Chamisal Vineyards Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay 2016
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Jeb
Dunnuck -
Wine
Enthusiast -
Wine
Spectator
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
This bright wine exhibits focused characteristics with aromas of stone fruit, ripe pear and jasmine. The entry is fruit driven with hints of toasted oak, Fuji apple and white peach, giving an element of purity to the midpalate. Finishing clean with fresh minerality and broad texture, the wine is a beautiful example of Santa Rita Hills Chardonnay.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
A brilliant wine, the 2016 Chardonnay Sta Rita Hills comes from a handful of top vineyards (Peake Ranch, Zotovich, La Rinconada, etc.) and spent 13 months in 35% new French oak. It boasts a vibrant gold color as well as terrific notes of white flowers, apple blossoms, citrus, and notable salty, mineral-like subtleties. Clean, medium-bodied, fresh, and focused on the palate, with both richness and freshness, drink it over the coming 5-7 years.
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Wine Enthusiast
Fresh and bright aromas of wild lime, chilled melon, Meyer lemon rind and a bit of toast make for a very inviting nose. With this bottling, the Edna Valley-based winery is branching out to other regions. The palate is tightly woven with zippy, sharp acidity, showing flavors of pomelo and Asian pear.
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Wine Spectator
Offers a rich, spicy aroma, featuring concentrated Fuji apple and Asian pear flavors. Zesty midpalate, with a mineral-filled finish. Drink now through 2022.
Pioneers in winemaking on the Central Coast, Chamisal Vineyards was the first to plant vineyards in the Edna Valley in 1973. Chamisal is nestled five miles inland from the Pacific Ocean on the rugged California Coast. With the cooling Pacific Ocean nearby, the long temperate growing season extends the amount of time grapes stay on the vine to develop their flavors. This extended hang time paired with the calcareous, clay-rich soil of the property produces fruit with exceptional intensity and complex flavors, often showing a distinctive character that some fondly call "Chamisal Spice."
Chamisal Vineyards has a site-driven approach to winemaking, crafting each wine as an expression of the unique terroir of the vineyards from which it is sourced. When applied to Chardonnay, this approach produces a range of versatile and distinctive wines that range from full-bodied and supple with generous oak influence to lean, elegant and mineral-driven.
In 2010, Chamisal Vineyards became the second winery ever to become SIP (Sustainability in Practice) certified. This program, separate from vineyard certification, requires that winemaking operations also be sustainable and respectful of the environment. They tightly monitor and control the winery’s energy and water use by using solar panels to produce 25 percent of the electrical power needed and implemented a water-recapture system that reclaims 100 percent of Chamisal winery process water for irrigation needs. Chamisal Vineyards has always thrived to protect the environment and their communities. It has become clear to us that the emission of Green House Gases (GHG) not only is the biggest environmental threat, but also that the majority of environmental advances are tied to their ability to emit less GHG. They have embarked on a fundamental transformation of how they grow grapes and make wines and have joined international organizations such as the Porto Protocol and the International Wineries for Climate Action (IWCA). They have committed to reduce their GHG emissions by 50% by 2030 and 100% by 2050.
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.