Diatom Santa Barbara Chardonnay 2021
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#7 Wine Spectator Top 10 Wine Values of 2023
The 2021 Santa Barbara Chardonnay has aromas of lemon, citrus blossom and wet sand. On the palate, saline and white peach. It is precise and balanced.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The Diatom 2021 Chardonnay has inviting poached pears, quince and lemongrass aromas with touches of baker's yeast, honeycomb and acacia. The medium-bodied palate balances generous, exotic fruits and a touch of textural grip with bright waves of acidity, finishing long and flavorful. This Chardonnay is dynamic and so delicious!
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James Suckling
A unique chardonnay with crushed stones, rice paper, cherry blossom, and lemon. Medium body. Bright and fresh. Lots of energy and purity to it. Raw beauty. Bottled a few months after the harvest.
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Wine Spectator
This has a wonderful sense of restraint, with powerful Meyer lemon, yuzu and tangerine flavors mingling with peppery white flower notes and an appealing thread of sea salt crunchiness. Energetic, showing plenty of verve on the finish.
Other Vintages
2022- Vinous
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Diatom specializes in only one variety—Chardonnay— and is motivated by the pursuit of subtraction and refinement. Fermented at low temperatures in small stainless-steel tanks, coupled with inhibited malolactic fermentation and short hose transportation, Diatom intends to capture Chardonnay in its most raw, carnal state. Winemaker Greg Brewer strives to imbue recognition of place with as little disturbance, distraction or interference as possible. The resulting wines have a sense of transparency and a purity of intent and purpose.
“The name Diatom is inspired by the fossilized plankton (diatomaceous earth) which is replete in our appellation and is mined in Lompoc. Just as the pursuit is the ultimate in purity of Chardonnay expression, the name itself needed to also be deliberate, certain and true.” – Winemaker, Greg Brewer
One of the most popular and versatile white wine grapes, Chardonnay offers a wide range of flavors and styles depending on where it is grown and how it is made. While it tends to flourish in most environments, Chardonnay from its Burgundian homeland produces some of the most remarkable and longest lived examples. California produces both oaky, buttery styles and leaner, European-inspired wines. Somm Secret—The Burgundian subregion of Chablis, while typically using older oak barrels, produces a bright style similar to the unoaked style. Anyone who doesn't like oaky Chardonnay would likely enjoy Chablis.
With a dry and mild climate cooled significantly by moist ocean fog and breezes, Santa Barbara County is a grape-grower’s dream. Part of the larger Central Coast appellation, Santa Barbara is home to Santa Maria Valley and Santa Ynez Valley. The conditions here provide an opportunity for nearly effortless production of high-quality cool-climate Central Coast wines. This is also the site of the 2004 film Sideways, which caused Pinot Noir’s popularity to skyrocket and brought new acclaim to the region.
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are the stars of Santa Barbara, producing wines marked by racy acidity. Crisp Sauvignon Blanc and savory Syrah are also important. The region is home to many young and enthusiastic winemakers eager to experiment with less common varieties including Chenin Blanc, Grüner Veltliner, Trousseau Gris, Gamay and Cabernet Franc, making it an exciting area to watch.