ANTONIO GALLONI'S VINOUS MEDIA 96+ POINTS - "I tasted a broad range of wines with Winemaker Brandon Sparks-Gillis that made me feel like I was listening to a greatest hits record. The 2023s at Dragonette are, quite simply, off the charts."
"A barrel selection of the best of the best in Dragonette's cellar, the 2023 Chardonnay Black Label is wonderful. Perfectly balanced and completely settled, it's an intentional, purposeful wine with so much to offer. Rich oak spice provides the glue to the depths of tropical/orchard fruit, weaving a spiderweb of nuance and texture that is undeniably attractive. The finish is epically long. This is a very young wine today, but it has a very bright future."
JEB DUNNUCK 96 POINTS - "Dragonette continues to fire on all cylinders, and this lineup showcases why they're one of Santa Barbara County's most complete producers. Brothers John and Steve Dragonette, along with Brandon Sparks-Gillis, work across multiple AVAs and varieties with remarkable consistency."
"Medium gold-hued, the 2023 Chardonnay Black Label offers a Meursault-like perfume of ripe orchard fruits, orange, spicy wood, and almond paste, with brilliant salinity and crushed stone-like minerality. Based on equal parts Bentrock, Radian, and Rita's Crown vineyards, it's rich, medium to full-bodied, and concentrated, with the vintage's powerful, mouth-filling profile. It's going to be interesting to see how the 2023 Chardonnays from Santa Barbara County age, but this appears to have the balance, density, and freshness to keep for 10-15 years. It's beautiful today, so don't be afraid to open bottles. Drink 2025-2040."
"A barrel selection of the best of the best in Dragonette's cellar, the 2023 Chardonnay Black Label is wonderful. Perfectly balanced and completely settled, it's an intentional, purposeful wine with so much to offer. Rich oak spice provides the glue to the depths of tropical/orchard fruit, weaving a spiderweb of nuance and texture that is undeniably attractive. The finish is epically long. This is a very young wine today, but it has a very bright future."
JEB DUNNUCK 96 POINTS - "Dragonette continues to fire on all cylinders, and this lineup showcases why they're one of Santa Barbara County's most complete producers. Brothers John and Steve Dragonette, along with Brandon Sparks-Gillis, work across multiple AVAs and varieties with remarkable consistency."
"Medium gold-hued, the 2023 Chardonnay Black Label offers a Meursault-like perfume of ripe orchard fruits, orange, spicy wood, and almond paste, with brilliant salinity and crushed stone-like minerality. Based on equal parts Bentrock, Radian, and Rita's Crown vineyards, it's rich, medium to full-bodied, and concentrated, with the vintage's powerful, mouth-filling profile. It's going to be interesting to see how the 2023 Chardonnays from Santa Barbara County age, but this appears to have the balance, density, and freshness to keep for 10-15 years. It's beautiful today, so don't be afraid to open bottles. Drink 2025-2040."
