The Hilt : Estate Chardonnay 2023

Characteristics and Tasting Tips for The Hilt Estate Chardonnay 2023

Tasting

Nose

The nose is generous and expressive, driven by a palette of stone fruits such as white peach, juicy apricot and crisp nectarine, complemented by hints of dried mango and starfruit. Floral notes of chamomile and touches of brioche, biscuit and soft cream add a gourmand dimension, while subtle hints of vanilla reflect time spent in barrel. This fruity, pastry-like richness is balanced by more marine and mineral nuances, evoking dried seaweed, iodine, salty sea breeze and crushed stone, a reminder of the vineyard's immediate proximity to the Pacific Ocean.

Palate

The attack is full and juicy, supported by a fresh, perfectly integrated acidity that lends the wine a sense of lightness despite its density of fruit. The silky, almost chalky texture gives way to a sensation of saline tension that runs across the palate to a long, precise and elegant finish, marked by pleasant phenolic grip and a hint of gunflint.

Food and wine pairings

This Chardonnay is an ideal match for seafood and shellfish such as oysters, clams or langoustines, whose briny character echoes the wine's salinity. It also pairs well with grilled or roasted firm-fleshed fish, such as sea bass or sea bream, as well as with white meats in cream and mushroom sauces, such as roast poultry served with a lightly creamy sauce. Finally, certain lightly aged soft cheeses or delicate mountain tommes can also make a lovely pairing.

Serving and cellaring

We recommend serving the Estate Chardonnay 2023 at a temperature between 10 and 12°C, in a white wine glass large enough to allow the aromas to open up. A brief decanting may be considered to dissipate the touch of reduction noted by the estate and to fully reveal the wine's aromatic richness.

The Hilt Estate Chardonnay 2023, a Californian white wine balancing fruit density and saline tension

The estate

The Hilt was founded in 2004 in the Sta. Rita Hills, in California, with the ambition of producing cool-climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. After several years of winemaking with purchased fruit, the estate acquired the Rancho Salsipuedes property in 2014, bringing the Bentrock and Radian vineyards into its portfolio. The Hilt is owned by Ann and Stan Kroenke, who also own Screaming Eagle and Jonata, and its winemaking is overseen by winemaker Matt Dees, supported by Ruben Solorzano for vineyard management.

The vineyard

The grapes for this Chardonnay come mainly from the Radian and Bentrock vineyards, complemented by the historic Sanford & Benedict site, all located within the Sta. Rita Hills appellation. These hillsides, exposed to cool winds and Pacific fog, rest on poor, diatomaceous and calcareous soils that naturally limit yields and force the vines to root deeply. This American estate farms its vineyards using precision viticulture with a strong focus on sustainability, aiming to preserve and regenerate soil vitality.

The vintage

The 2023 vintage benefits from the characteristic conditions of the Sta. Rita Hills, where generous sunshine combines with persistent maritime coolness, slowing grape ripening and encouraging a gradual build-up of aromas while preserving high natural acidity.

Winemaking and aging

The Estate Chardonnay 2023 is vinified using an approach inspired by Burgundy, favoring native yeasts and aging in French oak barrels with a measured proportion of new wood, designed to support the wine's structure without masking the expression of terroir. This philosophy aims to preserve the aromatic precision, acid tension and minerality that define the House style.

Grape variety

100% Chardonnay