Sea Smoke - Chardonnay Santa Rita Hills 2021
Price: $94.96
Sale Price: $80.00
| Producer | Sea Smoke |
| Country | United States |
| Region | California |
| Varietal | Chardonnay |
| Vintage | 2021 |
| Sku | 601863 |
| Size | 750ml |
Sea Smoke’s unique combination of sun, fog, soil and meticulous farming results in wines that are lush, elegant and expressive. Despite being located in one of the southern most wine growing regions in the northern hemisphere (Sta. Rita Hills AVA) their estate vineyard is in a special pocket that is classified as a Region 1 zone. Translation: That's about as cool a climate one can have for viticulture making it an optimal environment for the Sea Smoke style, especially with their Chardonnay. Each afternoon, the hillsides are enveloped in the misty embrace of the Pacific Ocean fog, colloquially referred to as 'sea smoke', contributing to the creation of highly favorable growing conditions.
In the production of their Chardonnay, all the grapes are handpicked and carefully sorted before allowing them to rest in a cold room overnight. The chilled grapes undergo a gentle pressing process, with the juice then delicately transferred to a stainless steel tank for cold settling. Upon the removal of the heavier solids, the juice will be transferred to a stainless steel tank fermenter. Malolactic fermentation occurs in oak with intermittent battonage to hedge against a sharp acidity and to enrich its depth and mouthfeel.
The resulting wine is still as an elegant a Chardonnay that one can find in California. Alluring aromas of mango, honeysuckle, fresh cut pear, and honeydew. These notes are beautifully complemented by the presence of nectarine and a subtle nuttiness in the well-defined mid-palate, all balanced by the refreshing cool climate acidity characteristic of their esteemed estate vineyard.
