2020 Racines, Bentrock Chardonnay, Santa Rita Hills, California, USA

Description

The Chardonnays from Racines shine, and this bottling from Bentrock Vineyard stakes a claim for the Sta Rita Hills at a sweet spot for a Chablisenne minerality in the Golden State. The mineral precision from this wine is enthralling; aromatics of petrichor and smoked salt are followed by grilled lemon peel. The palate is a lean, thirst-slaking, hyper-focused mineral with crushed chalk, seaspray and lime leaf. Savoury flavours and citrus complement a mineral depth here, but those both take a back seat to the wine's sheer stony, briny brilliance.

Drink 2023 - 2034

Clive Pursehouse, Decanter.com (August 2023)

Colour White

Sweetness Dry

Vintage 2020

Maturity Ready - at best

Grape List Chardonnay

Body Medium Bodied

Producer Racines Wines

About this wine

Chardonnay

Chardonnay is often seen as the king of white wine grapes and one of the most widely planted in the world It is suited to a wide variety of soils, though it excels in soils with a high limestone content as found in Champagne, Chablis, and the Côte D`Or. Burgundy is Chardonnay's spiritual home and the best White Burgundies are dry, rich, honeyed wines with marvellous poise, elegance and balance. They are unquestionably the finest dry white wines in the world. Chardonnay plays a crucial role in the Champagne blend, providing structure and finesse, and is the sole grape in Blanc de Blancs.

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