Mer Soleil Silver Chardonnay

Mer Soleil Silver Chardonnay is an unoaked, 100% Chardonnay from Monterey County, California, bottled at approximately 14.5–14.8% ABV in a standard 750ml format. Awarded 90 points by Wine Spectator, which praised its "seductive style" and "effusively ripe peach and nectarine flavors," this bottling stands as one of the more compelling expressions of California Chardonnay made entirely without oak influence.

Quick Facts: ABV: ~14.5–14.8%  |  Origin: Monterey County, California  |  Unoaked Chardonnay  |  Producer: Wagner Family of Wine (Mer Soleil Vineyard)

Production & Heritage

Mer Soleil is part of the Wagner Family portfolio, the same family behind the renowned Caymus Vineyards in Napa Valley. The Silver Chardonnay draws its fruit from estate-grown vines in the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, a cool-climate appellation within Monterey County shaped by Pacific fog and wind. What distinguishes this wine from the majority of California Chardonnays is its deliberate avoidance of oak: the juice is fermented and aged exclusively in stainless steel tanks and small unlined concrete vessels imported from Burgundy, France. This approach preserves bright primary fruit and allows the natural minerality of the vineyard site to come through without the buttery, vanilla-laden profile associated with barrel-aged Chardonnay.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with ripe peach and apricot, followed by Meyer lemon zest and pear. Underneath, there are subtle hints of vanilla wafer, honey, and a faint coastal salinity that reflects the maritime influence of the vineyard.

Taste: On the palate, the entry is fresh and round, with pineapple, orange, and golden mango flavors building through the mid-palate. A thread of wet-stone minerality keeps the fruit honest, lending structure and focus. Baked apple and tropical undertones emerge as the wine warms in the glass.

Finish: The finish is medium in length with clean, mineral-driven persistence and a final echo of citrus pith. There is no oak-derived sweetness or creaminess — just bright, precise fruit trailing off into a lightly saline close.

How to Drink Mer Soleil Silver

This wine is best served well-chilled, between 45–50°F, in a standard white wine glass that allows the aromatics to gather without over-warming. Its unoaked profile also makes it a versatile cocktail and spritz ingredient. A White Wine Spritzer lets the bright fruit shine with soda water and a lemon twist. A Chardonnay Sangria using stone fruits like peach and nectarine complements the wine's natural flavor profile. For something unexpected, try it in a French 75 variation, where the citrus-forward minerality substitutes elegantly for Champagne.

Best For

• Introducing someone who "doesn't like Chardonnay" to an unoaked style
• Warm-weather patio dining with seafood or salads
• Gifting to fans of the Wagner Family or Caymus who want to explore beyond red wine
• Pairing with lighter fare at a dinner party where oak-heavy whites would overpower the food

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Mer Soleil Silver taste like? Mer Soleil Silver Chardonnay tastes of ripe peach, pineapple, and golden mango with a distinctive wet-stone minerality and Meyer lemon acidity. It is notably fresh and fruit-forward without the buttery or vanilla flavors common in oak-aged California Chardonnays.

How does Mer Soleil Silver compare to Kendall Jackson Chardonnay? Kendall Jackson Vintner's Reserve Chardonnay sees partial oak aging, which gives it a creamier, rounder mouthfeel with vanilla and toast notes. Mer Soleil Silver skips oak entirely, resulting in a brighter, more mineral-driven wine with sharper fruit definition and less richness on the palate.

Is Mer Soleil Silver good for sipping on its own? Yes — its balanced acidity, ripe fruit character, and clean mineral finish make it highly enjoyable as a standalone pour, especially when served chilled on a warm day.

Where is Mer Soleil Silver made? Mer Soleil Silver Chardonnay is produced by the Wagner Family of Wine from estate-grown grapes at the Mer Soleil Vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, a cool-climate sub-appellation within Monterey County, California.

What foods pair well with Mer Soleil Silver? Grilled shrimp or ceviche, where the wine's acidity mirrors the citrus in the dish. Goat cheese salads with stone fruit match its peach and apricot notes. Sushi and sashimi benefit from the wine's clean minerality. Roasted chicken with herbs works well against its rounded mid-palate. Light Thai curries with coconut complement the tropical fruit tones without clashing.

What sizes does Mer Soleil Silver come in? Mer Soleil Silver Chardonnay is widely available in the standard 750ml bottle.

Is Mer Soleil Silver worth the price? Mer Soleil Silver positions as a mid-premium unoaked Chardonnay, sitting above everyday grocery-shelf whites but below single-vineyard Burgundy-style bottlings. Its 90-point Wine Spectator score and Wagner Family pedigree offer strong value within its price tier for drinkers seeking quality unoaked Chardonnay from a respected California producer.

Why Mer Soleil Silver?

The defining move here is the concrete tanks imported from Burgundy — a deliberate choice that borrows Old World technique to express a distinctly New World vineyard. While dozens of California producers now offer "unoaked" Chardonnay, most rely solely on stainless steel, which can strip texture. The combination of steel and concrete gives Mer Soleil Silver a subtle weight and minerality that pure stainless-steel wines often lack. Backed by the Wagner Family's decades of viticultural experience in California and recognized with 90 points from Wine Spectator, this bottling delivers a credible, well-made alternative for anyone seeking Chardonnay defined by fruit and place rather than barrel influence.