Winemaker Notes
This Sanford & Benedict Chardonnay is bright, beautifully layered, and nuanced. Meyer lemon, candle wax, and cut straw all grace this very savory Chardonnay. Orange marmalade, stone fruits, and chamomile work seamlessly with the rich textures on the palate. This wine is natural with richer dishes and even light game.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2021 Chardonnay Sanford & Benedict Vineyard leads with a fantastically pure, classically structured nose of yellow orchard fruits, spring flowers, river rocks and hints of almond skin and marshmallows. The palate is the most elegant of the Chardonnay offerings, trading in some of the textural richness found in the La Rinconada bottlings for an even-keeled, understated seamlessness. The finish is long, harmonious and ethereal, a stellar combination in any Chardonnay but one that feels particularly suited to this site and the recently refined winemaking at Sanford.
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.