2017 Le Ptit Paysan Jacks Hill Chardonnay

Description

2017 Le Ptit Paysan Jacks Hill Chardonnay

The wine is produced predominantly from a few vineyards at the base of Jacks Hill, planted on the distinct iron oxide granite that dominates the east side of the Salinas Valley, directly east of Sleepy Hollow North. Clone 4 and 76 on 101-14 and 3309 rootstocks, 35-year-old Wente clone on unknown rootstock (nobody remembers what it is). Also blended with small lots of Chardonnay clone 17 (also Wente) from the northern Santa Lucia Highlands, Italian clone Chardonnay from the granitic sands of Arroyo Seco, and 42 year old shot Wente clone off calcium-rich alluvium. All cool to cold climate.
The wine is bright, crisp and clean with orchard fruit giving way to an intense minerality.

Critical Acclaim

92 Wine Enthusiast

This bottling by Ian Brand always packs bang for the buck, but he really nailed it in the 2017 vintage. Clean and delicate aromas of Asian pear, lemon rind and edgy chalk lead into a racy, crisp and tightly wound palate. Flavors of grapefruit, nectarine, blanched almond and sea salt are delicious. Editors Choice