This Might Be the Chardonnay Deal of the Year

Sandhi Chardonnay Patterson Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills 2023 Link to Purchase Wine: https://www.winex.com/sandhi-chardonnay-patterson-vineyard-sta-rita-hills-2023.html Link to Glasses: https://www.winex.com/fontaine-premier-universal-wine-glass.html Sandhi has built its reputation on some of the most precise, compelling Chardonnay coming out of California, and the 2023 Paterson Vineyard Chardonnay might also be one of the best values we’ve encountered from them. Paterson is a special Santa Rita Hills site tucked above the legendary Sanford & Benedict Vineyard, with a cool north/northeast exposure that produces beautifully energetic Chardonnay. Sashi Moorman and Rajat Parr take that fruit in an equally restrained direction, aging it for ten months in older 500-liter French oak puncheons before another six months in stainless steel. The result is almost Chablis-like in spirit: nervy and transparent, with green apple, candied lemon peel, gorgeous aromatics and remarkable precision rather than overt oak or richness. The cool 2023 growing season only amplifies that combination of freshness and full physiological ripeness. sandhi Here’s where things get ridiculous. This is a $75 winery-retail, single-vineyard Chardonnay for $29.98, and Kyle notes that changes happening within the Sandhi lineup could mean Paterson Vineyard Chardonnay may not continue as a standalone bottling. That makes this more than a screaming deal. It could be a fleeting opportunity to grab a distinctive single-vineyard Santa Rita Hills Chardonnay from one of California’s most respected Chardonnay teams for less than half its normal price.