Winemaker Notes
A brilliant pale gold tone, with a suggestion of light emerald hue. Aromas of Anjou pear, ripe kiwi, fresh lemongrass give way to tangerine zest notes. Fresh and full-bodied, the palate is mouthwatering with nectarine, dried lemon and notes of alomnd skin, green tea and further citrus notes. Finishes with a burst of acidity and creaminess.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
There’s great aromas of chiseled chalk and a sharp lime-juice splash to the nose of this bottling, yet also richer tones of butter, white peach and oak. The oak and butter tones are fairly prominent on the sip as well, but pleasantly so,delivering richness with compellingly tense texture.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2017 Chardonnay El Jabalí Vineyard opens with toast and almond aromas with red apple and apricot plus touches of popcorn, banana and honeycomb. Medium to full-bodied, it packs in the savory flavors lifted by juicy acidity and finishing with pleasant texture.
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.