92 Points - Wine Enthusiast
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
Sourced from contiguous vineyards, Zabala and Griva, found in the Arroyo Seco AVA’s ancient, dried Riverbed terrain - a nite and limiting section of the appellation, in between two major benches and defined by a rocky, granite-cobblestone surface soil over hardpan subsoil. In concert with the rocky and meager nature of the soil, this locale is plagued by howling winds and fog throughout the growing season. Slow to ripen, the grapes develop complex flavors and retain elevated, natural levels of acidity. Sourcing from adjoining properties, the Mercy Riverbed bottling highlights a very small and compelling portion the Arroyo Seco appellation.
Winemaker, Alan Phillips
Alan has pretty much done it all in the wine world. Having graduated from UC Davis’ Enology Department in 1976, he moved to the Napa Valley where he had the distinction of meeting and working under André Tchelistcheff at S. Anderson Vineyards in Yountville. In 1981, Alan joined forces with Jay Corley to develop Monticello Cellars in the Napa Valley. After the harvest of 1990 and ten years at Monticello, Alan ventured out on his own to work with a variety of small Napa Valley wineries. He was involved in the initial stages of several new wineries including Vine Cliff Cellars, V & L Eisele Vineyards, and Kates Vineyards & Winery. Various consulting jobs led him to New Zealand, Germany, France, Spain, and Portugal, giving him the opportunity to view winemaking on a global level.,,In the mid-nineties Alan, who enjoys the glories of well-grown and well-made Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, took the position of Winemaker and General Manager at Byington Winery, located in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Then, a couple of years later in 1998, he was lured to Santa Barbara County to be Director of Winemaking and General Manager of Foley Estates and Lincourt Vineyards. Alan worked for Foley and Lincourt, as well as a growing portfolio of other properties, for 10 years before departing in 2008. He presently makes wine for Mercy as well as his own family winery Fontes & Phillips.
Alan was named one of IntoWine.com's top 100 Winemakers. He built the foundation of Bill Foley's Foley Family Wines empire. He has had wines on both Wine Spectator and Wine Enthusiast's TOP 100 list, and hundreds of 90+ scores for wines over his winemaking career.
Winemaking Notes
In 2014, the winery received ‘Dijon’ clone 76 chardonnay from Griva Vineyard in late September. Over two weeks later clone 4 from the Zabala Vineyard came in. Handling each lot same, each was whole-cluster pressed and racked to stainless steel tanks. Following cold stabilization, the juice was inoculated with Prise de Mousse (yeast isolate), racked to French oak barrels where it was fermented and aged for 10 months.
Tasting Notes
Highlighting a specific, rocky and low-yielding portion of the Arroyo Seco AVA, this wine displays racy notes of Bearss lime, Nashi pear, lemon peel, honeysuckle, vanilla cream and mineral tones. The palate displays similar flavors with creamy textures, crisp and focused acidity and a long, lingering finish.
Vineyards: Zabala Vineyard (58%) Griva Vineyard (42%)
Composition: 100% Chardonnay
Clones: Clone 4 & 76
Harvest: Sept 23 & Oct 10, 2014
Aging: 100% Barrel Fermented, 100% Malolactic
Oak: French Oak, 12% New Francois Freres, Dargaud, Jaegle & Seguin Moreau
Bottled: July 30, 2015
Acidity: 0.66
pH: 3.52
Alcohol: 14.1%
Production: 382 cases
Gold Medal
Light pink in color with aromas of watermelon, cranberry, orange rind, and fresh spring flowers that leap from the glass. The palate offers more peach, strawberry, and melon, with an intriguing note of rose and hibiscus. It's crisp with just the perfect hint of red fruit, and delicate whisper of strawberry that gives goosebumps.
95 Points
This stellar Napa Valley Red Blend marries lush plum and cherry with Malbec's dark berry depth and Petit Verdot's structure and spice. Layered with notes of blackberry, violet, and cocoa, this silky wine finishes with smooth tannins and a whisper of toasted oak. Robust and mouth-filling, with spicy nuances, smooth tannins, firm structure, and a long lingering finish.
