' Ken Brown - Wines

2024 Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay

New Release!     A rich, balanced and fruity Chardonnay for the new year!
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$45.00 per Bottle
 

Description

Chardonnays from Sta. Rita Hills are always a balancing act of richness and acidity, and this wine is no exception. Aromas of peaches, jasmine and lemon zest come leaping out of the glass. The pallet takes us in a more citrusy direction with flavors of tangerines and key limes, framed by a finish with hints of vanilla cream and the signature minerality of the region. This is a versatile food wine. Pair it with anything from fresh shellfish or halibut crudo to roasted poultry and winter vegetables.

Vineyard Notes

80% El Jabali Vineyard, 20% Rio Vista Vineyard Ken Brown has worked with Rio Vista for many years. Planted in the early 2000s, it is located at the southeastern end of the Sta. Rita Hills appellation. The slightly warmer microclimate results in luscious, ripe Chardonnay. The dominant soils are limestone, sedimentary soils and a marine layer of sandy loam. A short distance to the west, El Jabali was first planted by Richard Sanford in 1983. Rugged hillside slopes and higher elevations help to preserve Chardonnay’s natural freshness and acidity.

Production Notes

Despite the ample winter rains clearing salts from the soil and replenishing ground water, yields were low due to cold and windy weather at bud initiation about 16 months prior to this year’s harvest. While low yields are difficult for our growers, this leads to higher quality with advanced phenolic maturity with moderate sugar development, a result of the long, cool spring and summer. A five-day post Labor Day heat event which raised temperatures into the nineties in the Sta. Rita Hills quickly pushed some blocks to harvest ripeness. Grapes were harvested on September 24th at Rio Vista and September 26th at El Jabali.

Winemaker Notes

Chardonnay clusters for this wine were whole-bunch pressed then transferred to French oak barrels where fermentation began using native yeasts. The wine then completed full malo-lactic fermentation. It was aged on its lees for 10 months in 20% new French oak, and bottled on July 24th, 2025.
Vintage 2024
Varietal 100% Chardonnay
Appellation Sta. Rita Hills
Harvest Date September 24th-26th, 2024
Bottling Date July 24th, 2025
Alcohol % 14.2
Size 750 ml