Shadow Point Chardonnay 2023

This vintage comes from Monterey , in the Central Coast region of California, and near a range of hills that separate the vineyards from the Pacific Coast. The name Shadow Point refers to the shadows that form over the vineyard as the setting sun falls to the west, behind the neighboring hills. The Chardonnay grapes benefit from the cooler evenings that this region enjoys, which helps maintain its natural freshness. After careful selection, the fruit is gently pressed in a bladder press before fermentation in stainless steel. 20% of the blend is aged for 6 months in new and used French oak barrels. This is a modern Chardonnay from California. On the nose, there are many aromas of yellow lemon , white flowers , ripe and crisp fruit complemented by aromas of toast and roasted hazelnut . The palate has aromas of stone fruit, a smooth texture and a nice freshness on the finish. This style offers an attractive, fleshy version of New World Chardonnay.

In the United States, 90% of the wine produced comes from California. It was the influx of gold prospectors to California that boosted the California wine industry in the mid-19th century, particularly in the Sonoma and Napa region. At the start of the 20th century, there were 800 wineries. From 1919 to 1933 Prohibition destroyed the vast majority of the California wine industry so that by 1933, only 140 wineries remained producing wine. It was only from 1960 that the wine industry began to recover from Prohibition and California was primarily known for the production of fortified wines (in the style of Port). It was also in the 1960s that some of the most famous estates were created (Mondavi, Heitz Wine Cellars, Stag's Leap Wine Cellars, etc...). In 1976, a significant event took place: the legendary tasting competition better known as the "Judgment of Paris". He sees the greatest French wines opposing the new American wines. This May 24, an unexpected result shakes the world of wine, since to everyone's surprise, it is the United States which wins. However, this competition remains relatively unknown to the general public. Today, there is no doubt that the United States produces great wines. Even though California largely monopolizes the reputation of American wines with its excellent Zinfandels, the state of Oregon produces some of the best Pinot Noir in the world and the state of Washington offers excellent Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet-Sauvignon.