Here’s a pair of wines from Talbott, which can be found just south of Monterey, California. These wines are both single vineyard offerings from a Talbott-owned estate, Sleepy Hollow Vineyard, which is planted in the Santa Lucia Highlands around this region.

2016 Talbott Chardonnay Santa Lucia Sleepy Hollow Vineyard – Creamy, lemony, with notes of nougat. This classic central-Cali chardonnay segues eventually into notes of almond butter and a grind of nutmeg. A hint of brown sugar informs the finish, which is otherwise laced with a touch of lemon. Nice balance on an otherwise straightforward offering. A- / $45

2016 Talbott Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Sleepy Hollow Vineyard – A touch smoky, this pinot finds a moderate body with notes of fresh cherries, a pinch of spice, some cola, and a surprising component of green herbs — the lattermost of which gives the finish a more vegetal note than expected. It’s vibrant up front, but slightly underdeveloped on the back end, where the smoky qualities re-emerge and a modest gumminess comes to the fore. B+ / $50

talbottvineyards.com

2016 Talbott Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Sleepy Hollow Vineyard

$50

8.5

Rating

8.5/10