Wine Each Week – 2017 Metz Road Chardonnay, Riverview Vineyard

Metz Road is the road that fronts the Riverview Vineyard in Monterey County. This 215-acre parcel is home to Chard and Pinot, what Scheid calls a “Burgundian landscape,” a cooler plot just above the Salinas River and buffeted by winds coming from the Pacific Ocean. Using Chardonnay clones 96, 4, 76 and 78 there are tangy notes of persimmon, lemon verbena, tangerine, a mild spiciness on the finish, and a bright freshness from its inherent acidity. It walks that fine line between oaked and un-oaked, possessing a solid structure and mouth feel. Part of that is its time in barrel – after fermentation the wine was moved into French oak barrels for 18 months, while just 42% of those barrels were new, and therefore some of the more caramel and buttery notes are present but not overwhelming. This is an enjoyable Chardonnay with a multi-layered approach.

2,917 cases

ORIGIN: Monterey County, California

ALCOHOL: 14.5%

PRICE: $29.99 (750ML)

SCORE: 91 POINTS

METZ ROAD