| Producer | Dragonette Cellars |
| Country | United States |
| Region | California |
| Subregion | Sta Rita Hills |
| Varietal | Chardonnay |
| Vintage | 2023 |
| Sku | 19418 |
| Size | 750ml |
Dragonette Cellars Chardonnay 2023, Sta. Rita Hills
There’s a defining tension to Chardonnay from Sta. Rita Hills—a balance shaped by relentless coastal winds, cool morning fog, and long growing seasons that favor precision over ripeness. It’s a place where Chardonnay naturally leans toward structure, minerality, and energy.
Dragonette Cellars has built its reputation on capturing exactly that.
Founded by John Dragonette and Steve Dragonette, with winemaker Brandon Sparks-Gillis, the winery focuses on vineyard-driven wines sourced from some of the most distinctive sites along the Central Coast. Their Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay reflects a careful balance of site selection and restrained winemaking—designed to highlight clarity rather than weight.
The 2023 vintage leans into freshness, with a growing season that preserved acidity and aromatic lift while allowing for steady, even ripening.
In the glass, the wine opens with notes of lemon zest, green apple, and pear, layered with hints of white flowers and a subtle saline edge that speaks to its coastal origin. There’s a brightness to the aromatics, but also a quiet depth that unfolds with air.
On the palate, it is focused and finely textured, carried by a clean line of acidity and a mineral backbone that gives the wine both structure and lift. The use of oak is measured—present enough to add dimension, but never overshadowing the vineyard’s voice.
This is Chardonnay in a restrained, coastal register—less about richness, more about precision and movement.
A wine that captures the energy of Sta. Rita Hills, where wind, soil, and time come together to shape something both elegant and quietly expressive.
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