2020 Fatalist Chardonnay
The 2020 Fatalist Chardonnay is a wine of extraordinary fullness and finesse. Ample aromas of tropical fruit and pear are accompanied by trailing hints of citrus, jasmine and brioche. The palate is soft and luxuriant yet abundantly embroidered with flavors of pineapple, melon, peach, apricot and lime zest. A sense of creaminess emerges mid palate, while a lush and elegant finish lingers with subtle notes of spice and oak. A tour de force Chardonnay.
In Stock
Wine Specs
Vintage
2020
Varietal
Chardonnay
Appellation
Santa Ynez Valley
Acid
.56
pH
3.58
Aging
Aged sur-lie 18 months in French oak barrels
Alcohol %
15.1
Wine Profile
Tasting Notes
The 2020 Fatalist Chardonnay is a wine of extraordinary fullness and finesse. Ample aromas of tropical fruit and pear are accompanied by trailing hints of citrus, jasmine and brioche. The palate is soft and luxuriant yet abundantly embroidered with flavors of pineapple, melon, peach, apricot and lime zest. A sense of creaminess emerges mid palate, while a lush and elegant finish lingers with subtle notes of spice and oak. A tour de force Chardonnay.
Vineyard Notes
The 2020 Fatalist Chardonnay is a special selection of two Chardonnay clones from the Brick Barn estate. Clone 4 sets the tone with an opulent fruit-forward character, while Clone 809 underpins the wine with a more restrained profile that adds length and elegance. Both clones come from the cooler, lower area of the estate. Here, sandy riverbed soils foster pure varietal character while reliable marine breezes help maintain vibrant acidity right through full maturity. This enables us to grow Chardonnay fruit that exhibits remarkable dimension—a quality that is on full display in the 2020 Fatalist Chardonnay. The result is a wine that shows what is possible from Chardonnay grown on the western coastal frontier of Santa Barbara County’s Santa Ynez Valley.
Winemaker Notes
The Chardonnay grapes were harvested at night and pressed in the early morning. After cold settling the juice, Winemaker Adrian Bolshoi fermented a special selection in French oak barrels and aged the wine sur lie with monthly lees stirring—all to develop enhanced textures and impart hints of creaminess to the mouthfeel. The barrels were coopered by Tonnellerie Remond from medium-toast Allier forest wood—the perfect choice for cultivating a balanced oak profile with beautiful toastiness. We ultimately selected the best two barrels for this limited-edition Fatalist offering. Extended barrel aging for 18 months brought added stature and maturity to the wine prior to bottling.
Other Notes
Chardonnay has been a signature variety at the Brick Barn estate since day one, and now comes the inaugural vintage from our ultra-premium Fatalist line, representing a special selection of the finest two barrels from the 2020 vintage.