Babcock Sta Rita Hills Chardonnay 2014 Front Label
Babcock Sta Rita Hills Chardonnay 2014 Front Label

Winemaker Notes

Imagine if they took some fruit from the Top Cream section of their estate vineyard, and instead of doing the full Burgundian stylistic expansion with it, they fermented it in stainless steel at a nice cool temperature to lock in its fruit and minerality. Imagine if they borrowed from the Burgundian recipe just a little malolactic fermentation to balance the fruit's natural acidity with richness. What would one call such a wonderful thing? Well, here at the winery we call it "Baby Cream". No it does not have the world class dimension that the Top Cream has. But it does have rip roaring fruit with a mouthwatering finish that goes forever. If you call the winery and ask for Baby Cream, they'll know what you're talking about.

Professional Ratings

  • 90
    Brian Babcock's 2014 Chardonnay (Sta. Rita Hills) is soft, open-knit and delicious. Dried pear, lemon peel, white flowers, mint and white pepper are front and center in this very pretty, expressive Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay. Fermenting in steel keeps the flavors bright and focused, but there is plenty of the signature Babcock texture in the glass.
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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.

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Sta. Rita Hills

Santa Barbara, California

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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.

YNG195739_2014 Item# 169657