Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2018 Chardonnay Belle de Jour Duvarita Vineyard, from biodynamically farmed grapes, is reminiscent of a grand cru Chablis, opening with tones of crushed shell and saline with aromas of lemon pith, hazelnuts and white blossoms. The palate is precise and pure with savory undertones and a long, lifted finish.
-
Vinous
The 2018 Chardonnay Belle de Jour Duvarita Vineyard is bright, pointed and precise, but it is also a bit austere at this stage. It will be interesting to see if the 2018 gains a bit more fruit expression with time. In this tasting, it is uncharacteristically unyielding.
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.