2006 Talbott Chardonnay Diamond T Monterey

This Chardonnay hails from the very special Diamond T Estate in the Carmel Valley. Planted with the Corton-Charlemagne clone in 1982 by Robb Talbott, this 22-acre, tightly spaced vineyard grows on a 1,200-foot mountaintop, eight miles from Carmel Bay. Cooling ocean fogs, both in the morning and evening, moderate the climate. Crop yields are extremely small due to the challenging growing conditions, and the growing season is extended by the vineyard’s proximity to the ocean. Diamond T Estate Chardonnay is 100 percent barrel fermented and has full lees contact for over one year. The wine spends a total of 14 to 18 months in French oak and is then bottle-aged for almost two years prior to release. The result is an elegant Chardonnay with intense varietal character. Filled with rich, concentrated flavors and aromas of tropical fruit, citrus, minerals, and oak, Diamond T Chardonnay is often compared to the finest grand cru Burgundies. This wine has excellent aging potential.