CHANIN WINE COMPANY

 

 

In my area of the wine world (which is Santa Barbara to Paso Robles) there are 2 wineries that  stand out for me. One is Tablas Creek Vineyard that makes Rhone varietals which include several different white, rosé, and red wines (to read my recent article on Tablas Creek Vineyard click here ) and the other is Chanin Wine Company.  Chanin Wine Company makes the Burgundian varietals Chardonnay and Pinot Noir and has just started making Syrah that as you might expect is in a Burgundian style which I really like (to read an earlier article on Chanin Wine Company which has very interesting information about his mentors and how he got started in the wine business click here). The wines from Tablas Creek Vineyard and Chanin Wine Company are the wines that I am most familiar with and have the most experience drinking as I have bought them for years and have them in my cellar. They are wines that I can enthusiastically recommend year after year.

CHANIN WINE COMPANY

Gavin Chanin is the great nephew of my late great friend Ed Lazarus (to read an article on Ed click here).

Gavin is a dedicated and hardworking winemaker who works toward perfection in every thing he does. All of his wines show a great purity and elegance with depth, balance, and intensity making them  very distinctive.

The Chanin Wine Company wines are sold directly from the winery. However, they sell out almost instantly and to have a good chance to get an allocation you should join the wine club (click here to get more information and join the wine club).

Below are my tasting notes on Chanin Wine Company’s recent releases. I have not only tasted them, but added them to my cellar and I encourage you to do the same with upcoming releases. The wines are delicious to drink now, but will age for many years into the future (to read an article on older Chanin Wine Company wines click here)

Chardonnay

 2020 Chanin Wine Company Chardonnay Los Alamos Vineyard Santa Barbara County
This is a very pure elegant Chardonnay that has early appeal yet will also age gracefully for many years. Pale yellow in color with an exotic floral perfume showing hints of peach and citrus the wine has very elegant and pure fruit on the  palate with a tinge of citrus and a faintly honied undertone. It exudes charm and is really delicious – Outstanding Plus.  $50     550 cases

2020 Chanin Wine Company Chardonnay Bien Nacido Vineyard Santa Maria Valley
Very light yellow in color with a lovely floral tropical citrus tinged perfume the wine follows through with with the same flavors on the palate augmented by hints of peach. Very flavorful with great balance, style, depth, and finesse this is a gorgeous  Chardonnay that is very attractive and will continue to develop well into the future – Extraordinary.      $55  275 cases

2020 Chanin Wine Company Chardonnay Sanford and Benedict Vineyard Sta Rita Hills
Pale yellow in color with a floral citrus perfume accented by a exotic spice tinge this Chardonnay has lots of fruit finesse and flavor on the palate. Floral, peach and citrus flavors are beautifully integrated with great balance and depth and the finish is long and lingering. Drink now or keep for years into the future –  Extraordinary.     $60    425 cases

 

 

Pinot Noir & Syrah

 

 

2020 Chanin Wine Company Pinot Noir Los Alamos Vineyard Santa Barbara County
Lovely deep red color with hints of cherry showing an exotic tinge this is a lovely fruit forward Pinot Noir with cherry fruit accented by floral  undertones. On the palate it shows impeccable balance and is lush and supple with layers of exotic tinged with cherry berry fruit and a long finish. A really delicious wine with great early appeal it also should evolve over and extended period in the cellar – Extraordinary.       $60       275 cases

2020 Chanin Wine Company Pinot Noir Sanford and Benedict Vineyard Sta Rita Hills
With a deep red color this wine has a lovely floral tinged berry perfume showing a faint spiciness. On the palate it beautifully balanced and is lush and rounded with lots of berry fruit showing a exotic floral spice undertone and a long finish – Extraordinary.    $70   550  cases

2020 Chanin Wine Company Pinot Noir Zotovich Vineyard Sta Rita Hills
Deep red in color with lovely perfume showing a cherry nuance and a faint hint of sage this Pinot Noir is loaded with fruit showing a floral spice accent and is impeccably balanced with with a nice underlying crispness and a long lingering finish – Extraordinary.    $65 
425 cases

2020 Chanin Wine Company Syrah Reserve Sta Rita Hills
Dark red color with a purple tinge and showing a deep mulberry perfume with a hint of spice this is a full rich and lush wine brimming with with back cherry  and mulberry fruit accented by a floral spice undertone. Impeccably balanced the wine lingers on the palate with a very long finish. This is Syrah with a Burgundian flair and is a real tour de force – Extraordinary.     $65    75 cases