Beautiful Chardonnay at The Watering Hole

Tucked away in Los Olivos, almost hidden behind Mattei’s Tavern, is the unassuming home of the exciting new Sandhi Wines project. Opened in October of 2012, The Watering Hole as it’s called is the tasting room for Sandhi as well as other wines from the new Terroir Selections portfolio.

Sandhi was founded in 2010 by the famed sommelier Rajat Parr, former owner of Screaming Eagle & Jonata Charles Banks, and winemaker Sashi Moorman (Stolpman, Evening Land, Piedrasassi). The aim is to produce elegant and balanced Chardonnay and Pinot Noir of terroir-distinction from the Sta. Rita Hills AVA, including classic vineyards such as Sanford & Benedict, as well as newly emerging sites such as Rita’s Crown and Bent Rock.

 The current available lineup of Sandhi Wines highlights the best of what Santa Barbara County has to offer in Chardonnay. The Chardonnays are barrel-fermented and aged in neutral French oak, undergoing malolactic fermentation.

The 2011 Sandhi Santa Barbara County Chardonnay bottling is bright and complex with a trove of flint, mineral, citrus and honeyed spice notes throughout a rich sleek frame. It’s a pretty amazing introduction to a trio of single vineyard Chardonnays. The 2010 Sandhi Sanford & Benedict Chardonnay,Sta. Rita Hills comes from Mt Eden clones from the oldest blocks within the vineyard. This is a young and complex wine with notes of fresh cream, butter toffee, white florals, and tropical fruit. It’s bright and sturdy on the palate with earthy mineral highlights, lithe richness, and emerging spice on the finish- an absolutely beautiful wine.

View at Rita's Crown Vineyard, June 2012

Rita’s Crown Vineyard is an extreme vineyard site sitting atop Mt. Carmel in Sta. Rita Hills. It’s known for its diatomaceous soils and high elevation of up to 1000 feet. It’s windswept and cold, however the Sandhi 2010 Rita’s Crown Chardonnay, Sta. Rita Hills comes from warmer south-facing blocks. It shows juicy orange and lime zest notes with hints of hazelnut and honey, along with a beautiful textural richness that belies its angular acidity. It’s another beauty.

View at Bentrock Vineyard, June 2012

The 2010 Sandhi Bentrock Chardonnay, Sta. Rita Hills comes from another extreme site within the far southwestern corner of the AVA. Steeply sloped north-facing blocks are in the direct firing line of cool winds from the Pacific, creating concentrated flavors from low-yielding vines. It features a notably bright gold color with notes of vanilla, nutty butterscotch, creme fraiche, and complex tropical fruit – along with ample depth and sleek texture on the palate. This is another exemplary Chardonnay.

I also tasted a nice 2011 Sandhi Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir, and several other Terroir Selections wines. Click here for tasting notes on all wines tasted.

This is an exciting chapter in the wine evolution of Sta. Rita Hills and Santa Barbara County. Sandhi’s acclaim and attention are certainly well-deserved.