Winemaker Notes
A combination of tank and barrel fermentation was used to produce Lieu Dit Chenin Blanc. The wine then spent seven months in neutral French oak and was racked to stainless steel prior to bottling. Once pressed, the juice is then tank fermented using only native yeast. The wine overwinters in neutral oak barrels, building complexity, definition and verve. In the spring, the wine is racked back to a stainless tank prior to bottling, resulting in a fresh, mouthwatering wine.
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
The 2021 Chenin Blanc is an absolute delight. Hints of dried pear, spice, chamomile and tangerine oil lift effortlessly. Deceptive in its mid-weight feel, the 2021 is flavorful and full of varietal character.
Unquestionably one of the most diverse grape varieties, Chenin Blanc can do it all. It shines in every style from bone dry to unctuously sweet, oaked or unoaked, still or sparkling and even as the base for fortified wines and spirits. Perhaps Chenin Blanc’s greatest asset is its ever-present acidity, maintained even under warm growing conditions. Somm Secret—Landing in South Africa in the mid 1800s, today the country has double the acreage of Chenin Blanc planted compared to France. There is also a new wave of dedicated producers committed to restoring old Chenin vines.
Ranging from cool and foggy in the west to warm and dry in the east, the Santa Ynez Valley is a climatically diverse growing area. The most expansive AVA within the larger Santa Barbara County region, Santa Ynez is also home to a wide variety of soil types and geographical features. The appellation is further divided into four distinct sub-AVAs—Sta. Rita Hills, Ballard Canyon, Los Olivos District and Happy Canyon—each with its own defining characteristics.
A wide selection of grapes is planted here—more than sixty different varieties, and counting. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir dominate in the chilly west, while Zinfandel, Rhône blends, and Bordeaux blends rule the arid east. Syrah is successful at both ends of the valley, with a lean and peppery, Old-World sensibility closer to the coast and lush berry fruit further inland.