Winemaker Notes
The Wenzlau Vineyard Chardonnay holding is farmed by the Racines team using organic practices. Wenzlau Vineyard sits surrounded by Rita’s Crown, Mt. Carmel, and Sea Smoke Vineyards, on a steep, dramatic hillside just above the Santa Ynez River and across from the famed Sanford & Benedict Vineyard.
Professional Ratings
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Decanter
Sourced exclusively from Racines’ organically farmed Wenzlau Vineyard, this single-vineyard Chardonnay, a site selected for use in Racines’ prized méthode Champenoise sparkling cuvées, captures the tension and elegance of its coastal site while showing a marked evolution from the 2022 vintage. The 2023 enjoys extended lees contact in the cellar, bringing a notable shift in texture and complexity. The wine opens with bright citrus and floral aromas, leading to a signature ocean spray element, which then reveals a creamier mid-palate with layered secondary notes of blanched almond, cold-salted butter, and a deep mineral resonance that amplifies its sense of place. Orchard fruit and citrus character remain crisp, but the palate broadens to include added textural depth and ample secondary flavour evolution, lingering long on the finish. The 2023 Wenzlau is an excellent candidate for ageing.
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.