Winemaker Notes
Diatom Bar-M Vineyard is sourced from the stunning contiguous blocks of clone 76 Chardonnay planted over 20 years ago in the Los Alamos region of Santa Barbara County.
Los Alamos is a magnificent and relatively unknown region whose sandy loam soil lends itself to fruit with a bit more flesh and weight - perfectly suited to the diatom model.
Like a pent up wave just about to break, rich and luxurious fruit harnessed in by bracing acidity and precision. Lemon, citrus blossom, and wet sand on the nose. Precise and balanced textures. Impeccably clean, focused and transportive to the maritime landscape from which the wine emerges. Saline, white peach flavors.
Vegan-friendly
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
A good value, the 2019 Chardonnay Bar-M gives up a juicy, vibrant nose of tart pineapple, citrus, and honeyed flowers. These carry to a rich, medium to full-bodied Chardonnay with a killer texture, nicely integrated acidity, and a great finish. Pairing wonderfully fresh, complex aromatics with plenty of oomph and richness on the palate, this beautiful Chardonnay is ideal for drinking over the coming 4-5 years (although it will keep even longer).
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Wine Enthusiast
Greg Brewer's wines are always intriguing and sometimes challenging, often recasting what one grape can be. This bottling from a vineyard in the Los Alamos Valley leads with dried lime, wet wool and citrus pith aromas. The palate is laser-focused on citrus peel and pith and yet somehow also earthy, reflective of damp sand.
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.