2014 Chardonnay Carmel Vineyard

Mr. Carmel is one of the most remarkable vineyard sites in California. Perched on a sort of windswept, exposed shelf sandwiched between Sea Smoke and Rita's Crown, Mt. Carmel yields rich, intense Chardonnays and Pinots. Not surprisingly, a number of other winemakers have been looking as Mt. Carmel as a source of fruit. Matt Dees makes the wines in a bit richer, riper style than he favors at the other Chardonnay/Pinot Noir projects where he is involved.

This is another stellar set of wines from Mail Road and Winemaker Matt Dees. Mt. Carmel is one of the most striking sites in the Sta. Rita Hills. These high-altitude, exposed, hillside parcels get plenty of exposure to the elements. Although the Sta. Rita Hills is most often associated with Pinot Noir, Chardonnay offers just as much potential in this stretch of vineyards. At Mt. Carmel, the Chardonnay is own-rooted Wente, which is not something one sees every day. Owners Ronald Piazza and Michael Palmer are in just their third vintage working with Matt Dees, but the quality and pedigree of these wines is evident. The 2013s are just as strong from bottle as they were from barrel, while the 2014s have the potential to be even better. Both vintages are early, but 2014 is quite remarkable, as all the fruit was in before September, with the exception of a bit of Chardonnay.