Winemaker Notes
The 2023 vintage is wonderfully decadent, offering a densely viscous mouthfeel balanced by lively acidity, with aromas and flavors of grilled pineapple, marzipan, freshly cut hay, stone fruits, melon, and white flowers that carry through to a long and complex finish.
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
The 2023 Enchanté is a beautifully articulated blend of 55% Roussanne and 45% Grenache Blanc that packs tons of varietal signature into its plush, vibrant frame. Salted almond, orange oil, white flowers and ripe white peach tones make for such an enticing, pretty profile. Sexy and seamless, the 2023 is a distinctive, harmonious wine with so much textural intrigue, especially for the price. The extra measure of freshness from the cool growing season is particularly effective here.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Based on 55% Roussanne and 45% Grenache Blanc, the 2023 Enchanté was fermented and aged 10 months in 100% French oak, including both new and neutral Burgundy barrels (20% new). Aromas and flavors of orange blossom, melon, honeyed flowers, and creamy nuances all emerge from the glass. Medium-bodied, pure, and layered, it has a nicely textured mouthfeel, integrated acidity, and a great finish. Versatile at the table, it offers good richness while staying light on its feet and juicy.
Full-bodied and flavorful, white Rhône blends originate from France’s Rhône Valley. Today these blends are also becoming popular in other regions. Typically some combination of Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne and Viognier form the basis of a white Rhône blend with varying degrees of flexibility depending on the exact appellation. Somm Secret—In the Northern Rhône, blends of Marsanne and Roussanne are common but the south retains more variety. Marsanne, Roussanne as well as Bourboulenc, Clairette, Picpoul and Ugni Blanc are typical.
Ranging from cool and foggy in the west to warm and dry in the east, the Santa Ynez Valley is a climatically diverse growing area. The most expansive AVA within the larger Santa Barbara County region, Santa Ynez is also home to a wide variety of soil types and geographical features. The appellation is further divided into four distinct sub-AVAs—Sta. Rita Hills, Ballard Canyon, Los Olivos District and Happy Canyon—each with its own defining characteristics.
A wide selection of grapes is planted here—more than sixty different varieties, and counting. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir dominate in the chilly west, while Zinfandel, Rhône blends, and Bordeaux blends rule the arid east. Syrah is successful at both ends of the valley, with a lean and peppery, Old-World sensibility closer to the coast and lush berry fruit further inland.