Winemaker Notes
Stylistically inspired by Chablis. All Sta. Rita Hills vineyards, barrel fermented and aged 10 months in neutral French Oak. A crisp Chardonnay that highlights Sta. Rita Hills unique minerality.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2020 Chardonnay White Hill is scented of quince, almonds, tarragon and crème fraîche with floral tones. Light-bodied, gently grippy and boasting nutty fruits, the palate is tangy, refreshing and ideal for the table. Best After 2022
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Jeb Dunnuck
Terrific notes of honeyed apple, toasted brioche, and white flowers emerge from the 2020 Chardonnay White Hill, a medium-bodied, vibrant, elegant Chardonnay that shines for its purity and freshness. It's going to age beautifully, and I'd expect it to be even better in another year.
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.