Amor Fati Chardonnay, Santa Lucia Highlands 2021
by Tooth & Nail Wine Co
A limited-edition Chardonnay from the vaunted Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, loaded with vibrancy and finesse
Grapes: Chardonnay
Aromas: Golden apple, pear, summer hay, honeycomb
Flavors: Tangerine, pineapple, subtle oak spices
Texture: Smooth, minerally, satiny
Aging: Fermented and aged sur lie for 10 months in French oak barrels
Vineyard: Grown on alluvial east-facing slopes in the Santa Lucia Highlands
The 2021 Amor Fati Santa Lucia Highlands Chardonnay delivers an elegant expression of this vaunted Monterey County appellation. Aromas of pear, golden apple, summer hay, and honeycomb enchant the nose.
The mouthfeel is minerally and satiny, flooding the palate with notes of tangerine, pineapple, apple pie, and subtle oak spices. Smooth, rounded textures expand with enduring freshness on the finish.
The 2021 vintage comes from a small vineyard at the southern end of the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA near the Arroyo Seco riverbed, where the Chardonnay sits along an east-facing hillside composed of clay and silt. This is a classic orientation and soil profile for the AVA, which is cradled into ancient alluvial fans that are shielded from the late afternoon sun by the towering Santa Lucia Mountains. The southerly portion of the AVA is accentuated by warmer conditions while still benefitting from reliable Monterey Bay breezes, resulting in fruit that combines cool-climate finesse and vibrancy with richer fruit tones.
The fruit was harvested on September 13, 2021 after a steady and well-paced growing season. Upon arrival at the winery in the cool morning hours, the fruit was whole-cluster pressed and fermented exclusively in 228-liter French oak barriques, inclusive of 10 percent new oak.
After fermentation, the lots underwent full secondary malolactic fermentation and were aged on the heavy lees in oak barriques for 10 months. Regular lees stirring was applied throughout the maturation period to develop an enhanced mouthfeel. At the conclusion of barrel aging, the final blend was assembled and integrated in stainless steel for one additional month before bottling.
Complimentary shipping is offered with orders of $100+ within the U.S., excluding Alaska and Hawaii. For express orders, fees are determined by speed, weight and destination. Please note, someone 21+ must sign for wine deliveries.
Weather conditions (extreme heat or freezing temperatures) create challenges for shipping wine. If the forecast temperatures at the shipping address are a concern, your order may be delayed. If you would like your order shipped regardless of weather conditions, please email service@toothandnailwine.com
Unfortunately at this time we are unable to ship to the following states:
Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma (on-site only), Rhode Island (on-site only), South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia.
Sustainability is at the core of what we do. It is our way of doing right by the land that gives us so much. It also means being a good steward of our people, community, and winery culture.
- We farm our vineyards with organic practices
- We utilize hand labor for weed abatement as an alternative to herbicides
- We practice deficit irrigation as a means to conserve water and heighten fruit quality
- We pledge 1% of profits to “1% for the Planet” — a global initiative to benefit the environment and help grow a better world
Amor Fati Chardonnay, Santa Lucia Highlands 2021
“Insanely delicious.”
Carson, Wine Lover
Winemaker's Pairings
Jeremy Leffert – Director of Winemaking
Eating
Steamed Dover sole over spinach with Fresno chili salsa
Listening to
"The Knife" by Maggie Rogers
Reading
"Love Story" by Erich Segal
Watching
When Harry Met Sally
Amor Fati
Amor Fati is the imprint of our most elevated and coveted wines. Marked by meticulous winemaking and exhibiting both vibrancy and tension, Amor Fati wines represent the finest from Tooth & Nail.