Just In: Santa Barbara’s #1 Chardonnay

97-point magnificent Chard from Dragonette

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Dear Insider,Good thing we claimed our share of the 2021 Dragonette Ritas Crown Chardonnay before it had scores, because nowwith a staggering 97-point score from Vinoustheres none to be had. Believe us, we checked.From one of my favorite wineries in Californiaand one that Antonio Galloni called one of the most fascinating wineries in the Central Coastthis is Santa Barbaras top Chardonnay of the vintage, with a score matching both Peter Michaels $130+ Belle Cte and Auberts $190+ Park Avenue. Galloni called it magnificent and one of the most compelling wines from Santa Barbara I tasted this year.There is not much more to be said. This is simply one of the finest Chardonnays you can get in the United States, and its price is comically low, considering the company it keeps. We dont think our allocation will last an hour.Click here to buy now.Dragonette has a knack for finding the finest vineyards in the Sta. Rita Hills, and none tops Ritas Crown, which is named for its position at the pinnacle of the AVA. Brandon, along with partners John and Steve Dragonette, first laid eyes on the site more than a decade ago when it looked a lot different.Essentially, we were able to tour Ritas Crown before there was anything planted, Dragonette co-founder Brandon Sparks-Gillis told us as we walked one of the plots hed selected when the site was just rocky, untamed earth beaten by the bright sun and Pacific winds. But Ritas Crown appealed to John Dragonette and Brandon immediately, and its threadbare state just made its virtues more obvious.We were searching for a site with a strong diatomaceous imprint, Brandon told us, referring to the soils containing large amounts of silica and rocks as light as featherssimilar to the same prized qualities in the soils of Champagne and Spains Jerez region. Ritas Crown checked pretty much every other box, too. Its a steep hillside planting, the vines struggle, which keeps the yield low, he explained. Its above the fog line on many days and gets hammered by the wind, which adds a heck of a lot of character to the grapes. We definitely sacrifice quantity for quality, getting just a couple tons per acre.The result: a California Chardonnay that stands with the best, bar none. Dont miss your chance to claim it.

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Sincerely,

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Pete HollandCertified SommelierWine Access Head Writer

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