2013 Ryan Cochrane Wines Chardonnay Santa Maria Valley "Solomon Hills Vineyard" - Wine of the Day

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 2013 Ryan Cochrane Wines Chardonnay Santa Maria Valley "Solomon Hills Vineyard"

$34

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This Ryan Cochrane's very first Chardonnay and it was made as simply as you can. That said, there’s nothing simple about this wine! Pressed directly into barrels, it went through both primary and secondary fermentation on its own. All in all, this was fermenting for 8-9 months non-stop. He just stirred the lees every two weeks and that was about it! It’s a total olfactory wine. The powerful nose contains hints of crisp pineapple, melty banana, green apple, vanilla bean, creme brulee and that classic marine-influenced Santa Maria je ne sais quois that is synonymous with the region. On the palette, the wine pays off the nose perfectly with an added twist of Meyer lemon and peach juice to boot. Full malolactic fermentation added a plushness up front, but there’s great acid on this wine that carries it through and builds to a nice crisp snap on the finish, which just goes on and on and on. Thine lips shalt smack!