.