Inky, plush, cellar-worthy
The nose is an aromatic riot—a decadent mashup of blackberry, black cherry, and plum swirled with whimsical notes of red licorice, vanilla, and cocoa. A savory dust of spice, cedar, and a gentle kiss of oak adds a sophisticated edge to this fruit-forward powerhouse.
96 Points
Aromas of blackberry, black cherry, huckleberry, floral violet and savory spice. The palate is full and layered, with robust, age-worthy tannins and gorgeous flavors of dark berries, mocha and chocolate-covered cherries mingling with hints of graphite, fig and fine leather. Smooth tannins, firm structure and silky texture coat the palate on route to a long, generous finish.
96 Points
Bold and luxurious with inviting aromas of blackberry, black cherry, tobacco, notes of cedar and savory spice. The palate is full and layered, with robust, age-worthy tannins and gorgeous flavors of dark berries, mocha and chocolate-covered cherries mingling with hints of graphite, fig and fine leather.
Gold Medal
Generously packed with black cherry, cola, cassis, and plum that all intermingle together in a creamy, velvety texture with great layering, finishing with delightful notes of oak and spice. Persistent, well-defined structure, wonderfully balanced.
98 Points
Deep purple hue and an alluring aromatic profile of fresh blue fruits and delicate violets. On the palate, it delivers a seamless and layered texture, framed by supple, polished tannins and a refined sense of balance. Elegantly structured, it offers remarkable purity and finesse, finishing with graceful length and poise.
95 Points
Aromas of wild berries, black fig and ripe dark fruits are intertwined with hints of fresh mountain herbs, mineral, leather, savory spices, and cigar box. On the palate, the rich fruit flavors of dark cherry, ripe plum, blackberry, red currants and cassis are layered with notes of wild sage, dark chocolate truffle, cinnamon, clove, and a kiss of oak.
97 Points
Lush and fleshy, with cassis, boysenberry, and blackberry notes guided by hints of alder and mesquite. Stays open but defined through the finish, with a buried hint of sweet tobacco. A rich, layered beast, this has a nose rife with currants, blackberries, vanilla, and light toast with flavors of mocha, plum, and Bing cherry that mingle harmoniously on the tongue.
95 Points
A powerful expression of Cabernet Sauvignon. On the nose, it's enticing and fragrant, bursting with fresh blueberries, blackberry tart, cedar, black olives, and hints of spicebox. Its palate provides big, round chewy tannins, sweet ripe black cherries, blackberry cordial, Bourbon-soaked maraschino cherries, maple roasted walnuts, and a touch of vanilla.
92 Points
Lofty aromas of ripe red fruits layered with notes of crushed violets, berry cobbler, cherry and creme brulee leading into crushed blackberry with cassis, mocha, leather, mineral, and baking spice. Its all encompassing and bold mouthfeel are outstanding, as deep tannins dance around the palate, finishing with flavors of blackberry, fig, and pipe tobacco.
Chewy & Ripe
Dark purplish-black with aromas of ripe black plums, bacon, blackberry jam, and black tea. Dense, chewy and ripe across the palate with a nice mid-palate texture and weight. Rich, structured, and complex, with a long evolving finish.
94 Points, Wine Enthusiast
This opulent wine opens with aromas of blackberry, black plum, violets and spice on the nose. Flavors on the palate of dark cherry, sarsaparilla and orange zest wrap around dried tobacco leaf, malt chocolate and toasted vanilla, with a long, supple finish.
92 Points
Inviting aromas of ripe cherry, strawberry, and pomegranate. The palate unfolds with layered flavors of black cherry, raspberry cordial, vanilla bean and spice, where focused tannins envelop, leading to a rich red fruit finish with blue fruit undertones.
93 Points
Depth, balance and big flavors. The nose evokes black cherry pie, licorice, plums, vanilla, and notes of chocolate. On the palate, it bursts with cassis, red currants, toasted walnuts, and chocolate. This wine has great texture that ultimately finishes with round, silky smooth tannins.
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