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The Fess Parker Santa Barbara Chardonnay 2023 sells for $14.49 at Costco which is about two bucks cheaper than most internet wine shops. Santa Barbara is at the southern end of the Central Coast AVA, about 100 miles north of Los Angeles.
The Fess Parker winery was founded in 1988. In the late 1950s and 60s, Fess Parker was both Daniel Boone and Davey Crocket on TV—this was back when there were only three main commercial channels. He was big news. The third generation of the family now runs the winery. There was a winemaking community in Santa Barbara before Fess Parker. His winery brought a great deal of attention to Santa Barbara. His winery is a tourist destination with tasting rooms and gift shops.
The Fess Parker Santa Barbara Chardonnay 2023 is their most affordable bottling. They offer 6 different Chardonnay wines at various price points. While the least expensive, this one has received more than 90 points from multiple wine magazines.
This Chardonnay was sourced from eight Santa Barbara County vineyards, including a Parker Estate vineyard. Some of the vineyards are among the best in California.
This Chardonnay was both oak barrel fermented and aged in French and Hungarian oak (for five months, with 28% new barrels the rest used at least once.). French oak and Hungarian oak are the same species in the forests, while American oak is a separate species of oak tree. French oak adds subtle flavors and spices to the wine, and toasting the inside of the barrels with flame further changes the effect.
The Fess Parker Santa Barbara Chardonnay 2023 is a well-priced wine exhibiting up-scale production techniques. The alcohol content is 14.1%.
The Fess Parker Santa Barbara Chardonnay 2023 Tasting Notes
The color is a pale golden yellow. The nose is lemons, apples, pears, limes, honey, a little vanilla, a hint of baking spices, and a floral edge. Fess Parker Santa Barbara Chardonnay 2023 has a silky mouthfeel with sleek flavors.
This Chardonnay tastes like lemon, apple, peach, a slap of spice, a hit and vanilla, and stonefruit. The mid-palate adds tropical fruit, Anjou Pear, and tart grapefruit.
The acidity is in the pocket and allows the flavors to fully unfold. Most value-priced Chardonnay wines from California are fermented in stainless steel vats, The Fess Parker Chardonnay will give you insights into what oak barrel fermentation brings.
The Summary
- The Fess Parker Santa Barbara Chardonnay 2023 tastes more expensive than the price.
- This is an elegant nicely crafted Chardonnay and will enhance the meal or just sip well with friends.
