As more wine drinkers embrace structure and freshness, California Chardonnays made in the style that emulates Burgundy have become increasingly popular. Before the pandemic, there were only a handful of California producers of quality that truly mirrored the old-world style. But today, there are a bevy of options, even to the point where critics will reference these domestic producers and Grand Cru sites in the same sentence. The latest producers to show us how vibrant their Chardonnay can be is Samuel Luis Smith, and his "Les Granitiers" Chardonnay has just earned an incredible 98-point score, and it's only $35.95!
Samuel Smith's wines are not new to Hi-Time; we have touted his lineup for years, and even showcased one of his Syrahs (which also received 98 points) as one of our top wines of 2025! Base out of Santa Cruz, Sanuel Luis Smith is focused on some of the coolest sites of the Central Coast. Mountainous terroir, organic viticulture, and minimal intervention in the cellar are tenets of the brand. Sam embodies a neoclassical style where lower alcohol, higher acidity, and native fermentations with little to no additions create wines of place and purity, aroma, and structure. Over the course of his career, Sam has worked in Santa Barbara (Brander, Tres Hermanas, Margerum), Australia (Mitchelton), the Willamette Valley (Tendril), the Northern Rhône (Villard), and Champagne (Nowack & Sélèque).
Granitier is the French term for a granite quarry worker, therefore an apt term for this wine, as most of it hails from granitic sites of Monterey County. Here, thin soils of decomposed granite with veins of limestone are planted to a smattering of cool-climate varietals, where produces wines with crunchy freshness and elegant structure. 3 of the 4 vineyards used to make up this wine are organically farmed.
Most Chardonnays with this score typically sell for 3-4 times higher than this, and with just a few hundred cases produced, this is sure to sell out quickly, so don't hesitate!
JEB DUNNUCK 98 POINTS - "The exquisite 2024 Chardonnay Les Granitiers follows up from the fantastic 2023 with a higher percentage of Coastview (44%) grapes and 43% from Fogstone instead of Escolle, as well as small amounts of Pelio and Spear, all sites rich in granitic soils. Though the vintage was warmer, there’s no lack of freshness or verve, the wine as linear, high-toned, and light-bodied as ever. Native-fermented and aged in mostly neutral barrel and some stainless for under a year, there’s texture and complexity that buoys the salinity and earthy undertones of fresh herb and sea spray. Another masterful wine from this small producer. Drink now through 2036."
Samuel Smith's wines are not new to Hi-Time; we have touted his lineup for years, and even showcased one of his Syrahs (which also received 98 points) as one of our top wines of 2025! Base out of Santa Cruz, Sanuel Luis Smith is focused on some of the coolest sites of the Central Coast. Mountainous terroir, organic viticulture, and minimal intervention in the cellar are tenets of the brand. Sam embodies a neoclassical style where lower alcohol, higher acidity, and native fermentations with little to no additions create wines of place and purity, aroma, and structure. Over the course of his career, Sam has worked in Santa Barbara (Brander, Tres Hermanas, Margerum), Australia (Mitchelton), the Willamette Valley (Tendril), the Northern Rhône (Villard), and Champagne (Nowack & Sélèque).
Granitier is the French term for a granite quarry worker, therefore an apt term for this wine, as most of it hails from granitic sites of Monterey County. Here, thin soils of decomposed granite with veins of limestone are planted to a smattering of cool-climate varietals, where produces wines with crunchy freshness and elegant structure. 3 of the 4 vineyards used to make up this wine are organically farmed.
Most Chardonnays with this score typically sell for 3-4 times higher than this, and with just a few hundred cases produced, this is sure to sell out quickly, so don't hesitate!
JEB DUNNUCK 98 POINTS - "The exquisite 2024 Chardonnay Les Granitiers follows up from the fantastic 2023 with a higher percentage of Coastview (44%) grapes and 43% from Fogstone instead of Escolle, as well as small amounts of Pelio and Spear, all sites rich in granitic soils. Though the vintage was warmer, there’s no lack of freshness or verve, the wine as linear, high-toned, and light-bodied as ever. Native-fermented and aged in mostly neutral barrel and some stainless for under a year, there’s texture and complexity that buoys the salinity and earthy undertones of fresh herb and sea spray. Another masterful wine from this small producer. Drink now through 2036."
