2020 Racines Chardonnay, Sta. Rita Hills, USA

VINEYARD: The Racines Sta Rita Hills Chardonnay is sourced from a blend of sites they work with in the Santa Rita Hills, the majority coming from La Mesa Vineyard and the Wenzlau Vineyard. La Mesa Vineyard, which sits to the very western edge of the Sta. Rita Hills, is leased to us by Domaine de La Cte. Wenzlau Vineyard, which is part of our estate holdings, sits surrounded by Ritas Crown, Mt. Carmel, and Sea Smoke Vineyards, on a steep, dramatic hillside just above the Santa Ynez River and across from the famed Sanford & Benedict Vineyard.

SOIL: Sorento loam

VITICULTURE: Farmed using organic methods

VINIFICATION: The wines were fermented in a combination of 500L puncheons and 228L barriques, resulting in about 10% 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 five months of cellaring. This is a wine that we believe best represents the potential of the region as a whole. Fermented using all native yeastsAGING16 months total, 11 months in French, oak barrels (15% new) and 5 months in tank