2018 Sanford & Benedict Chardonnay
95 points Vinous

The vines' 47th vintage and Sandhi's 10th vintage. With each year there is a renewed appreciation and reverence for this pioneering site, first planted in 1971. Without Sanford & Benedict, there may not be a Bentrock. The wisdom of Richard Sanford passes to Jim Clendenen (Au Bon Climat) and now to us. The 2018 Sanford & Benedict Chardonnay leads with an inviting nose of meyer lemon confit over fresh floral aromas of chamomile and a whisper of crushed rock. The palate is delineated and focused, with good persistence towards a lengthy finish.
"The 2018 Chardonnay Sanford & Benedict is such a wonderfully complete wine that expresses all of the pedigree of this historic Sta. Rita Hills site. Sweet, perfumed aromatics and radiant fruit envelop the senses. Lemon confit, marzipan and white flowers are some of the many aromas and flavors that open in the glass. The S&B is the most forthcoming of the Sandhi Chardonnays. I loved it." -Antonio Galloni, Vinous