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Morgan Winery Double L Vineyard Chardonnay 2021 – SoCalization Inc
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Morgan Winery

Morgan Winery Double L Vineyard Chardonnay 2021

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  • Regular price ¥10,120
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*Since this item is sourced from a cooperating importer, it may take 1-2 business days longer than usual to ship.

This Chardonnay is grown in our own Double L Vineyard, the only vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands that is 100% organic and has two SIP (Survey of Integral Practice) certifications.

Double L Vineyard is the perfect vineyard for growing the finest Chardonnay. Located at the northern end of the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, the vines are planted north-south on an east-facing terraced vineyard, where they receive plenty of sunshine and the cool afternoon breezes from Monterey Bay. They have been using their own natural farming methods since 1997, and were certified organic in 2002.

The 2021 growing season saw bud break in mid-March after a cold, dry winter. Flowering was very windy and fruit set was below average. Typical cool Monterey temperatures continued throughout the growing season. A short summer heat wave accelerated ripening, resulting in excellent clarity and quality. Harvest began on September 7th and ended in late October.

The grapes are harvested when the balance of flavor and acidity is optimal, then hand-selected and carefully pressed. Only 35% of the fermentation is in new barrels. Complete malolactic fermentation and lees stirring are performed, leaving a fresh acidity and a balanced medium body.

Aromas of lemon blossom, caramel and baking spices complement flavors of lemon custard, toffee and toasted coconut. Double L from the Santa Lucia Highlands winery is a perfect match for seafood and poultry dishes, as well as buttery steaks.

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.