Winemaker Notes
Styled in the manner of the great wines of the Côte d’Or, the Golden Slope is a layered and textural Chardonnay with a kiss of new oak from top vineyards sites throughout the Sta. Rita Hills. The wine is made up of nearly 40% Clos Pepe, with the remaining thirds of fruit from La Rinconada, Bentrock, and Kessler-Haak. The wine was barrel fermented in neutral (85%) and new (15%) French barrels from Tonnellerie Damy. Like all the cuvées made by Jeff Nelson and winemaker James Sparks, the Golden Slope is a small production, sustainably farmed wine, made without the use of additions or manipulations.
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.