Winemaker Notes
In Burgundy, there is a simple delineation between a Maison (where grapes are purchased) and a Domaine (where vineyards are owned and farmed by the winery). Romance Chardonnay comes from their Domaine de la Côte estate vineyards on the very western edge of the Sta. Rita Hills. The wine is concentrated and dense.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2020 Chardonnay Romance is a new wine from Sandhi, sourced from vines grown at the Domaine de la Cote estate vineyards. The nose is bright and arresting, flaunting lemon peel, chalk and pastry crust. Its unabashedly concentrated citrus fruits are tempered by nervy acidity, and it has a very long, texturally compelling finish. There's something a bit magical about the expression this vintage.
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Wine Spectator
Boasts an explosive laser beam of purity to the Honeycrisp apple, lemon blossom and pear flavors on a powerful frame of acidity, with hints of sesame seed, white tea and flint on the epic finish. Drink now through 2030.
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.