Paul Lato Ma Jolie Peake Ranch Chardonnay 2020
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Dunnuck
Jeb -
Parker
Robert
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2020 Chardonnay Ma Jolie Peake Ranch Vineyard is another Sta. Rita Hills release, and it spent 16 months in 63% new barrels. Lemon curd, white flowers, chalky minerality, charcoal, and some classy oak all define this beauty’s bouquet, and it's medium to full-bodied, has a balanced, seamless mouthfeel, good acidity, and a great, great finish. It's another spectacular effort from Paul Lato that readers will love.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2020 Chardonnay Ma Jolie Peake Ranch Vineyard comes from 11-year-old Hyde and Wente clone vines. It opens with the flinty reduction often associated with Burgundian Chardonnay, before blossoming to white peach, mushroom, honey, toast and integrated baking spices from its 16-month maturation in 63% new French oak. Medium-bodied, the palate is concentrated and ripe, with undertones of matchstick and honey. It offers tangy acidity, a silky texture and a long, elegant finish.
Other Vintages
2018-
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Parker
Robert
Passion, quality, and authenticity. These are the guiding principles of our small, artisanal winery dedicated to producing Burgundy and Rhone varietals. Paul Lato is a former sommelier who studied wine extensively and traveled the world before starting his winemaking operation on the Central Coast in 2002. Though their style is inspired by the balance and harmony, they also seek to capture the intensity of flavor that is a hallmark of sun-kissed California vineyards.
Through small-lot boutique production, minimal intervention in the winery, and purity of intention, the team works to achieve elegance in the bottle that showcases the unique qualities of these amazing sites. The ultimate goal is to create wines that are seamless and textural with the structure and balance to complement fine cuisine.
One of the most popular and versatile white wine grapes, Chardonnay offers a wide range of flavors and styles depending on where it is grown and how it is made. While it tends to flourish in most environments, Chardonnay from its Burgundian homeland produces some of the most remarkable and longest lived examples. California produces both oaky, buttery styles and leaner, European-inspired wines. Somm Secret—The Burgundian subregion of Chablis, while typically using older oak barrels, produces a bright style similar to the unoaked style. Anyone who doesn't like oaky Chardonnay would likely enjoy Chablis.
A superior source of California Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Sta. Rita Hills is the coolest, westernmost sub-region of the larger Santa Ynez Valley appellation within Santa Barbara County. This relatively new AVA is unquestionably one to keep an eye on.
The climate of Sta. Rita Hills is a natural match for Chardonnay and Pinot noir, thanks to the crisp ocean breezes and well-drained, limestone-rich calcareous soil. Here, grapes ripen just enough, while retaining brisk acidity and harmonious balance.