Private Property by Caraccioli Chardonnay Santa Lucia Highlands 2017

Today is the day for Chardonnay! And one with ripe fruit and vibrant acidity! And because this gets better, we successfully negotiated to offer this 92pt wine for a mere $16 (36% off retail, yippee!).

But first, a topography lesson. The most defining characteristic of the Santa Lucia Highlands isn't what's on land, it's what lies beneath the surface of the nearby Pacific Ocean. Monterey Bay is well known for its bustling aquatic life, but the reason it's so prevalent is because of a 300 cubic mile submarine canyon, filled with cold water and plenty of sea creatures to keep the marine biologists interested. What this does for winegrowing in the region is mitigate the hot afternoon sun with brisk ocean winds that arrive daily like clockwork during the growing season. Of course, everyone's favorite weather event (or not) found at Northern California beaches, the fog, also brings its soft, misty blanket to cool off the vines. With these two climatic factors, the vines' photosynthesis is kept in check so the grapes can enjoy longer hang-time while balancing ripeness and acidity.

Sounds divine, doesn't it? When we tasted it, we all gave each other a look and firmly agreed this Chardonnay is a quintessential representation of how truly mind-blowingly amazing wines from SLH can be…and of killer value too! So if you need a refreshing, patio pounding Chardonnay in your future, this lovely wine is it. $96 a 6-pack with shipping included. While it lasts, friends!