Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
There is plenty of toasty oak on the nose of this reserve bottling, but it's judiciously applied and cut by lemon balm, Asian pear, hot croissant and pecan oil aromas. The sip also shows a savory oak-smoke character, but the midpalate is all about lemon cream and butter-basted apple pie, with a touches of vanilla, cinnamon and cashew riding into the finish.
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Wine Spectator
This lithe white features baked apple and dried pear flavors that show accents of smoky richness. Plush and creamy midpalate, with a finish that has hints of honey and savory spice.
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.