2018 Sanford & Benedict Chardonnay

Appellation

Sta. Rita Hills

Varietal

Chardonnay

Wine Enthusiast

Jeb Dunnuck

Wine & Spirits

Vineyard Sources

100% Sanford & Benedict Vineyard (Block T4) located in the Sta. Rita Hills appellation

Barrel Aging

100% barrel fermented and aged for 8 months in 33% new French oak

Cooperage

Mercurey, Francois Freres

Technical Data

Composition

100% Chardonnay

Alcohol %

14.1

Acidity

0.696 g/100mL

3.17

Harvest Brix

Harvest Date

10/22/18

Production

287 cases

Description

Our single vineyard and small lot releases enable us to deliver some of our finest expressions of Chardonnay by concentrating on specific vineyards, clonal selections or techniques. We have been fortunate enough to secure several tons of Chardonnay from one of the most historically significant vineyards in all of California, the iconic Sanford & Benedict.

Originally planted in 1971, this mature vineyard yields a wine that is beautifully structured with plenty of fresh acidity and verve. The palate offers lovely citrus and tropical fruit flavors backed by enticing minerality and a hint of toast.

Wine Critic Reviews

"...offers lots of candied lemon and honeyed apple notes to go with medium to full-bodied richness, a rounded, layered texture, good concentration, and outstanding length. It develops more spice and brioche notes with time in the glass and is going to evolve for 4-6 years." ~ Jeb Dunnuck "Blair Fox, winemaker at Fess Parker, is never shy about his oak regime, but in recent years, his wines have become brighter and more expressive. This 2018 is a case in point: With its subtle minerality and limey freshness—lime pith and juice and limestone dust—it's a tense and graceful chardonnay." ~ Wine & Spirits "Prominent aromas of pear flesh meet with a squeeze of lemon on the nose of this bottling from the historic vineyard. There is prominent acidity on the sip, where brisk lemon and grapefruit-peel flavors play against warmer tones of apple flesh." ~ Wine Enthusiast