2007 Mer Soleil "Silver" Chardonnay

[wondersofwine]

The "silver" is the unoaked Chardonnay from Charlie Wagner II, winemaker and viticulturist with grapes from Santa Lucia Highlands of Monterey County, a cool and dry climate for California. Mr. Wagner uses a number of Chardonnay clones and three types of trellises. The regular Chardonnay uses French oak barrels about 40% new. The "Silver" sees no wood and does not go through malolactic fermentation.

I had a glass of the Silver to accompany dinner at Blue Duck Tavern in the Park Hyatt, DC. (salad of young greens,green beans, root vegetables? and artichoke in a caramelized onion vinaigrette, entree of mushroom and leek tart with a leek/potato vichysoisse type sauce.)
The wine had a darker color than I expected--a medium gold with slight green tones and transparency. I didn't get much fragrance from the chilled wine, but on the palate it was crisp and inviting with perhaps green apple suggestion and a mineral, stony element also. It meshed well with the salad and the vegetable tart.