Sold Out
2012 Mercy Chardonnay, Zabala Vineyard
2012 Mercy Chardonnay, Zabala Vineyard

MERCY
2012 Chardonnay, Arroyo Seco
Zabala Vineyard

Double Gold Medal - 2014 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
Gold Medal - 2014 Orange County Wine Competition

Chardonnay is known as one of the “Noble” grape varieties, because of its ability to make stunning, age-worthy wines in Burgundy and Chablis.  However, the dirty little secret of chardonnay is that the grapes themselves really don’t have that much flavor, making chardonnay incredibly dependent upon the soils in which it is grown.  This is why there is so much mediocre chardonnay out in the market—when it is grown in boring soils, it produces boring wine.  But when the soils are right, chardonnay can be one of the greatest wines in the world.  One soil type that seems to work incredibly well with California chardonnay is found in dried out riverbed, where the abundance of small rocks in the soil provides drainage and seemingly adds complexity and depth to the wines.  This is exactly the kind of soil found at the Zabala Vineyard in the Central Coast’s Arroyo Seco AVA (an appropriate name!).

Vineyard Notes
Dating back to the Spanish Land Grant, the Zabala family has been stewards of the same ranch for seven generations. The property encompasses much of the Arroyo Seco dry riverbed and is known for its windy exposure and rocky, meager soil. Vines were first planted in 1972 and the vineyard is home to many diferent varietals, including clone 4 of Chardonnay.

Winemaking Notes
A stellar growing season, the fruit from 2012 had an idyllic, even ripening period: permitting complex flavor development without compromising acidity. The Zabala chardonnay was picked by hand on October 19th. e grapes were pressed whole-cluster and, after 2 days of cold stabilization, the juice was inoculated (prix de mousse). Racked to French oak barrels, the wine was fermented and aged in six barrels (2 new) for 11 months, with their lees stirred every other week.

Tasting Notes
A compelling vineyard site, this bottling is highlighted by its balance and verve; as creamy, rich textures are met by a focused line of acidity. Borne from the meager soil of a dried riverbed the bouquet and palate avors tell a similar story, as classic stone-fruit, apple and pear, aromas meld with honey suckle, orange peel, spiced creme-brulee, toasted hazelnut and mineral notes in the recesses.

Vineyards: Zabala Vineyard, Arroyo Seco
Composition:  100% Chardonnay
Clones:  Clone 4
Harvest:  October 19, 2012
Aging:  100% Barrel Fermented, 100% Malolactic, French Oak, 33% New
Bottled:  September 26, 2013
Acidity:  0.69
pH:  3.56
Alcohol:  14.3%
Production:  152 cases

Tasting Notes PDF PDF


More About

<< previous  |  next >>

All Wines


Muscardini
2018 Red Blend, Old Vine RESERVE
Sonoma Valley

Modern, Sexy & Full
Aromas of wild blackberries and blueberries interwoven with enchanting notes of fresh mint, lavender, roasted walnut, savory spices, and a captivating hint of dark chocolate drizzled with fine balsamic. Notes of plum, blueberry and cassis with hints of wild sage, licorice, black pepper, and an elegant touch of fine-grained oak.

 $68.00 
Today's Price
$47.60
2018 Muscardini Old Vine Red Blend Reserve

Muscardini
2019 Red Blend, TESORO (Treasure)
Super-Tuscan Style

98 Points, Best of Class
Super-Tuscan style blend offering aromas of ripe berries and black fruits, interwoven with hints of vanilla, caramel, raw tobacco, leather, clove, blood orange peel, and roasted walnuts. Rich and generous flavors of briary blackberry, dark cherry, ripe plum and cassis.

 $62.00 
Today's Price
$43.40
2019 Muscardini TESORO

Muscardini
2019 Red Blend, FORTUNA (Good Fortune)

Plush & Velvety
Aromas of wild berries are interlaced with nuances of fresh lavender, dark chocolate truffle, baking spices, and cigar box, with generous flavors of ripe blackberry, blueberry, dark cherry and fresh currants are layered with hints of cocoa, cassis, allspice, and wild sage. 

 $75.00 
Today's Price
$52.50
2019 Muscardini FORTUNA

WineHeist.com
Inside Steals, One Every Week