2023 Fess Parker - Chardonnay Parker West Santa Rita Hills (750ml)
Fess Parker built his first career as the actor behind Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone, two of American television's most beloved frontier heroes, before walking away from Hollywood in the early 1970s to pursue real estate and eventually winemaking. In 1988 he and his family purchased a 714-acre ranch in the Santa Ynez Valley, planting what would grow from a modest vineyard into an estate farming nearly 700 acres. His son Eli took over as winemaker in the mid-1990s, and the winery remains family-run today, now led by Eli and his sister, Ashley Parker Snider, under head winemaker Blair Fox.
Parker West Vineyard sits in the Sta. Rita Hills, an appellation prized for its rare east-west orientation that funnels cool Pacific air and fog directly into the valley, extending the growing season and preserving natural acidity in the fruit. Chardonnay from this site is farmed with the same sustainable practices the family applies across its estate vineyards, working with growers who share their commitment to careful, low-impact viticulture. The wine is aged in a mix of French oak, lending it structure and a touch of spice.
The 2023 vintage offers generous notes of lemon cream, yellow peach, and golden apple, layered with toasty oak and vanilla. Bright, refreshing acidity keeps the wine lively despite its rich fruit profile, carrying through to a smooth, lingering finish. Its combination of richness and freshness makes it a good match for roasted turkey, buttery lobster, or a creamy chicken pasta.