Winemaker Notes
From the prominent plantings to the western end of Santa Rosa Road, we are fortunate to work with two parcels of Chardonnay. Both north facing, the first sits atop the vineyard looking out over the Sta. Rita Hills on very rocky soils, in an extremely exposed and windy perch. The second, a little lower and with more soil, sits just to the east and is protected by the hilltop where our other piece sits.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
Crushed citrus, sweet corn, flowers, and chalky minerality make the 2022 Chardonnay Bentrock Vineyard incredible on the palate, with perhaps the most breadth and richness of the trio. Aged 11 months in 25% new French oak, it has medium body, a layered, seamless mouthfeel, and a great finish. It's a serious effort that I'd be happy to have in the cellar and certainly a “wow” Chardonnay in the vintage.
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Decanter
The Bentrock Chardonnay is driven by mineral intensity and a taut, linear acid structure. Salty, chalky and polished, it delivers clean lemon and cream flavours with a subtle note of de-skinned green apple on the palate. Sourced from two parcels on the exposed, rocky upper slopes of the Bentrock Vineyard, this site is battered by wind, adding to the wine’s tension and precision. A compelling wine for sommeliers to follow, its ageing potential is clear: over time, the interplay between evolving fruit character, the softening of sharp citrus notes, and the enhancement of its stony minerality will only deepen.
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Vinous
The 2022 Chardonnay Bentrock Vineyard is another fine effort in this range from Racines. It shows plenty of Bentrock energy, but with that extra kick of mid-palate texture that differentiates it from many of the leaner wines being made from this vineyard. Slate, crushed rocks, mint, white pepper and sage are some of the many notes that build in a striking Chardonnay that speaks with great eloquence.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2022 Chardonnay Bentrock Vineyard opens with an airy, nimble bouquet defined by flinty and oceanic aromas against an orchard-fruited backdrop. While a touch less incisive in this vintage, the palate is decisively the most linear and chiseled of the range, closing with a chalky, citrus-tinged and nuanced finish that continues to expand with aeration.
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Wine Spectator
Floral up front, with accents of orange blossoms, lime zest and jasmine to the sharply vibrant core of lemon, lime and pear flavors. Shows details of white pepper, ginger and basil on a sleek and mouthwatering frame, plus a touch of sea salt spray.
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.