2012 Chardonnay Old Guard

Wine Details
Producer

The Hilt

Place of Origin

United States

Santa Barbara County

California

Color

White

Grape/Blend

Chardonnay

Reviews & Tasting Notes

00

Drinking Window

2014 - 2020

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- By Author Name on Month Date, Year

This is a magnificent set of new and upcoming releases from The Hilt and winemaker Matt Dees. Both the 2012s and 2013s are fabulous, with the 2013s having a slight edge right now. In just a few years, The Hilt has succeeded in making some of the most compelling Pinots and Chardonnays in California, largely on Dees's ability to source fruit from some of the region's most pristine vineyards.

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Drinking Window

2014 - 2020

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- By Author Name on Month Date, Year

Winemaker Matt Dees appears to really be hitting his stride with this new project. The Hilt's Chardonnays and Pinots seem to moving up the quality ladder pretty quickly, making this one of the most exciting new projects in California. The Old Guard wines are generally a bit more structured in conception, while the Vanguard wines are a bit more overt, but those are pretty small distinctions. All of these wines merit serious attention. The 2011s have gorgeous delineation, much of which is attributable to the cool conditions Chardonnay and Pinot love. Dees describes 2012 as a year with bigger berries and higher sugars. More than vintage characteristics, with a new project like this, what counts most is the winemaking's team evolution as they gain familiarity with new fruit sources, and that seems to be happening at a very quick pace.