Chanin - Chardonnay Sanford & Benedict Vineyard 2021 (750ml)
Price: $61.00
| Producer | Chanin |
| Country | USA |
| Region | California |
| Subregion | Santa Barbara |
| Varietal | Chardonnay |
| Vintage | 2021 |
| Sku | 6547 |
| Size | 750ml |
Chanin Wines is dedicated to sourcing fruit from sites in California’s Santa Barbera County to create wines whose qualities reflect the individual vineyards in which these grapes are grown. There are no bottlings from blended sites at Chanin. The focus is on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, which are very well suited to the cooler climate and diverse marine soils and long growing season that the region affords.
The wines are made by Gavin Chanin, whose father Tony had been involved in the establishment of the Zaca Mesa Winery in the Santa Ynez Valley in 1978. Gavin began as a harvest intern aged 18 at Au Bon Climat and Qupe under the guidance of Jim Clendenen and Bob Lindquist, both of whom had also been founders of Zaca Mesa. After periods in South Africa and New Zealand, and extensive travels to the vineyards of France and Italy, Gavin launched Chanin Wines in 2007. The wines are made in the same facility as Au Bon Climat and Qupe where Gavin continued to work as assistant winemaker after 2009.
A key at Chanin is to source completely heathy fruit, ideally from low yielding old vines. The fruit is typically picked quite early to preserve acidy and freshness. The fruit quality and age of the vines allows for making wines that avoid excessive alcohol and make unnecessary any additives – such as commercial yeasts or enzymes - that would compromise the faithful expression of the vineyard’s characteristics. To this end the wines are not filtered.
Gavin graduated from UCLA in 2009 as an award-winning art student. On each label you will find a piece of his artwork.
Vinous: 96 Points
The 2021 Chardonnay Sanford & Benedict Vineyard is bright airy and effusive. This emerges from the own-rooted section of this site. Crushed flowers lemon peel mint lemon confit and chamomile are some of the notes that grace this subtle wonderfully nuanced Chardonnay. This is all subtlety and class. (Drink between 2024-2031)
jdJeb Dunnuck: 95 Points
The 2021 Chardonnay Sanford & Benedict Vineyard is another slightly softer wine from Chanin that has so much to love. Ripe orchard fruits brioche toasted spices and honeyed floral nuances define the nose and it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness a seamless layered mouthfeel and outstanding length. I?d be thrilled to drink a bottle any time over the coming 7-8 years if not longer.
