The Lechuza Estate
- Lechuza is a family run, miniscule production winery that makes most of its wine from estate vineyards. Their winery and vineyards are located near the end of the Valle de Guadalupe at an elevation of 900 ft, approximately 12 miles from the Pacific. Vineyards slope gently to the northwest.
- In addition to using the fruit from their estate vineyard, which is organically farmed, they source their chardonnay from a select site in Valle de San Vicente very close to sea level less than a mile from the Pacific.
- The term "family operated" runs very true to course here, with their entire staff for harvest consisting of 6 people, one of whom is their precocious 4-year-old.
- Their "Amantes" and "Nebbiolo" are featured on the wine list of the French Laundry.
Total production: 5 wines, 2,200 cases
2020 Stainless Steel Chardonnay - Lechuza
Tasting Notes and Drinking Window:
A Chardonnay made in a very Burgundian style. The wine was aged in stainless steel for six months on the lees and underwent partial malolactic fermentation, leaving it at once bright, crisp, and clean yet smooth and almost buttery on the palate. A nose of tropical fruits, yellow apple and freshly baked bread, leads to a wine which caresses the tongue with notes of creme bruee, pineapple, Asian pear, lemon, and a touch of honeysuckle blossom.
Drinking Window: opon release - 5 years
300 cases made
Vintage:
2020
Blend:
100% Chardonnay
Producer:
Lechuza
Winemaker:
Kristin Schute - American born, now a Mexican citizen
Vineyards:
Valle de San Vicente - 100 ft elevation, red clay and sand.
Aging:
Fermented in stainless steel tanks and then aged for 6 months on the lees before, being racked off the skins and aged for an attitional 3 months in stainless steel tanks.
Farming:
Sustainable
Alcohol:
14.3%
