Sandhi Chardonnay Sta. Rita Hills 2020

Sandhi, which is Sanskrit for 'collaboration,' is a small production California winery that focuses on select vineyards from the Sta. Rita Hills in Santa Barbara County. It was founded in 2010 by the proprietors of Domaine de la Côte and Evening Land - Master Sommelier Rajat Parr and winemaker Sashi Moorman. The goal behind the Sandhi portfolio is to show how essential the collaboration between man, earth, and the vine is to the production of wine. Raj and Shashi both believe that "the willing participation of all three elements is necessary to make great wine, and the winegrower must make this collaboration rich and nourishing for all involved." Understanding these joint efforts informs Sandhi's exploration of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vines throughout the Santa Barbara County terroir.

The vineyards with which Raj and Sashi work–some legendary, some new–are exhaustively vetted for character, personality, and balance. Each vineyard brings a unique aspect to the wine and together help produce a stunning representation of the Sta. Rita Hills – as seen in these bottlings of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. This area is one of the best growing regions for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. It is a cool climate region with just enough heat accumulation to ripen, but not over ripen, wine grapes, and where the quality might equal the best in Europe.

This 100% Estate Chardonnay was sourced from the Domaine de la Côte and River Fall vineyards. Aged for 11 months in 500L puncheons and three months in tank, this Chardonnay opens with a touch of flint and nutty accents. The palate has bright acidity and a long, layered finish with notes of golden delicious apple, white peaches, and a touch of honey.