Winemaker Notes
Aromas of lemon meringue pie, hazelnut, and wet gravel give way to a palate marked by tangerine peel and the earthy richness commonly associated with the Los Alamos area. Hints of mango from the Santa Maria component and a strong mineral streak from the Sta. Rita hills fruit round out and liven up the wine.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
From a site in the Sta. Rita Hills, the light-colored 2016 Chardonnay El Jabali gives up a beautiful perfume of white flowers, white peach, hints of pineapple cream, and toasted nuts. With medium body, building minerality, terrific acidity, and a balanced style, it's a beautiful Chardonnay from this estate to drink over the coming 4-5 years.
One of the most popular and versatile white wine grapes, Chardonnay offers a wide range of flavors and styles depending on where it is grown and how it is made. While it tends to flourish in most environments, Chardonnay from its Burgundian homeland produces some of the most remarkable and longest lived examples. California produces both oaky, buttery styles and leaner, European-inspired wines. Somm Secret—The Burgundian subregion of Chablis, while typically using older oak barrels, produces a bright style similar to the unoaked style. Anyone who doesn't like oaky Chardonnay would likely enjoy Chablis.
A superior source of California Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Sta. Rita Hills is the coolest, westernmost sub-region of the larger Santa Ynez Valley appellation within Santa Barbara County. This relatively new AVA is unquestionably one to keep an eye on.
The climate of Sta. Rita Hills is a natural match for Chardonnay and Pinot noir, thanks to the crisp ocean breezes and well-drained, limestone-rich calcareous soil. Here, grapes ripen just enough, while retaining brisk acidity and harmonious balance.