The Hilt Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay 2019

Category:
 
White Wines
Sub-Category:  
 
White Wines
Producer:
 
The Hilt
Label Name:
 
Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay
Vintage:
 
2019
Country:
 
United States
Region:
 
Sta. Rita Hills, Santa Barbara County, California
Volume:
 
750ml
ABV:
 
13%
Grape(s):
 
Chardonnay
Acidity:
 
4
Sweetness:
 
1
Body:
 
3
Length:
 
4
Aroma Intensity:
 
4
Best Temperature:
 
10-12°C

Awards/Ratings
Professional scores vary by bottling: The Hilt Estate Chardonnay 2019 — Jeb Dunnuck 92; Radian Vineyard 2019 — Jeb Dunnuck 94, James Suckling 94, Vinous 93; Bentrock Vineyard 2019 — Jeb Dunnuck 95, Vinous 95

Tasting Note
Bright citrus and green apple with pear, lemon peel and pineapple, overlaid by chamomile, baking spice and sea-salt minerality. Medium-bodied, crisp acidity, creamy texture and a lingering saline finish.

Food Pairing
Western: roast chicken, crab cakes, creamy mushroom risotto, butter-poached lobster. Asian: miso-glazed cod, tempura shrimp, sushi (salmon), light Thai coconut curry.

Production Method
Hand-harvested fruit fermented in a mix of neutral French oak and stainless tanks, aged ~11 months sur lie with light bâtonnage; minimal new oak and restrained malolactic to preserve acidity.

Vineyard Info
The Hilt is an estate project (owned by Stan Kroenke) led by winemaker Matt Dees; fruit comes from cool, windswept Radian/Bentrock sites in SW Sta. Rita Hills farmed sustainably for precise, site-driven Chardonnay.