Côtière 2019 Chardonnay “Sanford & Benedict” Santa Barbara

Vinous 95 Points: “The 2019 Sanford & Benedict offers a beguiling interplay of textural richness and translucence that can make wines from this site so compelling.  Lemon peel, marzipan, white flowers, and light tropical accents add nuance. In this range, the S&B is differentiated by its oily creaminess, a signature of the Wente Clone Chardonnay, planted in this block, which is closest to the historic old barn.

Winery Notes: “The Sanford & Benedict Vineyard is renowned for both its historical significance and the unsurpassed quality of the fruit it produces. First planted in 1971, this sustainably farmed vineyard is home to the oldest Pinot Noir vines in Santa Barbara County. This vineyard is rich with calcium-enriched clay loam soils, fractured shale, and chert. This complex array of alluvial soils has accumulated over millions of years at the base of these foothills, an extension of the Santa Ynez Mountains which run west towards the Ocean.”