Chris England

9.4

II’ve loved all the Sandhi 2012 range of whites & this £65 S&B is superb 👍 Paired with enough curry to get a small village going regular for a week 🤣 💨 sorry I didn’t take pics of that feast 😁

📍 Sandhi Sandford & Benedict Santa Rita Hills Chardonnay 2012 @sandhiwines

🏵 94 points

🍷 Golden yellow

👃 Chopped pineapple, crushed rock mineral, lemon oil, key lime pie, honey gloop & white jasmine flowers w/ light oak, vanilla & apple

👄 Med+ body of creamy refreshing clean tropical & citrus yummyness without being overly syrupy & a hit of green apple, pineapple, honey & minerality in med acidity

🎯 Med+ fresh apple, citrus & tropical trickle w/ a dry mineral honeyed pineapple slapette — 4 days ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.3

The 2015 Santa Rita Hills Chardonnay is a beautifully made and ageworthy wine sourced from the Machado, 3D and Acin Vineyards. This has a highly perfumed nose with wild mushroom, Golden Delicious apple and ripe pear. Dense and delicious, this wine has flavors of banana, roasted pineapple and suggestions of white tea with gooseberry accents. The weight and texture of this Chardonnay is absolutely gorgeous as this is a stunning effort by the talented hands of Greg Brewer. Drink 2019-2027- 93 — 7 days ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

The wine made famous by the movie “Sideways” in 2004. After the movie came out, their bottle price jumped and it was all of sudden hard to find. Marketing!!!

The nose reveals, sweet, slightly sour and ripe; blackberries, some black raspberries, dark cherries, plum, blueberries cranberries, pomegranate, candied cherries and baked strawberries. Big vanillin, soft cinnamon stick, touch of clove, dark spice, herbaceous notes, mixed berry cola, dark, rich, moist soil, dry clay, dry stone, limestone minerals with dark red, blue fresh & withering flowers.

The body medium full. Tannins nicely resolved but, still have tarry teeth. The structure and tension nicely softened. The 09 is beautifully integrated. The length and balance have hit their high point. Ripe; blackberries, some black raspberries, dark cherries, plum, mix of some purple fruits, blueberries, cranberries, pomegranate, candied cherries and juicy strawberries. Red licorice/cola, good presence of vanillin, soft cinnamon stick, touch of clove, dark spice, black licorice, herbaceous notes; bay leaf, mint, eucalyptus, dark, rich, moist, soil, clay, river stones, limestone minerals and dark red, blue fresh & withering flowers with violets. The acidity is round and like a rain shower. The finish is extremely well balanced, seamless, elegant, rich, persistent for minutes with ripe fruit, medium dark spice that brings some mild heat and haunting fragrant violets for minutes.

Nice development in the last 15-16 months. The 09 Southing has another 3-5 years of good sipping ahead of it.

Photos of, a beautiful mix of clouds, sun and rainy over one of their vineyards, busy hands at the sorting table, Víctor Gallegos-Director of Operations and the soil structure of another vineyard.
— 25 days ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

From Clos Pepe, Radian, Fiddlestix & Bentrock vineyards, aged for 10 months in French oak (45% new), aromas of ripe red berry fruits and complex spice. On the palate cherry and raspberry flavors with notes of tea and pepper wrapped in smoky oak. Fine tannins, nicely balanced lingering ending with an earthy mineral tang. — 6 days ago

E & K G

9.1

Blind, I would have been very confused as whether to call it old or new world. It’s light yet well structured, some oak yet great freshness and acidity. At a good place in terms of cost performance and matches the strengths of old/new world. — 12 days ago

Austin Blackwell

9.2

Give this a long decant. Tight upon opening and after I let a glass stay out for an entire evening it changed for the better. Shows the nice deep berry and savory flavors you would hope for from a Santa Barbara Pinot. Definitely full bodied but not sweet. — 3 days ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

The nose reveals, dark floral fruits interlaced with gorgeous spice. Blackberries, dark cherries, haunting blueberries, black plum, black raspberries, dark rich soil, vanilla, cinnamon, clove, limestone, crushed rock powder and amazing blue and purple florals.

The texture is elegant and beautiful. The tannins soft, tarry with velvety dust. This is so easy to drink now but, wait 6 more years. It’s fresh and delicious. Ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, haunting blueberries, black plum, black raspberries, some boysenberries, dark rich soil, vanilla, cinnamon, clove, big dark powerful spice limestone, dark rich soils, crushed rock powder and amazing blue and purple florals. The acidity is perfect. The structure, tension is still big but, the length and balance phenomenal. Can’t wait to have this in 5-6 years. The well polished finish is; elegant, persistent, heady and beautiful. Potential 95 with more in time in bottle. One tiny issue, there’s touch of alcohol burn in the back of the throat but, think it fades in time.

Photos of, Chateau Boswell, Silverado Trail signage, their entrance gate and driveway and Estate vines in the Summer not the empty vines we saw.
— 25 days ago

Mike Mayer

9.4

Dark ruby red color. Dark fruit, earthiness, and spice on the nose. Intense tastes of dried figs, licorice, and sweet tobacco with a dusty backbone. The acidity is perfect and finish is fantastic. Happy Valentines Day everyone! — 7 days ago

with Lisa

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.3

The 2015 'Southing' Pinot Noir is an outstanding effort sourced from Sea Smokes' south facing Estate Vineyard in the Sta. Rita Hills. This Pinot Noir is absolutely delectable, however it needs some time in the glass before it begins to fully express itself. Once awakened, the nose evokes a fantastic range of aromatics from blood orange to smoky tones to red cherry preserves, which all come together beautifully. The palate reveals a wonderful velvety texture and a soft mouthfeel, backed by mouth-watering acidity along with a lovely underlying saline mineral steak. Delightful flavors of black cherry cola, mulberry, black tea and Asian spices continue to merge together and leave a gorgeous lasting impression on the finish. While is already absolutely delicious and nearly impossible to resist right now, it should also go on to age gracefully for at least another decade. Drink 2019-2033- 93 — 3 days ago

Joseph Barsky

10

Sticking with my 10 rating and a great birthday wine! — 10 days ago