While I was filming in the Santa Lucia Highlands of Monterey County, I decided to take a moment and experience a small family owned and operated winery called Pessagno.  I heard several great stories about their wine, especially their Chardonnay from the Sleepy Hollow Vineyard.  As I approached the tasting room I was first greeted by the seductive aroma of fresh, hot meat and tomato sauce.  I quickly entered the room and was welcomed by non other than Anthony Pessagno, son of winemaker Steve Pessagno.  This cool dude was more than happy to introduce me to their family of wines and even invited me to stay for lunch.  He poured me a glass of the Sleepy Hollow Chardonnay and I joined his family and co-workers outside in the picnic area.

For lunch, Anthony cooked a wild boar pasta (that he shot himself), with a red tomato sauce and fresh toasted garlic bread.  Boy, oh boy, did that Chardonnay sing!  Tropical flavors, laced with toasty oak and one extra flavor that I had never tasted before in a wine… Banana Cream Pie!

If you love Chardonnay then this is a wine you need to add to your shopping list.  It adds a new elegant twist to your traditional, malolactic, barrel fermented wine.  Some cool facts about this is that the Sleepy Hollow Vineyard uses a special type of trellising that allows the fruit to ripen slowly.  This longer growing season gives the fruit higher acidity which is later softened during the malolactic fermentation.  The wine spends twelve months in barrel with oak from five different barrel makers!  Suggested retail price at $32.00

I highly recommend you take the time to try this wine and if you already have, then I want to hear what YOU think.  Cheers!