"The 2009 Estate Chardonnay represents second first vintage of Chardonnay made exclusively of Dijon clones. Planted in 2002 on our estate vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands, these vines are maturing just as we had hoped, giving us exemplary Chardonnay winegrapes.  A full 85% of this wine went through malolactic fermentation, providing a rich, creamy mouthfeel. is portion was fermented in 20% new and 80% one-to-three year-old French oak barrels. The other 15% of the wine was fermented in stainless steel, bringing a crisp element to lighten the structure a bit." - Winemaker Notes

Paraiso Vineyards Chardonnay 2009 Tasting Notes

The finished wine has aromas of orange blossom and lemon peel, with complementary flavors of pear, pineapple and gala apple. It has a firm texture and the acid structure balances nicely, making this a great food wine.