Winemaker Notes
Wonderfully tuned in a tight, crystalline, vibrant blend between two outstanding vineyard sources in the Sta. Rita Hills ( Zotovich Family and Sanford & Benedict). This wine sings with notes of lemon curd, citrus blossom, Bartlett pear, graham, turmeric, cashew nut, and hints of nutmeg. Bright acidity keeps this delicate wine light on its feet, with intense depth, great length, nuance, and complexity.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2020 Chardonnay Santa Barbara County has savory scents of matchstick and beeswax complementing a core of white peach and quince. The light-bodied palate offers highly concentrated fruit and a mouth-coating texture that drives a long, flavorful finish. 313 cases were made.
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Wine & Spirits
Scents of nougat and caramel toffee hint at a rich wine, but the flavors are lean and racy, all yuzu and lime. These two ends need to meld a bit, but the wine is compelling all the same. Decant and serve with miso black cod.
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.