Enfield Wine Co, Chenin Blanc 2021 "Jurassic Park", Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Barbara, CA

This Chenin from Enfield is the stuff dreams are made of. It’s powerful yet elegant, with strong aromatics of Meyer lemon and white flowers. On the palate it’s zesty but round, with a long finish. 

COUNTRY: USA

STATE: California

APPELLATION (AVA): Santa Ynez Valley

REGION: Central Coast

SUBREGION: Santa Barbara

VINEYARD: Jurassic Park

VINTAGE: 2021

GRAPES: 100% Chenin Blanc

SOIL: Sandy marine limestone

PRACTICE: Sustainable

VINIFICATION: Grapes were lightly foot tread before directly going to press. Fermented with native yeast in neutral 500L oak puncheons with full malolactic fermentation. Aged in puncheons for 11 months on primary lees and then finished with 6 months in stainless steel barrels. Unfined and unfiltered with minimal effective SO2.

STYLE: Still

COLOR: Pale gold

BODY: Light bodied

TASTE: Dry

PRIMARY AROMAS: Meyer lemon, white flowers, stone fruit

FLAVOR: Powerful and juicy, citrusy, sandy, long finish

FORMAT: 750 ml

ALCOHOL: 12.4%

SERVICE AND FOOD PAIRING SUGGESTION: Serve chilled with lemon baked cod.

ABOUT THE PRODUCER: “Enfield Wine Co. is the family project of John Lockwood and Amy Seese, with a focus on producing wines of personality. We do not subscribe to the ideal of the perfect wine, but to the notion that the very best wines tell a unique story.

“Driven by soil first and foremost, Enfield Wine Co. seeks out vineyards that possess a distinct and powerful sense of place – across region, grape variety, and vine age. Working only with small vineyards and independent growers, every step of the process is guided by the intent to maximize this character of terroir. Grapes are harvested for balance and the wines are all given the chance to ferment naturally.

“The lineup of wines extends from fresh, mineral driven everyday wines, to quirky ‘off the beaten path’ vineyards and varietals, and age-worthy wines of elegance and power from classic regions of California. Each has its own story to tell.

“After surviving a summer job in high school hand-weeding grape vines at a winery in Vermont and studying as an apprentice to a Master Luthier (guitar builder) in Oakland, John got his start in the California wine industry in 2004 working up at Heron Lake vineyard with David Mahaffey. He went on to work harvests with Ted Lemon at Littorai, Bodega Melipal in Argentina, and Failla Wines with Ehren Jordan where he worked for 5 years farming and managing the Sonoma Coast and Russian River estate vineyards. He started Enfield Wine Co. in 2010 as small side-project while still working at Failla, and in 2013 took the plunge with Enfield as a full time project.” (enfieldwine.com)

ABOUT THE VINEYARD: Jurassic Park

“From the famous X2 block at Jurassic Park, these own-rooted vines were planted in 1978 on sandy limestone soils in the coastal Santa Ynez Valley and are some of the oldest remaining Chenin vines in California.” (enfieldwine.com)