Sandhi Sta. Rita Hills Romance Chardonnay 2021

A younger planting below Domaine de la Côte, Romance exudes the same near-paradoxical freshness and strength of the vines above it. The intensity of this south-facing, wind-battered Chardonnay is immediately felt. Orchard fruit and flint lead the nose while citrus blossoms recalling the bright, vernal label explode on the palate. Mineral, lithe, with incredible depth and texture, rich fruit, nuttiness and acidity frame the entire package. The polished finish carries these elements for minutes. Though outgoing and ready, this cuvée still has so much to offer in the coming years. It is a refined, joyful wine, conveyed with power and trueness to site.

97/100 - A reverberating, savoury expression of Sandhi's estate-grown Domaine de la Côte vineyard, this keenly focused Chardonnay highlights piercing lime and grapefruit flavours against a backdrop of steel and slate. Powerfully concentrated and a bit nervous in youth, it's a wine that should gain depth and texture with age. - Anna Lee C. Ijima, Decanter 

94/100 - The 2021 Chardonnay Romance is sourced from south-facing blocks at Domaine de la Côte. It presents a compelling mix of orchard fruit, lemon confit, dried flowers, almond and light tropical overtones. This soft, creamy Chardonnay is also the most overt and accessible of the Sandhi Chardonnays. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous 

18.5+/20 - Pale gold. Alluring scents of white flowers, flint and lemon pith. Beautifully mineral flavours of lemon peel, lemon pith, pink grapefruit and wet chalkboard display fantastic purity and an electric hum. Lean without austerity, mouth-watering, saline and crystalline. Extremely impressive and masterfully done. - Alder Yarrow, JancisRobinson.com

96+/100 - The 2021 Chardonnay Romance has layered scents of apricot, quince, matchstick, almonds, panna cotta and pie crust. The medium-bodied palate is powerful and expressive, with a highly concentrated core of nuanced fruit and expansive spice and savory accents. It has a luxuriously satiny texture and vibrant acidity that combines with its mineral character to create a long, shimmery finish. With all that flavor and energy, it will be long lived in bottle. - Erin Brooks, Wine Advocate 

92/100 - There's an earthy angle to the nose of this bottling, with maritime and struck-flint aromas playing alongside zesty lime peel and pomelo skin scents. The palate is very flinty as well, with citrus and dried-apple elements leading into a seashore-tinged finish.- Matt Kettmann, Wine Enthusiast 

97/100 - Apricot, salted-caramel and steel aromas. Full-bodied and layered with dried-fruit flavors and phenolics. Ripe and juicy fruit with a salty note. Drink or hold. - James Suckling