Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay

Presented to me double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine pours a pale straw color with medium viscosity: no signs of sediment/particles or gas. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of green apple, white tree flowers, a hint of freshly struck match, lemon curd and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and full of minerals with a creamy texture. The alcohol is medium.

Initial conclusions: this could be Chardonnay, Albariño or Pinot Gris from France, the US, Spain or Italy. This is giving me Chardonnay vibes and while my first thought was Chablis, this has the markers of a Sashi Morman wine. So I’m going with that. Final conclusion: this is Chardonnay, from the US, Oregon, Eola-Amity Hills, 2022 and because I said it, Evening Land. LOL! Do I get credit for calling the winemaker and not the winery? Scoring points for sure. Tasty stuff in the style I’ve come to expect. Drink now through 2032.

Medium lemon color with aromas of stone and citrus fruits and sweet nutty notes, adding a leesy touch. On the palate flavors of apple, melon and pear with lemon citrus, vanilla and toasty oak, slight creamy texture. Medium+ finish, lively acidity, ending with fruit, nuts, toasty oak and savory lemon Chablis character.

Medium lemon color with aromas of stone and citrus fruits and sweet nutty notes, adding a leesy touch. On the palate flavors of apple, melon and pear with lemon citrus, vanilla and toasty oak, slight creamy texture. Medium+ finish, lively acidity, ending with fruit, nuts, toasty oak and savory lemon Chablis character.

Medium lemon color with aromas of stone and citrus fruits and sweet nutty notes, adding a leesy touch. On the palate flavors of apple, melon and pear with lemon citrus, vanilla and toasty oak, slight creamy texture. Medium+ finish, lively acidity, ending with fruit, nuts, toasty oak and savory lemon Chablis character.

Reduced again, but nice fruit. Prob need to aerate more I guess.

Majorly reduced and thin on the palate. Very disappointed.

Pretty good stuff here. More depth and structure than the 2013 version I tried a few years ago.

Look, I know people dig this style, but it’s just not what I look for in Chardonnay. No doubt on the lees, very creamy with an intense texture. Getting that buttery vibe. I’m an outlier, but just not my thing.

Light golden hue. Aromas of lemon peel, lees, white flowers, chalk, and a bit of smoke. With good acidity and absence of prominent new oak, it leans more to the Burgundian end of the spectrum than California. Made from a blend of fruit from Rita’s Crown and Bentrock Vineyards aged in 500 L barrels. 13% ABV.

This completely over delivers. Would have guessed a Faiveley Mercurey Blanc blind. The nose shows apple, tons of stony minerals, salt air and jasmine. The palate is lit up with perfect acidity; carrying all those same flavors along with some crushed rocks, tangerine, and fresh made caramel. 2014 is the best vintage of this yet. I want to lay it down a few years, but can’t resist drinking it now.