The "Rose of the Soul" 2006 Santa Barbara Chardonnay from Richard
Sanford's "Alma Rosa" winery...$188.00/Case
If you enjoy excellent quality, varietelly spot-on Chardonnay with
impeccable lineage...this (rose) Bud's for you!
In 2005 Richard and Thekla Sanford (formerly of Sanford Winery) set a
new course for their future in the wine trade in the establishment of
Alma Rosa (Soul of the Rose) Winery and Vineyards. This new tack was
founded on the concepts of sustainable and organic agriculture
practices as well as a keen focus on environmentally correct
stewarding of the land on which their facility and home are located.
The first releases (a pair of Pinot Noirs in two distinct price tiers,
"La Encantada Vineyard" and Santa Rita Hills AVA) absolutely blew us
away with their depth, texture, terroir-identity and palate-coating
finish. (We sold dozens of cases and the requests just keep on
coming...new vintages out soon)
Sanford's Alma Rosa winery scored again with a duo of Chardonnays
which paralleled the Pinots in quality and design. Again, the wines
are positioned in two price categories, and while we enjoyed the
single-vineyard "Jabali" for its rich, succulent and well-mannered
sense of balance, we were BLOWN AWAY by the Santa Barbara due to its
inherent quality, varietal integrity, beautiful Primrose yellow label
& matching capsule and incredibly attractive price-point. (Yes, I love
a bargain) Simply put, there are very few California Chardonnays that
come close to the quality/value ratio of the Alma Rosa Santa Barbara.
Here are the reviews of the 2005 vintage of this amazing little wine;
*"90" Robert Parker..."Hazelnut, toasted almond and buttery popcorn
characteristics are found in the Alma Rosa Santa Barbara Chardonnay.
Not as forceful, rich or delineated as the Single Vineyard cuvee
(Jabali), it is an outstanding Chardonnay to consume over the next 1-2
years.
*"88" Wine Spectator..."A clean, flinty, unoaked style that keeps the
focus on the fruit, with a hint of nectarine and citrus. Fans out on
the finish, ending with crisp acidity. Drink now through 2010".
Newsflash! The winery Rep just dropped in with the 2006 Alma Rosa
Santa Barbara Chardonnay. Friends, Sanford's taken this wine to a new
level. Unlike the 2005, the '06 was oak-barrel fermented before being
racked into stainless tanks sans Malolactic fermentation. The wine
still sports the bright citrus and topical fruit characteristics
(classic "non-ML" descriptors) then adds a layer of rich, creamy
Golden Delicious apple, mineral, toasted almond and caramel notes on
the finish. Richard says that if the 2005 was akin to Chablis, than
the 2006 is reminiscent of a Montrachet...and I agree.
Sit Down! Get this...Sanford has decided to maintain the price-point
on his 2006 Santa Barbara Chardonnay. Amazingly, you can still buy a
case of this world-class Chardonnay for only $188.00. I double-dog
dare you to compare this wine to white Burgundy in the $40.00-plus
category.
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