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SKU 905340
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The 2018 Chardonnay La Rinconada Vineyard opens with crushed almonds and flint that segue to white peaches, allspice and pastry aromas. The palate is seamless and expansive, with waves of concentrated, savory fruit and pure floral accents, and it finishes with tremendous length and energetic acidity. Delicate yet intense, this 2018 has everything it needs for a long life in the cellar.
Of all the white wine grape varietals, surely the one that has spread the furthest and is most widely appreciated is Chardonnay. This green-skinned grape is now grown all over the Old and New Worlds, from New Zealand to the Americas, from England to Chile, and is one of the first varietals people think of when considering white wine grapes. Perhaps this is because of its huge popularity, which reached a peak in the 1990s, thanks to new technologies combining with traditional methods to bring the very best features out of the Chardonnay grape and allow its unique qualities to shine through. Most fine Chardonnay wines use a process known as malolactic fermentation, wherein the malic acids in the grape juice are converted to lactic acids, allowing a creamier, buttery nature to come forward in the wine. No grape varietal is better suited to this process than Chardonnay, which manages to balance these silky, creamy notes with fresh white fruit flavors beautifully.
Country
United States
Of all the New World wine countries, perhaps the one which has demonstrated the most flair for producing high quality wines - using a combination of traditional and forward-thinking contemporary methods - has been the United States of America. For the past couple of centuries, the United States has set about transforming much of its suitable land into vast vineyards, capable of supporting a wide variety of world-class grape varietals which thrive on both the Atlantic and the Pacific coastlines. Of course, we immediately think of sun-drenched California in regards to American wines, with its enormous vineyards responsible for the New World's finest examples of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot based wines, but many other states have taken to viticulture in a big way, with impressive results. Oregon, Washington State and New York have all developed sophisticated and technologically advanced wine cultures of their own, and the output of U.S wineries is increasing each year as more and more people are converted to their produce.
Region
California
California as a wine producing region has grown in size and importance considerably over the past couple of centuries, and today is the proud producer of more than ninety percent of the United States' wines. Indeed, if California was a country, it would be the fourth largest producer of wine in the world, with a vast range of vineyards covering almost half a million acres. The secret to California's success as a wine region has a lot to do with the high quality of its soils, and the fact that it has an extensive Pacific coastline which perfectly tempers the blazing sunshine it experiences all year round. The winds coming off the ocean cool the vines, and the natural valleys and mountainsides which make up most of the state's wine regions make for ideal areas in which to cultivate a variety of high quality grapes.
Appellation
Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara is home to many of California's most sought after wines, with a powerful reputation for superbly crafted, old world style big, flavorful and complex red wines. The white wine industry in the region is growing, too, with many wineries within Santa Barbara successfully experimenting with several classic white wine grape varietals. As in much of California, Santa Barbara benefits from the blazing west coast sunshine, coupled with cooling Pacific Ocean breezes and fogs, which help to temper the grapes and slow the ripening process, thus ensuring more flavor and aroma in the resulting wines. Although Santa Barbara is a relatively young wine region, it is home to many wineries who are extremely dedicated when it comes to demonstrating just how good their terroir is, and how characterful their region's wines can be.
WA97pts
Wine Advocate
The 2018 Chardonnay La Rinconada Vineyard opens with crushed almonds and flint that segue to white peaches, allspice and pastry aromas. The palate is seamless and expansive, with waves of concentrated, savory fruit and pure floral accents, and it finishes with tremendous length and energetic acidity. Delicate yet intense, this 2018 has everything it needs for a long life in the cellar.
DC95pts
Decanter
The wine from this site offers up a more muscular, waxy and minty showing than it’s next door neighbour, with aromas of spearmint, anise and Granny Smith apples. There is a youthful and showy intensity to La Rinconada that provides a lovely counterpoint to the nuance of the Sanford & Benedict Chardonnay. Aged for 10 months in 15% new puncheon with full malolactic fermentation. La Rinconada was planted in 1997 just west of the Sanford & Benedict Vineyard. Drinking Window 2020 - 2040.
VM94pts
Vinous Media
White orchard fruit, crushed rocks, mint, white pepper and light tropical accents all run through the 2018 Chardonnay La Rinconada Vineyard. Readers will find a bright, beautifully sculpted Chardonnay long on personality and class. The interplay of mineral nuances with more tropical flavors makes for a Chardonnay that is exquisitely beautiful. Time brings out texture as well as the wine's exotic side.
Winery Notes
The most powerful, yet elegant chardonnay of the spring releases. Perceptible texture gives the wine great depth while remaining extremely focused with its long, persistent finish. Notes of yellow fruit, chamomile and anise.
