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The Fess Parker Santa Barbara Chardonnay 2021 sells for $13.89 at Costco and an average of $17 elsewhere, though the prices vary greatly. The grapes were sourced from 7 high-end vineyards situated throughout Santa Barbara County.
Santa Barbara County is located about 100 miles north of Los Angeles, which should be too warm to grow excellent wine grapes. A triangle-shaped portion of land juts out into the Pacific Ocean, so not only does Santa Barbara get cool Ocean influence from the west, but also from the north and south. There are warmer areas further off the coast. The coastal vineyards are elite Pinot Noir and Chardonnay growing regions.
Fess Parker was both Davey Crockett and Daniel Boone on hit TV shows in the 1950s and 60s. When Fess retired from the entertainment industry he purchased a winery in Santa Barbara in 1988. Santa Barbara has a wine history going back 200 years, Fess Parker’s winery brought a spotlight on Santa Barara wine.
The Fess Parker Santa Barbara Chardonnay 2021 features Chardonnay grapes from some of the best vineyards in California. This Chardonnay is 100% barrel fermented and aged in French and Hungarian oak. 28% of the oak barrels were new. French and Hungarian oak is the same species of oak. The alcohol content is a ripe 14.1%.
This is a Chardonnay that has received 90+ points consistently for recent vintages.
The Fess Parker Santa Barbara Chardonnay 2021 Tasting Notes
The color is pale wheat yellow. The nose is lemon, apple, and honey, followed by butter, pear, vanilla, dried pineapple, and lightly floral. The Fess Parker Santa Barbara Chardonnay 2021 is long, sleek, and tasty.
This Chardonnay tastes like a stew of pear, green apple, lemon curd, honey, and toasted vanilla. The mid-palate adds unsweetened pineapple, nectarine, a little of the nutty/salty “on-lees” thing, and juicy peach. There is a very nice balance to this Chardonnay with a smooth mouthfeel. The acidity allows the flavors plenty of time to unfold.
The Summary
- The Fess Parker Santa Barbara Chardonnay 2021 is my favorite Chardonnay of the year, I know it is only February, but I expect this Chard to hold the lead for some time.
- This is a wine that is made with high-end specifications but without a high-end price.
