Donnachadh Vineyard - Chardonnay 2019

Drew and Laurie Duncan searched almost a decade for the perfect cool climate site to grow Chardonnay and Pinot Noir before finally discovering Donnachadh Vineyard (pronounced DON-nuh-kuh).  Organically farmed in the heart of the Sta. Rita Hills AVA, the property was planted to vine by the Duncan’s in 2013.  Santa Barbara Winemaker Ernst Storm is at the healm for winemaking at Donnachadh.  Having hailed from the Western Cape of South Africa, his experience making balanced wines from cool climate grapes has served him well in the Sta. Rita Hills.  Ernst believes that the diverse soils and microclimates within Santa Barbara County make it a region with endless potential.

Donnachadh Vineyard has special characteristics that inspired the Duncan’s to lay roots there: its north facing slope shields the grapes from too much direct sunlight, and is quite steep while lying at a higher elevation. The property is perfectly situated in a corridor that carries the ocean breeze inland, cooling the grapes in the morning and evening and preventing heat from building up during the day.  Overall, the hillside environment is quite challenging for the vines, which limits yields and produces grapes of exceptional character.  Laurie has a PhD is Geology, so soil composition was important when choosing this site—their vineyard is unique in that it offers several different soil types (predominantly clay, with marine shale deposits) which contribute to Donnachadh’s elegant wines of purity, energy and warmth.

Mineral driven, delicate and crystalline. Lemon zest, brioche, and struck flint on the nose. Mouthwatering acidity with oyster-shell minerality on the palate of Meyer lemon and pear with a drop of candied lemon and sea salt on the finish. 

"Enticing aromas of buttercream, cake batter and macadamia nut are clean and light on the nose of this bottling. The palate grabs hold with a tart orange-rind note, then opens toward white-peach and grapefruit juice flavors. There's just the slightest hint of nutty opulence." - 94 Points, Wine Enthusiast

"The 2019 Chardonnay Estate is fabulous. It shows the combination of aromatic intensity and mid-palate texture that is such a signature of this part of the Sta. Rita Hills. Lemon peel, white flowers and a touch of new oak all grace this super-expressive Chardonnay. The 2019 is a blend of five different clones on the property. It spent eleven months in oak followed by five months in tank." - 91 Points, Vinous

Producer: Donnachadh Vineyard

Country: United States

Region: California

Varietal: Chardonnay

Appellation: Sta. Rita Hills

Vintage: 2019

Size: 750ml