Winemaker Notes
Aromatics of faint honeysuckle flower and toasted graham with accents of ripe pineapple fill the nose. On the
palate, our 2017 Rancho Santa Rosa Chardonnay is balanced with outstanding varietal character that exudes flavors
of lemon curd, toasted marshmallows, and hints of honeycomb that linger on the finish. This Chardonnay has all
of the nuance of barrel fermented Chardonnay, with pops of bright acid that reflect its cool growing region.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Tangy lemon and Mandarin aromas meet with a core of buttered apricot on the nose of this bottling. There’s a firm tension to the sip, where toasted nut, sea salt and citrus peel flavors are enhanced by a crushed seashell minerality.
Exhibiting the casual graciousness of Santa Barbara County, Lincourt Vineyards was named after Bill and Carol Foley’s two daughters – Lindsay and Courtney and marked the beginning of the Foley Family of wines. Founded in 1996, Lincourt produces boutique, ultra-premium estate wines from the acclaimed Sta. Rita Hills AVA. Handcrafted, small-lot bottling showcases the character of each vineyard site and bear the names of the women who influenced and shaped Bill’s life including his wife, mother, grandmother and aunt. The quaint 1926 Sears Craftsman Kit home serves as Lincourt’s charming tasting room and hospitality space.
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 superior source of California Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Sta. Rita Hills is the coolest, westernmost sub-region of the larger Santa Ynez Valley appellation within Santa Barbara County. This relatively new AVA is unquestionably one to keep an eye on.
The climate of Sta. Rita Hills is a natural match for Chardonnay and Pinot noir, thanks to the crisp ocean breezes and well-drained, limestone-rich calcareous soil. Here, grapes ripen just enough, while retaining brisk acidity and harmonious balance.