"...this impeccably made Chardonnay should be snatched up by readers, as it competes with wines at two to three times the price." This statement comes from Jeb Dunnuck, a person who has tasted and reviewed many different wines from across the globe with his 15+ years of experience. For him to say such a phrase must really mean that this wine is above and beyond, especially when the price of the wine is under $24!!
Greg Brewer has been crafting exquisite wines since 1991, and is one of the greatest winemaking champions in the Sta. Rita Hills AVA. He sets a specific goal for each wine that he makes, and for this wine, he strives to make this Chardonnay in its purest form, where the wine expresses the land and everything around it. How he does this, is hinted through the name of the wine. Diatom is named for diatomaceous earth, which is a plankton fossil found in the oceanic landscape of Santa Barbara County. Generally, when grapes, such as Chardonnay in this area, are grown on ancient ocean floors, is results in the wine being a lot more mineral driven and gives a delicious salinity quality to the wine.
The wine having seen no oak and no malolactic fermentation truly expresses the purity that Greg Brewer was trying to accomplish. Such refinement and precision shows characteristics such as aromas of citrus and lemon that gravitates you towards the glass. As the wine comes into contact with the palate, the salinity and stone fruit are in great cohesion to help make this wine very precise and refined.
This quote comes from the winemaker himself, "Diatom is motivated by the pursuit of subtraction and refinement. It is the polishing of a grain of rice until one has reached its ultimate inner core. Our Sta. Rita Hills marine landscape is stark and so are the wines of its provenance. We strive for a recognition of place with as little disturbance, distraction or interference as possible. The resulting wines have a sense of transparency and a purity of intent and purpose."
JEB DUNNUCK 94 POINTS - "Based on 100% Chardonnay and aged six months in stainless steel vats, the 2024 Chardonnay has a medium to light gold hue and offers exotic citrus, minty herbs, and subtle tropical flower notes that all define this clean, crisp, remarkably pure Chardonnay. It puts on weight and richness with time in the glass and is a terrific mix of both richness and freshness. This is a no-brainer purchase for those who love Santa Barbara County Chardonnay, and I love its purity. Drink 2025-2030."
WINE SPECTATOR 93 POINTS - "This white’s sleek mix of ripe pear, ginger and pomelo flavors show striking restraint, coiled around a mouthwatering thread of acidity. Details of lime zest, white peppercorn and dried tarragon linger, along with a whiff of sea spray. Drink now. 20,000 cases made."
ANTONIO GALLONI'S VINOUS MEDIA 93 POINTS - "The 2024 Chardonnay is, yet again, a gorgeous, singular wine with so much regional identity and soul, especially at its ridiculously low price point. There's fabulous weight and density here, eschewing varietal signature in favor of floral lift, creamy, oily yet weightless textures, and a long, salt-lick of a finish. This is such an impressively high-quality wine at this scale of production (40,000 cases)."
ROBERT PARKER'S WINE ADVOCATE 90 POINTS - "The 2024 Chardonnay opens with a textbook bouquet of green orchard fruits, sea spray and spice-driven undertones, accompanied by a honeyed backdrop. The palate is supple, polished and lifted by a high-toned, cleansing quality that carries through the straightforward, saline-tinged finish."
Greg Brewer has been crafting exquisite wines since 1991, and is one of the greatest winemaking champions in the Sta. Rita Hills AVA. He sets a specific goal for each wine that he makes, and for this wine, he strives to make this Chardonnay in its purest form, where the wine expresses the land and everything around it. How he does this, is hinted through the name of the wine. Diatom is named for diatomaceous earth, which is a plankton fossil found in the oceanic landscape of Santa Barbara County. Generally, when grapes, such as Chardonnay in this area, are grown on ancient ocean floors, is results in the wine being a lot more mineral driven and gives a delicious salinity quality to the wine.
The wine having seen no oak and no malolactic fermentation truly expresses the purity that Greg Brewer was trying to accomplish. Such refinement and precision shows characteristics such as aromas of citrus and lemon that gravitates you towards the glass. As the wine comes into contact with the palate, the salinity and stone fruit are in great cohesion to help make this wine very precise and refined.
This quote comes from the winemaker himself, "Diatom is motivated by the pursuit of subtraction and refinement. It is the polishing of a grain of rice until one has reached its ultimate inner core. Our Sta. Rita Hills marine landscape is stark and so are the wines of its provenance. We strive for a recognition of place with as little disturbance, distraction or interference as possible. The resulting wines have a sense of transparency and a purity of intent and purpose."
JEB DUNNUCK 94 POINTS - "Based on 100% Chardonnay and aged six months in stainless steel vats, the 2024 Chardonnay has a medium to light gold hue and offers exotic citrus, minty herbs, and subtle tropical flower notes that all define this clean, crisp, remarkably pure Chardonnay. It puts on weight and richness with time in the glass and is a terrific mix of both richness and freshness. This is a no-brainer purchase for those who love Santa Barbara County Chardonnay, and I love its purity. Drink 2025-2030."
WINE SPECTATOR 93 POINTS - "This white’s sleek mix of ripe pear, ginger and pomelo flavors show striking restraint, coiled around a mouthwatering thread of acidity. Details of lime zest, white peppercorn and dried tarragon linger, along with a whiff of sea spray. Drink now. 20,000 cases made."
ANTONIO GALLONI'S VINOUS MEDIA 93 POINTS - "The 2024 Chardonnay is, yet again, a gorgeous, singular wine with so much regional identity and soul, especially at its ridiculously low price point. There's fabulous weight and density here, eschewing varietal signature in favor of floral lift, creamy, oily yet weightless textures, and a long, salt-lick of a finish. This is such an impressively high-quality wine at this scale of production (40,000 cases)."
ROBERT PARKER'S WINE ADVOCATE 90 POINTS - "The 2024 Chardonnay opens with a textbook bouquet of green orchard fruits, sea spray and spice-driven undertones, accompanied by a honeyed backdrop. The palate is supple, polished and lifted by a high-toned, cleansing quality that carries through the straightforward, saline-tinged finish."
