Name: 2002 Mer Soleil Reserve Chardonnay
Brand: Mer Soleil Vineyard
SKU: 4f6ba2b744d3a6cffa8430f389c19d26
Price: 30.00 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 89 (3 reviews)

Label of 2002 Mer Soleil Reserve Chardonnay

2002 Mer Soleil Reserve Chardonnay
Santa Lucia Highlands, USA
- - Most Recent Global Avg Price (ex-tax)
  - $ 19 / 750ml
  - From June 2015
- White - Buttery and Complex
- 3.5 from 3 User Ratings
- 89 / 100 from 3 Critic Reviews
- Formerly labeled as Barrel Fermented Chardonnay.
  
  Critic tasting note: "Classic Mer Soleil, which is to say it's a small nuclear explosion in the mouth. Don't drink it too cold, or you'll minimize the rich tropical fruit and vanilla cream flavors. This big Chard should be enjoyed with food that's buttery and slightly sweet, like broiled lobster." - 92/100, Wine Enthusiast
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2022 Bottle (750ml)

Mer Soleil Chardonnay, Santa Lucia Highlands, California, United States, 750ml

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Highlights

Winery

Mer Soleil is a California wine estate that was established in 1988 in the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA in Monterey County by the Wagner family of Caymus fame. It is best known for its pair of wines made from Chardonnay, though al...

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Details

About the Product

Region or Appellation: Santa Lucia Highlands

Monterey County / Central Coast / California / USA

Analytical Data

Alcohol ABV: 14.3 - 15%
Sweetness: Dry
Blend: 100% Chardonnay

Production Attributes

Barrel Fermented

Maturation: Oaked
Oak Type: French
Ownership: Charlie Wagner
Closure Type: Cork
Vineyard Notes: Forty minutes south of Monterey, California, the Santa Lucia Highlands is known for having ideal growing conditions for chardonnay. Cooling breezes of Monterey Bay enable a slower ripening of the grapes, leading to an extended growing season and wine of heifhtened complexity and intense flavors.

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Ageing: A mix of new and used French oak barrels for about 11 months. A portion goes through malolactic fermentation to ensure a firm acidity while hand stirring of the barrels imparts a creamy texture.

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About the Wine

Region

Santa Lucia Highlands

The AVA covers an area that runs southeast along the foothills of the Santa Lucia mountain range, stretching from the town of Gonzales to the neighboring AVA of Arroyo Seco in the south...

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Style

White - Buttery and Complex

Overt vanilla aromas tends to come with barrel fermentation more than via the more gentle processes involved in barrel maturation, and from new wood rather than used oak. Older barrels are...

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Grape Variety / Blend

Chardonnay

Chardonnay's origins Chardonnay is the product of Gouais Blanc – the parent of many well-known varieties including Riesling – and Pinot (i.e. Pinot Noir or a mutation thereof). Pinot and...

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Food Pairing

Manchego and Parmesan

Typically, Parmesan gets paired with a robust Tuscan red, but really, this type of cheese is too salty to be ideal with a red with lots of backbone. We recommend serving Parmesan in chunks...

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Suggested Dishes to Pair With This Wine

Chicken satay Starter Course: Chicken in peanut sauce; South East Asian

Clam, leek and bacon chowder Starter Course: Contains: clams; Western

Arroz negro Main Course: Black rice with squid ink; Spanish

Casserole of corn meal and chicken mole Main Course: Mexican

Critics Scores & Reviews

(3)

2002 vintage

89 / 100

3 scores

95 - 100

90 - 94

85 - 89

80 - 84

75 - 79

0 - 74

92 / 100 Wine Enthusiast

2002 Vintage Tasted: Jan 2005

Classic Mer Soleil, which is to say it's a small nuclear explosion in the mouth. Don't drink it too cold, or you'll minimize the rich tropical fruit and vanilla cream flavors. This big Chard should be enjoyed with food that's buttery and slightly sweet, like broiled lobster.

About Wine Enthusiast

87 / 100 Wine Spectator

2002 Vintage Tasted: Mar 2005

About Wine Spectator

90 / 100 CellarTracker

2002 Vintage

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User Ratings

(3)

3.5

3 ratings

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2002 Vintage: California Learn more

Vintage quality: Legendary

Current condition: Ready to drink

The 2002 vintage for California was exceptionally good.

A smooth spring made for a successful flowering and the good conditions were only set to continue. Apart from the odd heat spike in late summer, the weather remained sublime throughout the year. The cool August...

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Popularity relative to other wines, spirits and beers , irrespective of vintage, based on the number of searches from May 2022 to Apr 2024

Current Product

Mer Soleil Reserve Chardonnay Santa Lucia Highlands, USA

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Chardonnay from Santa Lucia Highlands

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Also from 'Mer Soleil Vineyard' (4) Learn more

Mer Soleil Silver Unoaked Chardonnay

Santa Lucia Highlands, USA

$17

87 / 100

Mer Soleil Reserve Pinot Noir

Santa Lucia Highlands, USA

$23

89 / 100

Mer Soleil 'Late' Viognier

Santa Lucia Highlands, USA

$64

89 / 100

Mer Soleil 'Santa Barbara County' Reserve Chardonnay

California, USA

$31

89 / 100

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Also from 'Mer Soleil Vineyard' (4) Learn more