Raj Parr of Sandhi and Domaine de la Cote goes outside Santa Barbara to source fruit for this excellent value Californian Chardonnay. He carefully partnered with several multi-generational growers of old vine Chardonnay, wholly chemical-free and with a sustainable outlook which is not that simple in the huge Californian wine industry. The Central Coast Chardonnay is a fine, luscious but linear white, full of orchard fruits and floral notes, quite open and textured on the palate.
This was previously called "Chardonnay Santa Barbara County," but winemaker Sashi Moorman says they've begun sourcing fruit from other areas of California like San Luis Obispo County and the Santa Lucia Highlands, so this will be known by the wider Central Coast appellation moving forward. The 2019 Chardonnay Central Coast opens with touches of flint, stone and white blossoms with crunchy tree fruits and bright citrusy accents. The palate is much more open-knit at this early stage, fleshing out to yellow apples and honey in a silky texture with bright freshness and a long, delicate finish.
91 points, Erin Brooks, Wine Advocate (October 2020)
