2020 Racines Chardonnay Sanford & Benedict Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills

Elder chert & shale over clay

From the famous Sanford & Benedict Vineyard with our portion coming from the historic parcel of original plantings dating back to 1971. These Chardonnay vines are the oldest vines in the Sta. Rita Hills and situated on a gently north facing slope with thin soils consisting of lots of shale and chert.

PRODUCTION
The wines were fermented in a combination of 500L puncheons, 350L barrels and 228L barriques, resulting in about 30% new wood on the wine. After a little under a year in barrel, the wines and all the lees were moved to tank for an additional seven months of cellaring.

ELEVAGE
11 months - 30% new French oak - 7 months in stainless steel

Racines is a collaboration between two classic houses from France, led by vignerons Étienne de Montille and Brian Sieve of Burgundy and Rodolphe Péters of Champagne. The team came together to join their individual experiences in hand-crafting wines of purity and transparency to create a range of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the cool climate of the Sta. Rita Hills in California.

The project is the first venture for Étienne and Rodolphe beyond France and represents the coming together of all that is wonderful about Burgundy, Champagne and California.

These wines confirm something many have long suspected: that if you are looking to make terroir driven, elegant, balanced wines in the new world, then Sta. Rita Hills is the place.