Five single-vineyard CA Pinots vs 5 Burgs: Gevrey-Chambertin, Vosne-Romanee + three 1er Crus Beaunes. All 2005s. Rob Jensen, owner, and Sue Ryan, lead wine educator at Testarossa joined our group for the tasting. My fave of the night! β 4 years ago
A light and pleasant for cab drinkers β 7 years ago
Silkier, spicier than the Santa Barbara. β 7 years ago
Meyer lemon, brioche, and a beautifully balanced richness. β 8 years ago
White pepper, vanilla, and purple fruits made this vintage enjoyable with a pesto pasta dinner and retirement into the living room. Lite-medium body and almost a nutty finish. Really enjoying these wines from Sanford. β 8 years ago
Aged very well! β 9 years ago

The 2020 Chardonnay Sanford & Benedict Vineyard emerges from the original parcel of own-rooted vines planted in 1971. Crushed rocks, sage, mint, citrus and white flowers lend nuance to a bright, airy Chardonnay that is all understatement. The 2020 is not an obvious wine, but for readers who enjoy subtlety and nuance, this is very hard to beat. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, August 2022)
β 3 years ago
Lovely smooth taste! One of the best Pinot Noirs I have enjoyed ! β 6 years ago
This wine may be on the decline. The fruit has gone decidedly raisiny. But the acidity still shines and the wine remains delicious. β 6 years ago
Both of us enjoyed. Not heavy but more body than typical PN β 7 years ago
Dark blue fruit. Very pure with lovely savory fruit with a tangy sour cherry note. A bit Nuits Saint George-like. Still great life to this, with great balance. A treat β 7 years ago
Smooth, a hint of fruit and that great St. Rita Hills nose. Yum! β 8 years ago
Very red berryβ¦cherry and strawberry. A bit of leather and mushroom. β 4 years ago
At the mothership β 4 years ago
One of the best Roseβs Iβve had. Very light. β 7 years ago
Tasted in 2015: First pour a bit hot, even caustic, but after allowing it to breathe, second pour is much more balanced and reveals aromas of tar, ash, black pepper, violets, raspberries, and a hint of cherry cola. More breathing still showed brown sugar and herbal aromas. β 8 years ago
2010 vintage. Santa Barbara County. Chardonnay sourced from 2 vineyards: Sandford & Benedict (55%) and Solomon Hills (45%). From the team behind Jonata. Aged 50% in neutral oak, 25% new oak and 25% stainless steel. Light brilliant yellow. Intense perfumes of white peach, lemon and flowers with a hint of coconut. Concentrated with layers of fruit, a certain minerality and crispy acidity. The oak is present but well-integrated. Long lemon confit finish . This should be even better in a few years. β 8 years ago
Tom Kobylarz
Elegant and delicate, the AR chards are always so subtle and gentle version of the grape. Very Chablis like or even champagne Blanc de blancs less the bubbles. β 3 years ago