Talbott Sleepy Hollow Chardonnay

This Talbott Sleepy Hollow is made using primarily the old Wente clone of Chardonnay from the original 1972 planting on the esteemed South Block. The old vineyard is between 20 and 30 years old and produces truly beautiful bunches for Talbott. The Santa Lucia highlands have a typically temperate and long growing season, resulting in vigorous bunches. This, combined with minimal rain and a benevolent wind, created the perfect base for the Chardonnay grapes. This ideal harvest produces wines with elegance and an excellent balance of power and tannins.

Talbott's unique vineyard

The world-renowned Talbott Vineyards crafts 100 percent estate-grown Burgundian varietals in one of California's most legendary coastal terroirs. The renowned Sleepy Hollow Vineyard was designated a California Grand Cru by Wine Enthusiast in 2016 for its exceptional wines. First planted in 1972, the vineyard comprises 565 acres spread across three parcels. The Sleepy Hollow vineyard helped put the Monterey and Santa Lucia Highlands wine regions on the map and is now considered a world-renowned slice of California. The well-drained vineyard has soft soils consisting of sand, gravel, and granite. These soils reduce yields and create rich, concentrated flavors in the grapes. The vineyard receives morning sunlight and grows in cool mist and breezes from the Pacific Ocean. With a long, cool growing season, the Chardonnay grapes develop the character, intensity, and depth of flavor for which the vineyard is renowned.

Wood aging for the Talbott Sleepy Hollow Chardonnay

This Talbott Sleepy Hollow Chardonnay is aged for a full 10 months in new oak barrels after harvest. This Talbott Sleepy Hollow offers the signature expression of world-class Chardonnay grapes. Talbott's flagship wine offers elegant aromas of jasmine and cedarwood, along with richer notes of brioche and butterscotch. On the palate, a vibrant minerality adds complexity, with flavors of pear, green apple, and lemon. Rich, elegant, and luxurious, this Chardonnay has a satiny, smooth finish with delightful notes of cinnamon, vanilla, and hard spices.