- Wines
2021 Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay
Production Notes
Cold, whole-cluster pressing, no settling, barrel fermentation with native yeast, and spontaneous malolactic fermentations highlight the wonderful purity inherent in our Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay. This ‘hand off’ approach in the cellar allows for maximum site expression.
Winemaker Notes
The 2021 vintage was a welcome change from the catastrophe of 2020, which saw devastating fires throughout the region. Sugar and acidity levels tracked well and while crop size was shorter than we would prefer, we were able to harvest perfectly ripened fruit at a reasonable pace. The resulting wines have excellent balance and intensity. In comparison to our most recent vintages, there are some similarities to 2019 in that the wines possess great elegance and site specificity.
Technical Data
Vintage
2021
Varietal
Chardonnay
Appellation
Santa Cruz Mountains
Vineyard Designation
Estate Blend
Acid
6.2
pH
3.34
Alcohol %
14.2
Wine Enthusiast
92
Other Notes
92 points. The 2021 Chardonnay (Santa Cruz Mountains) is a fabulous. cool-climate wine from vineyards at nearly 2,000 feet in elevation. Citrus peel, white flowers, crushed rock, slate and white pepper are all finely sculpted. This nervy Chardonnay is a winner. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous