Winemaker Notes
Los Alamos Vineyard dates back to the late 1960s and is where Chanin began in 2007. The sandy soils, high elevation (900ft) of the blocks, and cool marine influence gives the wine a great freshness, bright fruit and complicity.
Professional Ratings
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Wine & Spirits
We have notes of Gavin Chanin’s Los Alamos Vineyard chardonnays from nearly his first vintage, and there are themes, even specific words, that are common through the years—how the wines invariably feel open, transparent, expansive, wide. There is something about this place that Chanin was born to channel, and he has the good sense to stay out of its way. The ’19 is true to its forbears, perhaps displaying a bit more structure, more vertical assembly against which this wine’s cool and gentle flavors—caramel, pear, lees, a spray of coast fog—assemble. Buy a few bottles of this wine to cellar and to contemplate as you uncork them over the course of years.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Boasting a killer bouquet of reductive stone fruits, lemon, chalky minerality, and toast, the 2019 Chardonnay Los Alamos Vineyard is medium-bodied and has flawless balance as well as clean, integrated acidity. Brought up in just 15% new French oak, it’s unfortunate that there are a scant 485 cases produced. It’s beautiful today, yet I see no reason it won’t keep for 7-8 years if stored properly.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2019 Chardonnay Los Alamos Vineyard features bright lemon and stony character on the nose with notes of bakers yeast, toast and beeswax. The palate is satiny, soft and alluring, with polished acidity, perfumed fruits and a long, gently honeyed finish. Lovely! Best after 2022.
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Wine Enthusiast
Strong aromas of struck stone and iron tailings meet with apple peels, melon and a hint of nut on the complex nose of this bottling. Tart apple flavors run into macadamia nut on the palate, which is framed in a firm tension.
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.
With a dry and mild climate cooled significantly by moist ocean fog and breezes, Santa Barbara County is a grape-grower’s dream. Part of the larger Central Coast appellation, Santa Barbara is home to Santa Maria Valley and Santa Ynez Valley. The conditions here provide an opportunity for nearly effortless production of high-quality cool-climate Central Coast wines. This is also the site of the 2004 film Sideways, which caused Pinot Noir’s popularity to skyrocket and brought new acclaim to the region.
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are the stars of Santa Barbara, producing wines marked by racy acidity. Crisp Sauvignon Blanc and savory Syrah are also important. The region is home to many young and enthusiastic winemakers eager to experiment with less common varieties including Chenin Blanc, Grüner Veltliner, Trousseau Gris, Gamay and Cabernet Franc, making it an exciting area to watch.