Samuel Louis Smith, Chardonnay Les Granitiers Gabilan Mountains 2023 (750ml)

TERROIR

“Granitier” is the French term for a granite quarry worker, therefore an apt term for this wine hailing from primarily granitic sites of Monterey County. At an average elevation of 1,100 ft in the 2023 vintage, Les Granitiers combines stone and citrus fruits with salty maritime freshness.

Escolle Vineyard (58%) is located in the northern section of the Santa Lucia Highlands, an 18 mile-long northeast facing bench in the windswept Salinas Valley. The mountainside appellation divides the Santa Lucia range to the west from the Salinas Valley floor to the east. Its granitic loam and incredibly cool climate thanks to nearby Monterey Bay make it a great place to grow crisp chardonnay.

Coastview Vineyard (37%) is situated on a ridgetop 2,300 ft up the Gabilan Mountains, and is one of the most dramatically beautiful sites on the Central Coast. Here, thin soils of decomposed granite with veins of limestone are primarily planted to chardonnay, pinot noir, and syrah. Organically farmed, it produces wines with crunchy freshness and elegant structure.

Pelio Vineyard (5%) is located just west of Laureles Grade in Carmel Valley, in what is soon to be known as the Carmel Coast AVA. At 1,000 ft and seven miles from Monterey Bay, this site is truly on the edge of viticulture. Clay loam is littered with diatomaceous shale, evidence that this area was under the sea until about 12 million years ago.

TASTING

Pale yellow. Apricot, lemon zest, and sea breeze are supported by hints of lime pith, baking spices, and white flowers. Light-medium bodied with very bright acidity.

TECH

Alcohol 12.8%

pH 3.23

55% malolactic fermentation

Native fermentation started by a pied de cuve from the vineyard

Alcoholic fermentation occurred in stainless steel and malolactic occurred in barrel

Nine months élévage in 14% new and 86% neutral barrels

Fourteen and a half barrels • 348 cases produced

Unfined & lightly filtered

PRESS

91 VN

94 WE

96 JD