Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2017 Chardonnay La Rinconada Vineyard comes from vines planted in 1997 and was aged 14 months in 23% new French oak. It opens with touches of iodine and flint with notes of almonds and stone fruits. The medium-bodied palate is silky and mineral-driven, expanding slowly to lovely floral-laced fruits, and it finishes long, nuanced and fresh. It's a singular, very pretty expression this vintage! Rating: 94+
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Wine Enthusiast
Smooth and suave aromas of lime pith, Meyer lemon peel, underripe nectarine and acacia blossoms show on the inviting nose of this bottling. It hits the palate with a brilliantly tactile energy, showing crushed seashell, buttered toast and lemon-balm flavors that rise into a caramel-kissed finish.
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2017 Chardonnay La Rinconada Estate is also solid, with attractive notes of apple blossom, caramelized citrus, and white flowers. Subtle, medium-bodied, and nicely textured, it's ideal for drinking over the coming 4-5 years.
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.