2019 Racines, Wenzlau Chardonnay, Santa Rita Hills, California, USA

The 2019 Chardonnay Wenzlau Family Vineyard is a compelling wine from this site. The pedigree is evident from the first taste. Orchard fruit, mint, white pepper and beams of salinity play off a distinctly phenolic feel. The Wenzlau is a rare Chardonnay of substance and power that very much captures the site's essence.

Racines is the Sta. Rita Hills project headed by Etienne de Montille, Rodolphe Péters and Justin Willett. The wines are deep, layered and, not surprisingly, super-expressive regarding the site. The Pinots, in particular, tend to show notable breadth from a combination of a high percentage of stems, classic winemaking and relatively long ageing of around 19 months in barrel.

Drink 2023 - 2031

Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com (June 2021)