The fruit in this Martellotto Chardonnay is from the Sierra Madre Vineyard in the western part of Santa Maria Valley in Santa Barbara County. This is a very cool vineyard site that is windswept. Many outstanding producers source from this vineyard and I am pleased to be a part of this group. Baked apples and pears in the nose follow through on the palate. The wine suggests a liberal use of French oak and the 2017 is 40% new French oak with the balance in older barrels. The wine was bottled in August 2018 after 12 months in oak with limited sulfur additions. The wine was barrel fermented and has a lovely natural acidity and a light zip in the mouth from the sandy loam vineyard that was covered by the Pacific Ocean millennia ago. A broad mouthfeel and yummy minerality combine with layers of vanilla, toasted hazelnuts, and nutmeg singing into the finish. Consider this with any food that is prepared with butter.
Only 350 cases made.

I lived in San Francisco between 2009-2014. During this time, I launched the new labels designed by John Langdon and came up with pet names for each of my wines. The fanciful name "Melodeon" has two meanings. Melodeon is the name given to the type of foot-pumped organs used in the 19th century. If you can imagine an old west saloon with gunslingers and whisky, there is likely melodeon organ music in the background. Later, the melodeon is referred to a more common accordion that is played while draped over the musician's thigh. You may not know in 1990 San Francisco declared the piano accordion the official instrument of the city. The first such instrument in American was (allegedly) produced there in 1908. As such, the music of the time, playing in the saloons of the Barbary Coast was referred to as "melodeon". The other tie in here, is that I dance tango. I've even performed in front of an audience. Tango music is famous for the unique sound of the bandoneon, also a type of accordion. I love the music, even if it can be depressing. There is something smooth, genuine, and lyrical about tango and melodeon music and I hope you'll find these characteristics in my black label Chardonnay too.

Just as the rear label suggests, enjoy this wine while listening to Frank Sinatra perform "Night and Day."