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2001 CHARDONNAY, BIEN NACIDO
Santa Barbara County
 

Yes, chardonnay is out of fashion. But the dirty little secret is that those really disgusting, flabby, overly oaked monsters from that other wine district are the cause of this grape variety’s loss of appeal. Smart buyers know that Santa Barbara County area chardonnays are much better and, in this market, inexpensive as well. This wine, from the low crop 2001 vintage, has amazing concentration and richness, and it finds its balance from the great acidity that only cool climate chardonnay can deliver.