Flor De Campo Chardonnay 2010, Sanford Winery, Lompoc, Santa Barbara County, CA. Purchased at Wine & Spirit Company Austin Street NYC $28. Found online for $12-20/bottle. ABV 13.8%.
I found this bottle today when scouring the racks at a small local store. They have higher prices than larger stores, but the owner prides himself on providing quality wines. Since I’d managed to visit the winery this summer before and during #WBC14, the Wine Blogger’s Conference, I was immediately intrigued, and picked up the bottle.
The color shows pale sunshine with subtle green tinge. The nose offers wildflowers, iris, passion fruit, and apricot. In the mouth, this chardonnay shows a delightful fruit blend, both tropical and citrus, yet creamy and nicely balanced with zesty acidity. New oak, gravel and schist show on the finish. A delight to drink by itself, it also paired wonderfully with both chicken and fish as a delicate, subtle foil. Utilizing screwcap closure, Flor de Campo was as perfect on day three after opening as on day one of tasting, and I enjoyed it both at cold temperatures which features the fruit and acidity, as well as closer to room temperature which enhanced the aromatics and creaminess of the wine.
A value at the internet prices I saw, I was happy to know I could find a local (albeit expensive) provider for immediate supply if needed/desired.
Having tasted the 2013 harvest at the vineyard while they were bottling, I was very happy to try the 2010 and confirm that the vintages have great consistency. Another positive mark for Sanford, where the passion they have for the product really shows.
Below are a few additional pictures from my trip to Sanford this summer, documented on my post about Sanford Wine here : http://bit.ly/JvBSanford. I truly enjoyed discussing the vineyard and winemaking process with winemaker/GM Steve Fennel and hie entire team, which might be evident by the array of photos I took while there.
Grapes for this wine are near the entry to the vineyard.
Chardonnay grapes on the vine.
Lovely vines, great fruit!
Ready for crush?
The next step in the process, then on to…
…storage in OAK!
Cold filtration, final step before bottling.
Auggie (left) a winemaker on the team at Sanford for over twenty years. The author on the right.
Part of the automated bottling of the 2013 Flor De Campo at Sanford Winery.
The label goes on, and into the box they go, ready for distribution!
jvb uncorked 
Furious Live Wine Blogging. Day 2- Reds!
13 JulIt’s hard to explain the insanity of Live Wine Blogging at the WBC14 Wine Blogger’s Conference, but let’s try: 300+ people crammed into a conference room with round tables for 8 with a number in the middle. 50 minute time limit on the event! Wine makers run around the room, changing tables every five minutes from table number to number (in order), trying to shout above the din what their wine is while they both pour tastes and answer questions. Bloggers furiously try to taste each wine, scribble notes, and tweet or record their findings as they try not to spit wine on themselves or their digital devices. All of this while the conference leaders shout furtively into a wireless microphone that only feeds a speaker in one small corner, far below the room volume. A tiny bit of insanity, strangely fun, while frustrating. Did I mention the intermittent internet connectivity, or the lack of good signal in the basement? Oh- never mind. 🙂
Regardless- we tasted some good, some not so good, from $8 to $60 (Jordan Winery’s 2006 Cab: Tasty!). Here is my pile of tweets for your enjoyment!
@JvBUncorked@adelaidecellars 100% Touriga from Paso Robles, ’10. Tasty nose, classic acidity & mellow tannin. Solid. $28
#wbc14 pic.twitter.com/QggJFRgr5I#banditwbc14 Cab Sauvignon, 1L 2014 Bold Napa-blend fruit bomb for just $9- picnic wine for sure!#wbc14 pic.twitter.com/7dxUlzqUUFLabyrinth Pino ’12 clone 667 “More Cary grant than John Wayne”
#wbc14 pic.twitter.com/1NOFLojM6S@consiliencewine 2011 SB Syrah Brett and barnyard on the nose, very mixed palate. Grill pleaser for sure.#wbc14 pic.twitter.com/D2ul5TZI5G@GarnetVineyards Monterey Pinot. Black cherry, boysenberry, nice tight finish. Stelvin & $15- easy to drink!#wbc14 pic.twitter.com/0AL0u99mmO@hollywood2vine 2010 vineyard 511 Cab- aged 30 mo’s in oak! Menthol & Forest, black fruit and long pull.#wbc14 pic.twitter.com/35ppPzj6bm@rsvineyards Symmetry Meritage ’11 Classic Sonoma, where’s my steak?#wbc14 pic.twitter.com/JOmQbAAzbR@Rios_de_Chile Carmenere Reaerve 2011. $13, earth & brown spice, ideal for Classic French aka boef bourg.#wbc14 pic.twitter.com/59s7ZwzDvo@jordanwinery ’06 Cab. Lovely Alexander valley, menthol and perfume- so old world! Luxury-Yum!#wbc14 pic.twitter.com/SKcAi46q6Wà votre santé!
Share this:
Like this:
Tags: Napa Red Wine, Red Blend, red wine blend, Review, Santa Barbara Wines, Sonoma Wine, Wine Commentary