2020 Chardonnay Bentrock

My tasting at Sandhi was one of the highlights of my trip to Santa Barbara. These days, most of the focus is on Chardonnay. Readers will find a number of superb choices, from the appellation-level wines all the way up to the vineyard designates. The 2020s spent 10-11 months in oak, followed by four months in tank, and were bottled in February/March 2022. Specifically, the natural intensity of the year is such a fine complement to a house style that emphasizes freshness. The Pinots are attractive as well, with the 2020 Rim Rock Pinot the star, and the 2021 appellation wine a terrific example of the year. Today, the Pinots see a pretty healthy amount of whole clusters, 50% for the appellation wine and 100% for the vineyard designates, a change from a few years ago, when there was less stem influence. All that said, these are details more than anything else. From top to bottom, this is a terrific set of wines from Sandhi.