Foley Estate Winery Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay 2013
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Pairs perfectly with clam chower or Chicken Dijon, this Chardonnay's combination of structure and concentration helps it stand up to a wide array of dishes, including poultry and rich fish and seafood, like lobster and salmon.
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Connoisseurs' Guide
As a bunch, Foley’s 2013 Chardonnays tend to the structured firmness that their provenance predicts, and, while this one is built along similar lines, it is charged with an extra measure of juicy young fruit that stays in frame from start to finish. It is both moderately full-bodied and enlivened by a pert streak of acidity that keeps it buoyant and lively throughout, and it holds great promise for those willing to wait for the added complexity and polish that are certain to come with two or three years of time in the bottle.
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Wine Enthusiast
Sea salt, honeysuckle, lemon-sprayed apple and a touch of graphite dominate the nose of this tasty wine that grows only more interesting with time. Lime zest plays on the edges of the palate, though the middle shows a nectarine and yellow-pear richness. Energetic acidity tickles the tongue throughout the sip.
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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.
A superior source of California Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Sta. Rita Hills is the coolest, westernmost sub-region of the larger Santa Ynez Valley appellation within Santa Barbara County. This relatively new AVA is unquestionably one to keep an eye on.
The climate of Sta. Rita Hills is a natural match for Chardonnay and Pinot noir, thanks to the crisp ocean breezes and well-drained, limestone-rich calcareous soil. Here, grapes ripen just enough, while retaining brisk acidity and harmonious balance.