Winemaker Notes
A depth of honeysuckle elevated via a pineapple bridge to lemon and lime and crunchy pear flesh. Softly billowing in the mouth closing with a precise, clean finish. The most balanced Uni yet, with complementing forces of ripe, rich Roussanne and high-toned Chardonnay. The underlying citrus spray refines and checks the intense concentration of the Roussanne and the wine delivers a delightfully seamless tasting experience.
Blend: 70% Chardonnay, 30% Roussanne
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A blend of 70% Chardonnay and 30% Roussanne, the 2020 Uni White has rich toasty apple scents on the nose with wafts of crème brûlée, flint and beeswax. The medium-bodied palate is rounded and spicy with loads of nutty fruits and a long, gently honeyed finish.
With hundreds of white grape varieties to choose from, winemakers have the freedom to create a virtually endless assortment of blended white wines. In many European regions, strict laws are in place determining the set of varieties that may be used in white wine blends, but in the New World, experimentation is permitted and encouraged. Blending can be utilized to enhance balance or create complexity, lending different layers of flavors and aromas. For example, a variety that creates a soft and full-bodied white wine blend, like Chardonnay, would do well combined with one that is more fragrant and naturally high in acidity. Sometimes small amounts of a particular variety are added to boost color or aromatics. Blending can take place before or after fermentation, with the latter, more popular option giving more control to the winemaker over the final qualities of the wine.
Accounting for only ten percent of the greater Santa Ynez AVA, Ballard Canyon’s north-south orientation provides an ideal pattern of sunshine and martime fog for producing excellent Syrah. While Syrah is planted to half of the total AVA acreage, an additional third is dedicated to other Rhône varieties, red and white.