| Producer | Lindquist |
| Country | United States |
| Region | California |
| Subregion | Santa Maria Valley |
| Varietal | Chardonnay |
| Vintage | 2021 |
| Sku | 28299 |
| Size | 750ml |
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This wine is 100% Chardonnay from Block L at Bien Nacido Vineyard. Block L is one of the original blocks planted in 1973 on its own roots. It sits right in the middle of Bien Nacido on the Tepusquet Bench. The soils are gravelly clay loam with quite a bit of the white rock associated with Obispo Formation Mudstone.
2021 was a beautiful vintage…great weather during the growing season and a balanced crop. I harvested two different lots: the first one on September 30th at 21.8° brix, 3.16 pH and 7.5 acidity; the second lot was picked on October 14th at 24.0° brix, 3.26 pH and 7.1 acidity.
As always, the grapes were whole cluster pressed, chilled in tank overnight, and then transferred to Francois Fréres French oak Burgundy barrels for fermentation. We used 25% new oak (all in the first lot), 25% once used, 25% twice used and the balance neutral barrels. The wine went through complete malo, and was aged on the lees for 9 months before blending and bottling in July 2022.
This is a classic Bien Nacido Chardonnay that exhibits minerals and citrus from the Lot 1, along with riper fruit and creaminess from the Lot 2. The oak adds dimension but is completely integrated. The wine is bottled under Stelvin screw cap for easy access, and should age nicely over the next few years.
By the way, a brief note about screw caps…with the wines that we make that are priced at a point that restaurants can serve them by the glass, I prefer, and restaurants greatly prefer this closure. Wine ages differently under screw cap, more slowly, the wine stays fresher. I don’t like to recommend aging under screw cap for longer than a few years, but the wine will take it!
Bob Lindquist
The 2020 Chardonnay Bien Nacido Vineyard is a very pretty wine driven by the forward, tropical style of the year. Lemon confit, tangerine oil, mint, spice and sweet spice are nicely pushed forward. Silk, supple contours wrap it all together. This is such a beautiful expression of Bien Nacido.
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