2015 La Rinconada Vineyard Chardonnay - Sanford Winery

Lemon curd, tree bark, white peach pit. Baked apple, crunchy dried flowers, fresh apricot. Crushed clove and vanilla, light cream and sea spray. Jasmine and honeysuckle add a slight floral touch to an elegant juxtaposition of dried straw and ripe yellow pear. Round power and some subtle restraint combine to create a deliciously borderline-hedonistic experience. This 2015 La Rinconada Vineyard Chardonnay by Sanford Winery is Santa Barbara Chard near it's most opulent.

In 1971 Richard Sanford planted the very first vineyard in Santa Barbara county. That vineyard was named Sanford & Benedict and it became the cornerstone of Sanford Winery. Sitting immediately to the west is the La Rinconada vineyard, which now houses the modern winery & tasting room of Sanford Winery. This wine, crafted from 100% Chardonnay from the La Rinconada Vineyard, expresses the powerful elegance of this famous stretch of earth. It is undoubtedly ripe and fruit forward but projects a bit of an herbaceous edge and a captivating saline undertone. Santa Barbara tends to be known more for its Pinot Noir than its Chardonnay but this stuff keeps up with some of the highest-end bottlings in the state. Sitting at 14.5% ABV this packs a punch but is neither hot nor heavy. Consider a bottle of this stuff next time you're craving a ripe lush Chardonnay.