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2016 Peake Ranch Santa Barbara Country Chardonnay

2016 Peake Ranch Santa Barbara Country Chardonnay

94JD
91RP
91WE
90VN
$39.99

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94

Jeb Dunnuck

Reviewed October 2018
Aged 18 months in 78% new French oak, the entry level 2016 Chardonnay Santa Barbara County is a winner. Sourced from throughout the Santa Barbara County and aged 18 months in 78% new barrels, it offers a big bouquet of tropical fruits, pineapple, apple blossom, white flowers, and hints of spice. It's pure, silky and elegant on the palate, with nicely integrated acidity as well as big finish. It's well worth seeking out, and while it’s the entry level cuvée of the estate, it’s a match for just about every other Chardonnay out there.

Professional Reviews

91

Wine Advocate

Review Date: 09/2019
The 2016 Chardonnay Santa Barbara has an open nose of soft Golden Delicious apple, poached pear and lemon pith with hints of baker's yeast, toast and sliced almonds. Medium-bodied, it has a good core of ripe tree fruits with juicy acidity and touches of honeycomb coming through on the finish. (EB)

91

Wine Enthusiast

Review Date: 05/2019
Rich aromas of brioche and sweet butter are cut by chalky lemon pith and candied citrus rind on the nose of this blend of fruit from John Sebastiano and Sierra Madre vineyards. The chalky mouthfeel presents flavors of grapefruit, toasted croissant and a drawn-butter element toward the finish. (MK)

90

Vinous

Review Date: 09/2018
The 2016 Chardonnay (Santa Barbara County) is soft, open-knit and inviting, with lovely yellow orchard fruit and floral character. Tropical overtones add nuance to this very pretty, expressive Chardonnay. Vineyard sources are Sierra Madre and Peake Ranch. (AG)

Notes

Peake Ranch Winery is only a few vintages in, but already they're on to something: sexy, expressive Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah, and a soupçon of Grenache from excellent vineyard sites in the Sta. Rita Hills and Santa Maria Valley. Owner John Wagner is a physicist-turned-hedge-fund-manager-turned-winemaker, who developed a passion for the grape when he bought Sierra Madre vineyard and got "sucked in," as he puts it. He's brought talented folks on board-an exciting young winemaker named Wynne Solomon who cut her teeth at Melville; Michael Anderson, a veteran viticulturalist; and somm/winemaker Paul Lato. They're currently in the throes of building a state-of-the-art winery and tasting room at the old Richard Sanford property, being careful to preserve the historic spaces that harken back to the founding of the Sta. Rita Hills AVA (and Sideways fame, of course). The future looks bright for Peake Ranch, but, in the here and now, they've got some fantastic wines on the roster.

Details

TypeWhite Wine
VarietalChardonnay
OriginSanta Maria/Santa Barbara, California, United States
Bottle Size750 mL
SKU1392707