Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Very rich but very minerally, too, with ripe white peach, almond, lime zest and chalk aromas that lead to almost sweet, honeyed flavors that last through a lingering finish. Medium-bodied, balanced and likely to improve with more age. Drink or hold.
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Wine Enthusiast
Earthy minerality is the centerpiece of this bottling, starting with aromas of damp loam, wet clay and rainy rocks, all with citrus peel scattered atop. There's a firm grip to the palate, where crushed-rock flavors soar over a sizzling acidity and bright citrus tones.
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Vinous
The 2022 Chardonnay Patterson offers an intriguing mix of high-elevation briskness with an exciting interplay of minerality and tropical leanings. White pepper, chalk, mint, citrus peel and slate all race across the palate. This taut, saline Chardonnay has quite a bit to offer. A touch of attractive reduction lingers.
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Wine Spectator
Sleek and fresh, showing precise and focused notes of lime, papaya and green apple, with accents of jasmine and white flowers, plus a note of Himalayan sea salt on the powerful finish.
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.