The Hilt Estate, encouraged by Stan Kroenke’s dedication to excellence, has turned out a series of wines that have garnered substantial critical acclaim from Robert M. Parker Jr., Jeb Dunnuck, Antonio Galloni and Stephen Tanzer.
Tasting Notes
Colour: Golden peach colour
Nose: Peaches and lemon oil. Touch of flinty complexity. Fresh baked brioche with apricot. Chamomile notes and candied ginger.
Palate: Stone fruit and acacia honey on the suave and generous palate. Acidity forms the perfect balance to the notes of sweet cream that emerge on the long and luscious finish. Elegant, refined and full of the tantalizing energy that makes
chardonnays from this area so singular and remarkable.
Grape Varieties: 100% Chardonnay
Aging: 40% new French oak, 53% neutral French oak, 7% stainless barrels
History of The Hilt Estate
To understand the wines made by The Hilt, one might need to come visit the hard and harsh conditions under which they are born.
The unobstructed, ocean facing east-west valley known as Sta. Rita Hills Valley is a complex AVA. One could divide it into four quadrants: northern-facing, southern-facing, close to the ocean, and further inland from the ocean. With such a frame, The Hilt’s favorite vineyards are in the northern-facing, closest to the ocean, windswept quadrant. These sites are the worst place for a grape grower, but the best ones for a winemaker.
Website: https://www.thehiltestate.com/