Donnachadh Family Vineyards, Estate Chardonnay, Sta Rita Hills, Santa Barbara 2019

Overview of the Wine
Family owned and organically farmed, Donnachadh Vineyard is located on Santa Rosa Road in the Sta. Rita Hills AVA of Santa Barbara County.  The property is 285 acres with approximately 40 acres planted to vine in 2013.  We grow Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah, and Gamay Noir.

The climate of the Santa Rita Hills is dominated by the Pacific Ocean, which lies about 9 miles from the vineyard.  Morning fog cools the grapes and consistent afternoon ocean breezes keep heat from building up over the course of the day.

The vineyard consists of two main parts: the hillside blocks, and the riverside blocks.  The riverside blocks sit alongside the Santa Ynez River.  They are more sheltered from the wind than the hillside blocks and the soil is a delicate and well drained sandy loam that sits on top of deep layers of gravel river deposits.  The hillside blocks are more exposed to the ocean winds.  The soil there is derived from marine shale deposits and features more clay, rocks and cobbles than the riverside blocks.  Overall, the hillside environment is quite challenging for the vines, limiting yields and producing grapes of exceptional character. 

Organic.

Grape / Blend
100% Chardonnay

Origin
Santa Barbara, California

Winemaker's Tasting Notes
The core of the Estate Chardonnay comes from the highest part of our vineyard, Block 1. This block has shallow, rocky soil and is exposed to powerful ocean winds, yielding grapes that are slow to ripen, concentrated and focused. The acid and minerality from this block provide the backbone of the wine. Wente clone and clone 76 grapes from our riverside blocks round out the wine. Mineral driven, delicate and crystalline. Lemon zest, brioche, and struck flint on the nose. Mouthwatering acidity with oyster-shell minerality on the palate of Meyer lemon and pear with a drop of candied lemon and sea salt on the finish. The Estate Chardonnay really captures in the glass the tension we see between cool air and warm sun. Whole cluster pressed, fermented in barrel, with 20% new French oak, and bottled after 11 months in barrel, and a further 5 months in stainless steel on the lees.

94 Points - Wine Enthusiast
Enticing aromas of buttercream, cake batter and macadamia nut are clean and light on the nose of this bottling. The palate grabs hold with a tart orange-rind note, then opens toward white-peach and grapefruit juice flavors. There's just the slightest hint of nutty opulence.

Product size: 750ml