{"product_id":"sandhi-chardonnay-santa-rita-hills","title":"Sandhi Sta Rita Hills Chardonnay 2023","description":"\u003cp dir=\"auto\" class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(194, 5, 5);\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e93 Points — Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eDrink Date: 2025 - 2033\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/em\u003eBuilt around estate vines at the Domaine de la Côte property, the 2023 Chardonnay Sta. Rita Hills is one of the more impressive \"regional\" bottlings of the vintage. It is beautifully complex on the nose, melding white flowers, hazelnut, sea spray and green apple aromas with dexterity and grace. The palate is tensile, elastic and savory, transitioning into a precisely rendered finish defined by marine-driven flavors and striking purity. Alongside the ongoing evolution at Domaine de la Côte, the 2023 vintage at Sandhi marks a move away from purchased Pinot Noir, with greater focus on Chardonnay, an increasing portion of which comes from younger plantings at Domaine de la Côte. \u003cspan style=\"background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0);\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eThis change is most evident in the overperforming Sta. Rita Hills bottling \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eand reaches its peak in the gorgeous Romance bottling. Overall, Sandhi wines see less new oak and more sulfur additions compared to those of Domaine de la Côte. The brand is also shifting from direct-to-consumer sales toward restaurant and retail distribution, aiming to present a compelling regional expression at accessible prices. \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003ePublished: Nov 06, 2025\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(198, 1, 1);\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e92 Points — Vinous\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eDrinking Window 2025 - 2031\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe 2023 Chardonnay Sta. Rita Hills delivers everything you'd want from an appellation wine in this excellent corner of the world for Chardonnay: saline energy, deep stone fruit character, textural grip and superb balance. Fresh and energetic, the cool-toned, polished 2023 is a winner. \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e- By Billy Norris, August 2025\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eThe 2023 vintage is decidedly more successful for Chardonnay than Pinot Noir for Sashi Moorman and the team at Sandhi. Whereas the Pinot Noirs are very light and on the stemmy side, the Chardonnays are powerful, confident and articulate.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"auto\"\u003eTechnical Details\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAppellation:\u003c\/strong\u003e Sta. Rita Hills, Santa Barbara County\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eVariety:\u003c\/strong\u003e 100% Chardonnay\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePrimary fruit source:\u003c\/strong\u003e Chardonnay planted adjacent to Sandhi’s Domaine de la Côte estate\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTerroir:\u003c\/strong\u003e Cool, windswept vineyards influenced by the nearby Pacific Ocean and ancient marine-derived soils\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFermentation:\u003c\/strong\u003e Indigenous yeasts\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFermentation and aging vessels:\u003c\/strong\u003e 500-liter barrels\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eÉlevage:\u003c\/strong\u003e 10 months in 500-liter barrels followed by seven months in stainless-steel tank\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAlcohol:\u003c\/strong\u003e 13.1%\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eProduction:\u003c\/strong\u003e 4,249 cases\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStyle:\u003c\/strong\u003e Dry, mineral-driven and medium-bodied\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eServing temperature:\u003c\/strong\u003e Approximately 50–55°F\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCellaring:\u003c\/strong\u003e Excellent now with some air; it should develop well through approximately 2032\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFood pairings:\u003c\/strong\u003e Oysters, scallops, grilled fish, roast chicken, lobster, creamy pastas and soft-ripened cheeses\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"auto\"\u003eOur Take\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eSandhi’s Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay has quietly become one of the best values in serious California Chardonnay. Made by Sashi Moorman, this is about as far removed from the heavy, buttery and overly-oaked style of California Chardonnay as you can get. The inspiration may come from Burgundy, but the wine remains a distinctly coastal expression of the Sta. Rita Hills.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eMost of the fruit comes from Chardonnay vines planted beside their Domaine de la Côte estate, where cold Pacific winds and ancient seabed soils naturally preserve acidity and give the wine its distinctive saline, mineral character. It is fermented with indigenous yeasts and aged in larger 500-liter barrels before spending another seven months in stainless steel—a thoughtful élevage that builds texture without covering the wine in oak.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThe 2023 opens with flint, lemon oil, green apple and white flowers, followed by subtle hazelnut, ginger and sea-spray notes. It is tightly wound and mineral on entry, but gradually broadens through the middle while remaining bright, savory and beautifully balanced. There is real texture here, but also terrific freshness at just 13.1% alcohol.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eWith scores of \u003cstrong\u003e93 and 92 points\u003c\/strong\u003e, this delivers the precision, tension and complexity we look for in much more expensive Chardonnay. For those who love white Burgundy—or cooler, more restrained California producers such as Ceritas, Mount Eden and Racines—this is an easy recommendation and a tremendous bottle for the money.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sta Rita Hills","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44386388312198,"sku":"WB-sandhi-SRHchard","price":24.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0075\/0338\/0543\/files\/sandhisantaritachard.png?v=1789568598","url":"https:\/\/www.winesolutions.com\/products\/sandhi-chardonnay-santa-rita-hills","provider":"Wine Solutions","version":"1.0","type":"link"}