Hartford Court Jurassic Vineyard Chenin Blanc 2020
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Robert
Parker -
Jeb
Dunnuck
Product Details
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Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
The aroma in the 2020 is delicate, showing hints of wildflowers and lemon peel. On the palate the wine is seamless and elegant. Quince and lemon pith flavors are complemented by a light, chalky undertone and a long mineral finish.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2020 Chenin Blanc Jurassic Vineyard comes from vines planted in 1982 at an elevation of 1,000 feet. It was fermented in barrel, with full malolactic conversion, and matured 10 months in used French oak. It has dynamic aromas of preserved lemon, lime peel, steel wool and beeswax with exotic herbal undertones. The energetic, medium-bodied palate balances intense California fruit with earthy bass tones and shimmery mineral character, while a good balance of tangy acidity and phenolic texture drive the long finish.
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Jeb Dunnuck
All varietal from a vineyard in the Santa Ynez Valley, the 2020 Chenin Blanc Jurassic Vineyard reveals a medium gold hue to go with interesting notes of buttered orchard fruits, white flowers, spice box, and some subtle nutty, toasty nuances that emerge with time in the glass. It brings some richness and depth on the palate and is medium-bodied, has a round, supple mouthfeel, terrific balance, and a great finish. It's a variety you don't often see from the Central Coast, but this is terrific and well worth seeking out.
Other Vintages
2018-
Jeb
Dunnuck
Making delicious wines of high personality is directly related to the difficult locations of the Hartford family's vineyard sources, the limited production of their bottlings and the varietals they use. "Character through adversity" is an expression that the Hartford family believes to apply to both people and grapevines, and they feel that surviving adversity builds character, and personality, in both.
The Hartford Family makes wines under two marks, one of which is Hartford Court. Hartford Court bottlings are small lots of high-personality single vineyard Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays that express the distinctive qualities inherent in each vineyard's terroir - the interplay of soil, slope, exposure and climate. The fruit is sourced from the Russian River Valley, Green Valley and Sonoma Coast appellations.
Unquestionably one of the most diverse grape varieties, Chenin Blanc can do it all. It shines in every style from bone dry to unctuously sweet, oaked or unoaked, still or sparkling and even as the base for fortified wines and spirits. Perhaps Chenin Blanc’s greatest asset is its ever-present acidity, maintained even under warm growing conditions. Somm Secret—Landing in South Africa in the mid 1800s, today the country has double the acreage of Chenin Blanc planted compared to France. There is also a new wave of dedicated producers committed to restoring old Chenin vines.
Ranging from cool and foggy in the west to warm and dry in the east, the Santa Ynez Valley is a climatically diverse growing area. The most expansive AVA within the larger Santa Barbara County region, Santa Ynez is also home to a wide variety of soil types and geographical features. The appellation is further divided into four distinct sub-AVAs—Sta. Rita Hills, Ballard Canyon, Los Olivos District and Happy Canyon—each with its own defining characteristics.
A wide selection of grapes is planted here—more than sixty different varieties, and counting. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir dominate in the chilly west, while Zinfandel, Rhône blends, and Bordeaux blends rule the arid east. Syrah is successful at both ends of the valley, with a lean and peppery, Old-World sensibility closer to the coast and lush berry fruit further inland.