A true stunner. I opened this bottle at a dinner party of winemakers and industry folks, and it was a huge hit. Everyone was marveling at the floral notes on the nose, the salinity and balance of the palate. A pure expression of cool climate Santa Barbara Chardonnay, the nose is tropical and floral with passionfruit and macadamia nut. The palate is texturally stunning, broad with a balance of great acidity, saline and freshness, showing tons of life and promise of age-worthiness, if you can wait.
This fruit was whole cluster pressed, inoculated with a Burgundian yeast strain, barrel fermented on the less in French oak, 40% new. The new barrels were allowed to go through secondary Malo-lactic fermentation. It was aged for ten months, in barrel and bottled unfined and unfiltered, so vegan.
116 cases produced.
2021 Saint K “Yökai” Chardonnay
$60.00
Chris Kiranbay is an Ownroot favorite for a reason. We have featured several of his wines, and every single one has been awesome. Chris grew up in the Middle East because his mom worked for Embassies, so he has a big world mind. After working for some years as a Somm in DC restaurants, he started to dream of moving out west for a life of wine. He thought he might move to Napa, but his love of Rhone wines led him instead to Paso Robles. He landed a sweet gig that he has grown into at Herman Story and the rest is history. He got started with a barrel of Viognier and has since made loads of varieties including Malvasia Bianca, Grenache Blanc, Mourvèdre, Carignan, Cabernet, and now this foray into Santa Barbara Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. His wines are always honest, and I can see the elegance and nuance in this bottling that is the true Chris K.