Winemaker Notes
These Chardonnay vines were originally planted in 1973 with Clone 4 on its own roots in Block UU at the eastern edge of the Bien Nacido Vineyard. The grapes are hand-harvested grapes are gently whole-cluster pressed and fermented 100% in barrel, after which time the wine rests on its lees for 8 months. Malolactic fermentation is discouraged to help this wine retain its natural bright acidity.
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
The 2023 Chardonnay Bien Nacido Vineyard Block UU is alive in the glass, tingling on the tongue with fresh, saline acidity and citrus-zest-inflected fruit. Orange pith, green apple, lemon oil and white flowers settle in first, later accented by more savory undertones. the. Unfussy, direct and absolutely finessed, the 2023 is a beautiful wine in every way.
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James Suckling
Gunflint and hot slate show the Santa Maria Valley through a poised, elegant Burgundian lens. Lemon pith, hard autumn orchard fruit, lanolin and white spices hover through a mashed-almond finish. Drink or hold.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2023 Chardonnay Bien Nacido Vineyard Block UU presents a harmonious bouquet that melds a soft, inviting core of creamy, lees-derived breadth with citrus-driven top notes. Slender, vibrant and high-toned in the mouth, it concludes with a pure, mineral-inflected finish that resonates with oily undertones.
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Wine Enthusiast
Delicate aromas of coconut, white flower, almond and croissant flakes make for an inviting nose on this block-designated bottling. There's a sizzle of acidity to the sip, where juicier pineapple flavors arise.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Brought up eight months in 500-liter French oak puncheons, the 2023 Chardonnay Bien Nacido Vineyard Block UU offers ripe stone fruits, honeyed flowers, toast, and spice nuances. It's medium-bodied, with a clean, pure, polished mouthfeel, bright acidity, and good length on the finish. This impeccably made, classy Chardonnay shines for its balance and purity.
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 lesser-known but elite AVA within the larger Santa Barbara district, the Santa Maria Valley AVA runs precisely west to east starting near the coast. The valley funnels cool, Pacific Ocean air to the vineyards more inland, allowing grapes a longer hang time to ripen evenly and achieve their full potential by harvest time. Combined with minimal rainfall, consistent warm sunshine, and well-drained soils, it is an ideal environment for grape growing.
Many of the wineries here are small and highly respected, having established a reputation in the 1970s and 80s for producing excellent Central Coast wines like Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. More recently, Syrah has also proven quite successful in the region. Many vineyards are owned by growers who sell their grapes to other wineries, so it is common to see the same vineyard name on bottlings from different wineries. Bien Nacido Vineyard is perhaps the best-known and most prestigious.