2022 The Hilt - Chardonnay Santa Rita Hills (750ml)

The Hilt was founded in 2008 by the same ownership group behind Jonata, with backing tied to Stan Kroenke of Screaming Eagle fame. The winery set out to make Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the wind-scoured western reaches of Santa Barbara County, and in 2014 the team purchased the Rancho Salsipuedes property, giving The Hilt a permanent home and its own dedicated estate vineyards under winemaker Matt Dees.

This Estate Chardonnay blends fruit from two of The Hilt's most celebrated sites, Radian and Bentrock, both perched at the far western edge of the Santa Ynez Valley where cold Pacific winds and calcium-rich soils shape intensely focused fruit. Radian contributes energy and mineral tension, while Bentrock adds stone-fruit density. The wine is aged roughly 11 months in a mix of new and neutral French oak along with a touch of stainless steel, with partial malolactic fermentation adding gentle roundness.

Aromas of ripe mango, green melon, and honeysuckle mingle with wet gravel and a lift of agave and lime zest. The palate is rich yet precise, carrying piercing acidity through an exceptionally long, mouthwatering finish. Pair it with grilled prawns, roasted branzino, or a young Brie.