Anyone Familiar with 2020 Diatom Chardonnay?

WINE TALK
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2020 Diatom Chardonnay (USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County)

Local place has it for $20 which is a great price and reviews on Tracker are good. Made by Brewer Clifton so that is a plus.

Anyone try it?

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Nope but downside is pretty minimal. They were purchased by KJ a few years ago so you will see more pricing like this on more of their SKUs . . .

Cheers.

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2020 Diatom Chardonnay - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County (2/13/2022)
Day 1: Got some big scores and it was $20 so why not try it. Well, no oak barreling and as I predicted tastes like a Sauvignon Blanc. It is not bad but 96 points is a joke! Straw, lemon, mild spices, lime and orange rind. A bit bitter on the finish. Acidity marginal. (composite cork). 87 points (87 points)

Larry drinkable but critic inflation on this one!

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Thank you John, your note saved me some money.

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No problem. Always willing to help. champagne.gif

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But how was it on day 2? [snort.gif]

I haven’t had a Diatom in a while but I have a hard time believing it would be so average.

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Odd that you noted lemon, lime and orange rind but found the acidity marginal. I’m not saying you’re wrong, but it’s an unusual juxtaposition.

Thanks for taking time to write the notes. This sounds like a $20 chardonnay in an anti cougar juice style, which has its place. Probably a solid value order off a restaurant list.

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I haven’t had this particular wine, but have had a number of Diatom Chardonnays over the years and generally found them quite good. The alcohol levels were sometimes a bit high, particularly in the early years. As Larry mentioned, Jackson Family Wines bought Diatom (and Brewer Clifton) about five years ago. But, Greg Brewer is still making the wines and I think he’s still running the operations. Unoaked Chardonnay doesn’t appeal to everyone, though.

-Al

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We tasted a sample recently that was ridiculously good for the price, if you like a leaner representation. We are on the 2021 Santa Barbara though. I’m led to understand it is the same as the Bar-M cuvee from prior vintages but don’t hold me to it. I’ll pop one later today in the interest of science.

Update: I was wrong - it was not as elegant as I thought I recalled. It is drinkable and should appeal to those looking for unoaked CA Chard. My only knock is the fruit intensity/ripeness was a bit more than I prefer.

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I remember them as high alcohol Chards. I’m sort of an ABC guy, but we went to BC last year when we visited the area. Tried the Diatom, and noticed that it was dialed back. I remember that I liked it, as far as Chard goes, but don’t have any notes. Also, was probably a 2019.

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The first couple of vintages (2005, 2006) the alcohol levels were quite high, although I still enjoyed them, mostly dialed back in subsequent vintages. There was a glitch in production when he was divorced since his ex-wife was co-owner. At one point, the wines were selling well in Japan and he started labeling with Japanese names rather than the vineyard name.

-Al