In
the second half we spoke to Richard Sanford "The King of Pinot
Noir" who put Santa Ynez Valley on the map as a great place to make
Pinot. Richard and his wife Thekla founded Sanford winery in 1981
and after great success have moved on to a new venture; Alma Rosa Winery
and Vineyards founded in 2005.
2006 Almarosa Chardonnay
Santa Barbara County
A slight change of gears from the ’05 Chardonnay... this time around the wine fermented in partially new French oak barrels (for approximately three weeks) then was racked into stainless steel tanks for about four months aging without malolactic fermentation. Still showing a bright citrus and tropical fruit character with pleasing minerality, this wine is a little more plump than our ’05, more akin to a Montrachet than a Chablis.
Try it with pan-seared fish filets in butter sauce; pasta with prosciutto, fresh herbs, and green peas; spicy grilled shrimp; or chicken crepes with bechamel sauce.