Presqu'ile Chardonnay Santa Barbara 2020

This Santa Barbara winery is challenging all of our preconceived notions of California Chardonnay. Distinctly focused on the expression of cool-climate and sandy soil terroir of the West Santa Maria Valley, Presqu'ile Winery is a multi-generational, family-run operation with 73 hectares of certified sustainable vineyards spanning many different elevations and exposures. Presqu'ile is Creole for "almost an island", and four generations of the Murphy family had been farming land in Louisiana, going back almost a century, but after suffering extensive losses from Hurricane Katrina, relocated the whole family in 2007 to California. Winemaker Dieter Cronje (not part of the family) has had extensive experience, working with Jeremy Seysse of the acclaimed Burgundy house Domaine Dujac and is making some of the most precise, restrained, and elegant wines on the West Coast. This chardonnay is made using traditional, natural techniques—native yeast fermentation, native malolactic conversion, and sur lie aging, which all give it depth and complexity. It was aged for 10 months in neutral French oak, and another 6 months in stainless steel. This bottle has lovely tension on the palate with richness in body and fresh and baked citrus notes with a touch of spice. The dry, slightly chalky finish leaves you yearning for another sip. Sustainably grown.