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If there’s one name in American wine that wine lovers can’t stop talking about, it’s Sea Smoke. This winery is the gold standard, the superstar, the bottle everyone dreams of owning. 

Sea Smoke’s estate vineyard is in Santa Barbara’s Santa Rita Hills, one of the best places in the world for growing Burgundian grapes. The vineyard sits on sunny, south-facing slopes and gets cooled every afternoon by a layer of Pacific Ocean fog, known as 'sea smoke.' This perfect mix of sun and cool air lets the grapes ripen slowly, creating bold flavors and silky-smooth tannins. 

Sea Smoke’s legacy owes much to its visionary founder, Bob Davids, and the exceptional talents of winemaker Don Schroeder. Bob Davids, who established the estate in 1999, envisioned creating world-class Pinot Noir in Santa Barbara’s Santa Rita Hills, and his dream has become a reality. Don Schroeder, formerly of Ampelos Cellars, has taken the helm, crafting wines that balance richness and elegance with meticulous care. Together, their dedication and expertise have cemented Sea Smoke as a name that defines excellence in American Pinot Noir.

Sea Smoke has been a legend since its very first vintage in 2001, earning a place on Wine Spectator’s Top 100 list and winning over critics and collectors. It’s not easy to get your hands on a bottle, and every release is highly limited and sold primarily to a lucky few on their mailing list. A wine we’ve never been able to share before...until today.

This isn’t just Chardonnay—it’s Sea Smoke Chardonnay. Estate-grown and hand-sorted with obsessive precision. Chilled grapes were softly pressed, and the juice was gently pumped into a stainless steel tank and cold settled. Once the heavy solids were removed, the juice was racked to a stainless steel fermenter, then inoculated for primary fermentation. Following primary fermentation, the wine was racked to barrels, inoculated for malolactic fermentation, then periodically stirred to enhance depth and mouthfeel.

The 2023 Sea Smoke Chardonnay was aged for a total of 10 months before bottling with no fining and no filtration.

Exclusively French Oak—24% New Barrels

100% Chardonnay. 

An elegant Chardonnay with aromas of lemon curd, star fruit, fresh cut peach, and wet stone. Complemented by satsuma mandarins and a touch of hazelnut in the focused mid-palate and the refreshing cool climate acidity of our estate vineyard.

The 2023 Chardonnay is vibrant and resonant, a superb New World expression of Sta. Rita Hills. Ripe stone fruit, white flowers, and baking spices saturate the palate in plush, velvety textures. Concentrated and powerful, yet harmonious and complete, the 2023 is a gorgeous wine of depth and presence. ~ 95 Vinous Media

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