2023 · Silver Chardonnay

Mer Soleil is a privately owned, boutique producer in California’s Santa Lucia Highlands, founded in the late 1980s and still overseen by owner-winemaker Charlie Wagner. Its vineyard is sustainably managed, with no formal certification mentioned, and the estate operates within a close farming community. Mer Soleil produces Chardonnay and Pinot Noir using traditional techniques, including limited malolactic fermentation, hand-stirring of French oak barrels, and aging in a blend of new and used oak. The wines are characterized by bright fruit, crisp acidity, elegance, and balance.