This bottle is a perfect balance of clean acidity and concentrated flavor, making it a model Sauvignon Blanc.
The grapes used are from the Arroyo Secco and San Lucas vineyards in the Monterey AVA, including Riverbank, Cedar Lane, Mesa del Rio, and San Lucas vineyards. All are Muskete clones.
By combining grapes from both the relatively cool Arroyo Secco and the slightly warmer San Lucas, we are able to express both bright acidity and citrus and tropical flavors.
Fermentation is carried out in stainless steel tanks to preserve the freshness of the fruit, then the wine is transferred to French oak barrels and aged for five months.
Characterized by aromas of grapefruit and lime peel with a hint of flint. Lively flavors of pomelo and green peppercorn. The firm acidity is accented with a touch of oak, adding an elegant texture to the long finish. Goes well with shellfish and other seafood dishes.
Dan Morgan Lee had been paying attention to the Santa Lucia Highlands and purchasing high-quality grapes from there even before the area was approved as an AVA. The Santa Lucia Highlands, where the fruit grows for a long period due to the cool winds from Monterey Bay, is the leading grape-producing region in Monterey, which was approved as an AVA in 1991.
Lee, who originally studied veterinary medicine, encountered winemaking while attending UC Davis and decided to make wine. After training at several wineries, Lee founded Morgan Winery in 1982 and is now known as one of the most high-quality and consistent premium wine producers in the Monterey region. In 1996, he purchased a 65-acre vineyard and named it Double L (Lucky) Vineyard, a nod to the good fortune of having twin daughters. When he first purchased the vineyard, the soil was not necessarily ideal, but he chose to improve the soil himself, and in 2001 Double L Vineyard was the first in Santa Lucia Highlands to be certified as organically grown. Lee, who is serious about the environment, manages his vineyards in an organic, water-saving, and energy-saving manner. As a result, he is also certified as "SIP-Sustainability in Practice" (sustainable environmental conservation wine production), and is the only winery in Santa Lucia Highlands to have both certifications.
Morgan produces high-quality wines using grapes from top growers such as Double L Vineyard, Garry's Vineyard, and Rosella's Vineyard. "My goal is to make wines that faithfully reflect the characteristics of the terroir and the characteristics of the grape varieties," says Lee.
*The Wine Institute and the Wine Growers Association jointly established the California Sustainable Wine Alliance, a system that certifies the efforts of wineries and grape growers.