The wine opens with notes of butterscotch, white flowers, and fragrant apple. On the palate the wine is luxuriously rounded with notes of salted caramel but finishes with bright and piercing acidity that carry a flinty and mineral tang and notes of yuzu.
Rita’s Crown has the highest elevation of any vineyard in the Sta. Rita Hills AVA at an elevation of 600 to 950 feet and is situated on a dramatic southwest-facing slope. Its elevation makes this site particularly exposed to coastal fog and cool marine breezes from the nearby Pacific Ocean. The vineyard soils are predominantly sandy loam with ancient seashell deposits. This extreme site yields a tiny crop with very small berries, producing Chardonnays that are intensely flavored, richly textured, and balanced by vibrant acidity.
