Gary Farrell Chardonnay La Rinconada Vineyard Santa Rita Hills 2021
California · Santa Barbara County · Chardonnay · white
About this wine
UNDER $30?! For a single vineyard expression of one of the BAR NONE greatest sites in the entire Central Coast? Sign…me…UP!!! Woohooo! Gary Farrell for da WIN! 94 POINT Chardonnay from Sanford & Benedict’s famed La Rinconada vineyard! It’s like something out of a fever dream – the super-gnarly, undeniably EPIC 2021 vintage, a famed winery at the peak of its powers, and THIS?!?! What…a…match! Sanford & Benedict basically LAUNCHED Central Coast wines back in 1971 when they planted the first Pinot Noir vines in Santa Barbara County. Right next door to this historic plot is the windy hill of loamy clay and shale called La Rinconada – home to some of the most revered Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in Sta. Rita Hills. One sip is all it takes to see why. This tightly-wound, impeccably layered BEAST of a Chardonnay is just starting to wake up – and that oh-so perfect medley of crunchy, flinty, river rock minerality, zippy lemon and Ruby Red grapefruit, with kiss or golden apple, and an entire spicebox of warm, nutty, and toasty accents that rip straight into your chest and give your heart a loving squeeze. Vigorous swirls, a wee bit of oxygen, and a dash of tempering in your glass – and this beast becomes a beauty, with the sort of lingering finish that bears an uncanny resemblance to Grand Cru White Burgundy. Not much to be had of this – but if you can, get a handful – you’ll be wanting to check in on this over the next decade! 94 POINTS and primed to FLY! Let’s go!!!! ** All of today’s Gary Farrell purchases are heading your way from our Napa HQ (with ICE PACKS!) – so East Coasters…give us a couple extra days for your wines to arrive! **
Wine details
- Producer
- Gary
- Vintage
- 2021
- Region
- California
- Appellation
- Santa Barbara County
- Varietal
- Chardonnay
- Color
- white
- Winemaker
- Theresa Heredia
- Alcohol
- 14.2
- Last Bottle price
- $26
- Retail price (estimate)
- $65
- CellarTracker score
- 92.8 (4 reviews)
- Critic score
- 94 — James Suckling