Sandhi 'Patterson' Chardonnay
The single-vineyard wines of Sandhi zoom in on an exceptionally narrow band of the Santa Rita Hills with precision that matches the wines themselves. Each single-vineyard bottling hails from classic sites south of Santa Rosa Road, along the Santa Rita Hills’ southern corridor. This is no accident. The bumpy, meandering east-west two-lane mottled with mud and choked by coast oaks and California sage is the ideological and viticultural birthplace of Sandhi.
Patterson Vineyard is the first of Sandhi’s vineyard sites, its salience lies in unique vines–by way of Burgundy via Dominique Lafon (Domaine des Comtes Lafon), famed vigneron in his own right and consultant for Evening Land Vineyards – and a steep exposure at significant elevation, where these vines find more sunlight and protection from howling winds further west. That intense sunlight is mitigated by a north-facing slope, however, and the vineyard’s clay-loam soils hold moisture and contribute to the density of fruit and mouthfeel that have become hallmarks of Patterson. There’s a textural component to this wine that uncoils its more tightly-wound qualities into a delightful presentation. It’s as if this French plant material is slowly and slyly revealing itself to more friendly California terroir. The balancing act is a successful one.
“The 2020 Chardonnay Patterson Vineyard opens with tempered matchstick-like reduction that gives way to nuanced aromas of baked apples, quince, lemon and lime blossom and toast. The medium-bodied palate strikes a fine balance between satiny, concentrated fruit and focused acidity, and the finish is long, layered and detailed. Drink 2022-2029.” 97 Points - Erin Brooks, Wine Advocate
The single-vineyard wines of Sandhi zoom in on an exceptionally narrow band of the Santa Rita Hills with precision that matches the wines themselves. Each single-vineyard bottling hails from classic sites south of Santa Rosa Road, along the Santa Rita Hills’ southern corridor. This is no accident. The bumpy, meandering east-west two-lane mottled with mud and choked by coast oaks and California sage is the ideological and viticultural birthplace of Sandhi.
Patterson Vineyard is the first of Sandhi’s vineyard sites, its salience lies in unique vines–by way of Burgundy via Dominique Lafon (Domaine des Comtes Lafon), famed vigneron in his own right and consultant for Evening Land Vineyards – and a steep exposure at significant elevation, where these vines find more sunlight and protection from howling winds further west. That intense sunlight is mitigated by a north-facing slope, however, and the vineyard’s clay-loam soils hold moisture and contribute to the density of fruit and mouthfeel that have become hallmarks of Patterson. There’s a textural component to this wine that uncoils its more tightly-wound qualities into a delightful presentation. It’s as if this French plant material is slowly and slyly revealing itself to more friendly California terroir. The balancing act is a successful one.
“The 2020 Chardonnay Patterson Vineyard opens with tempered matchstick-like reduction that gives way to nuanced aromas of baked apples, quince, lemon and lime blossom and toast. The medium-bodied palate strikes a fine balance between satiny, concentrated fruit and focused acidity, and the finish is long, layered and detailed. Drink 2022-2029.” 97 Points - Erin Brooks, Wine Advocate
Description
The single-vineyard wines of Sandhi zoom in on an exceptionally narrow band of the Santa Rita Hills with precision that matches the wines themselves. Each single-vineyard bottling hails from classic sites south of Santa Rosa Road, along the Santa Rita Hills’ southern corridor. This is no accident. The bumpy, meandering east-west two-lane mottled with mud and choked by coast oaks and California sage is the ideological and viticultural birthplace of Sandhi.
Patterson Vineyard is the first of Sandhi’s vineyard sites, its salience lies in unique vines–by way of Burgundy via Dominique Lafon (Domaine des Comtes Lafon), famed vigneron in his own right and consultant for Evening Land Vineyards – and a steep exposure at significant elevation, where these vines find more sunlight and protection from howling winds further west. That intense sunlight is mitigated by a north-facing slope, however, and the vineyard’s clay-loam soils hold moisture and contribute to the density of fruit and mouthfeel that have become hallmarks of Patterson. There’s a textural component to this wine that uncoils its more tightly-wound qualities into a delightful presentation. It’s as if this French plant material is slowly and slyly revealing itself to more friendly California terroir. The balancing act is a successful one.
“The 2020 Chardonnay Patterson Vineyard opens with tempered matchstick-like reduction that gives way to nuanced aromas of baked apples, quince, lemon and lime blossom and toast. The medium-bodied palate strikes a fine balance between satiny, concentrated fruit and focused acidity, and the finish is long, layered and detailed. Drink 2022-2029.” 97 Points - Erin Brooks, Wine Advocate
