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Racines Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay Wenzlau Vineyard 2020

$7499

Wenzlau sits on a dramatic limestone-rich hillside above the Santa Ynez River, and it's one of the sites that convinced the Racines team - Burgundy's Etienne de Montille and Brian Sieve, with Champagne's Rodolphe Peters - to put down roots in California at all. The chalky soils here do something specific to Chardonnay: they give it lift and tension rather than weight. Fermented with native yeasts in large French oak puncheons with only a modest fraction of new wood, then a year on its fine lees before finishing in stainless steel, this is Chardonnay made with a light hand on purpose. Airy, saline, and finely drawn - a California white built like a Burgundian one, without pretending to be from anywhere but the Sta. Rita Hills.

Shipping

Every step of the journey is managed to uphold the integrity of each bottle.

  • Nationwide Access: Flat-rate shipping available to most U.S. states with delivery in 3-5 business days.
  • Temperature-Monitored Shipping: We closely monitor weather conditions and make informed decisions to ensure shipments travel safely, with insulated packaging and refrigerated transport available when required.
  • Wine-Specific Protective Packaging: Specialized materials designed to maintain label integrity and prevent breakage during transit.
  • Provenance Assured: All wines are maintained in climate-controlled conditions at our shop until the moment of dispatch.

Returns & Exchanges

We stand behind every bottle we sell.

  • If the wine is less than 10 years old and it is corked, you may return it to us for a full refund or exchange within 60 days of purchase. You must show us proof of purchase. We understand that you may not live near a shop and that it is difficult to ship open bottles of wine to us, so if there's any problem feel free to Contact Us and we'll work it out.
  • For wines older than 10 years, the consumer bears the risk of a faulty cork, but we accept returns of older bottles if the wine is faulty as a result of improper storage. Please come by the store or Contact Us if there is a problem.
  • We may, at our discretion and to the extent permitted by law, accept returns of unopened wines within 30 days of purchase if they were properly stored by the purchaser, subject to a 15% re-stocking fee.

View our complete return policy →

Have Questions?

Our team is here to help.

Hours

Monday - Friday: 11am - 8pm

Saturday: 12pm - 5pm

CLOSED SUNDAYS

Email: help@flatiron-wines.com
Phone: (415) 780-1405


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More about Racines

Among the many great Burgundy winemakers who have landed on the West Coast and are making wine here, the most exciting of all might be the most recent arrival, Etienne de Montille. His wines are sought after by all those who love burgundy, especially fellow winemakers.

When Etienne decided to make wine out west, he took a road trip with his Chef du Cave, Brian Sieve. Focusing their efforts on the cool climate sites, they started in the Willamette Valley, worked their way down the Sonoma Coast through the Santa Cruz Mountains and ended their journey in Santa Barbara. Of all the sites they explored, soil and climatic conditions they witnessed and wines they tasted, it was Santa Rita Hills north of Santa Barbara where they saw the most potential.

The other draw to this area was the tremendous talent, Tyler Winery's Justin Willett. Along with Rodolphe Peters of Pierre Peters, the four joined forces in a new project they call Racines. Racines is French for "roots", but the seeds for this project were planted a few years back. Raj Parr introduced Justin to Etienne in 2012 and a few years later, Justin found himself in Burgundy tasting with Montille's cellar manager Brian Sieve. The two became fast friends and also started a regular correspondence to exchange advice during harvests. Fast forward a few years - Etienne and Brian approached Justin to partner in their US project. Étienne brought along Rodolphe Péters of Champagne Pierre Peters, who wanted to start a sparkling wine venture in the US - and the rest is history. 2017 is their inaugural vintage.

We were very proud to host Etienne and Justin for a tasting of the first vintage of Racines. Even with our high expectations, each wine easily surpassed them. The application of Burgundian winemaking with the cool climate and limestone rich soils of the Santa Rita Hills produces something that lies in that magical spot between Californian and French wines. Layered and complex with the ability to age but so elegant and delicious when in their youth. The Chardonnays are crystalline and transparent with edges of savoriness and salinity. The Pinots are layered and structured with that brooding quality that Montille's Burgundies are known for.

Wine Details

  • Grape Variety

    Chardonnay

  • Vintage

    2020

  • Size

    750ml

  • Farming Practice

    Sustainable

  • Style

    Aromatic , Elegant , Fruity

  • Sweetness

    Dry

  • Body

    Full Bodied

Flatiron's Take

From the Importer

Tasting Notes & Food Pairings

Perfect Pairings

Scallops seared in butter, crab salad, or a creamy risotto with spring vegetables.

Tasting Profile

Dry and medium-bodied, with white peach and citrus, a chalky, salty minerality, and bright acidity. Light on oak, long on tension.

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