Vinous: 94 Points
The 2018 Chardonnay Sanford and Benedict Vineyard The Twelve Rows shows a light hand in its expression of this historic Sta. Rita Hills site. Hints of apricot tangerine oil spice and tropical fruit all meld together effortlessly with a slight touch of reduction that lingers on the open-knit finish. Best of all the 2018 will drink well right out of the gate. Readers will find a Chardonnay that captures what Sanford and Benedict is all about. The Chardonnay emerges from T15 one of the original blocks planted in 1971. It was whole clusters pressed with native ferments and spent 16-18 months in wood (Chassin and Mignier) a third new. - By Antonio Galloni on December 2020 Domaine Jean François is a new joint venture headed by Jean François Labet and John Terlato whose family owns Sanford Winery along with the Sanford & Benedict and La Rinconada vineyards. Trey Fletcher who was formerly at Littorai and then the Bien Nacido/Solomon Hills estates makes the wines using an approach centered around organic farming and low intervention in the winery. These are the first releases from Domaine Jean François and they are impressive.
v
Customers Viewing This Page Might Also Like These Items
