67Wine
Cambria Chardonnay Katherine's Vineyard Santa Maria Valley 2023 750ml
🇺🇸 92pts Vinous & WE. Ripe orchard fruit, creamy texture & bright acidity.
Cambria Estate Winery | Chardonnay Katherine's Vineyard | Santa Maria Valley, California | 2023
Cambria Estate Winery is one of Santa Barbara County's most celebrated producers, farming estate vineyards in the heart of the Santa Maria Valley — one of California's premier cool-climate appellations. Named for Katherine Jackson, Katherine's Vineyard sits at the western end of the valle...Show More >
Cambria Estate Winery | Chardonnay Katherine's Vineyard | Santa Maria Valley, California | 2023
Cambria Estate Winery is one of Santa Barbara County's most celebrated producers, farming estate vineyards in the heart of the Santa Maria Valley — one of California's premier cool-climate appellations. Named for Katherine Jackson, Katherine's Vineyard sits at the western end of the valley where persistent Pacific Ocean breezes slow ripening and allow Chardonnay to develop remarkable complexity, balance, and natural acidity.
The 2023 vintage was fermented with 30% stainless steel and 70% barrel, then aged seven months in French oak (20% new) — a winemaking approach that delivers both freshness and texture without overwhelming the fruit. The result is a Chardonnay of genuine balance: ripe tropical and orchard fruit, toasty barrel spice, taut minerality, and mouthwatering acidity that keeps everything in focus.
The nose offers lemon balm, baked apricot, ripe pear, pineapple, and macadamia nut, with honeysuckle and subtle spice. On the palate, medium-bodied and fleshy with a creamy, mouth-coating texture, bright acidity, and a long finish of lemon verbena, fresh ginger, and a hint of marzipan. Serious complexity and impressive finesse, especially at this price point.
Incredibly versatile at the table — exceptional with roast chicken, lobster bisque, pan-seared halibut, creamy pasta, brie, and soft-ripened cheeses.
- Producer: Cambria Estate Winery
- Vineyard: Katherine's Vineyard
- Appellation: Santa Maria Valley, Santa Barbara County, California
- Grape: Chardonnay
- Vintage: 2023
- Vinification: 30% stainless steel, 70% barrel; 7 months French oak (20% new)
- Bottle Size: 750ml
Critical Acclaim — Vintage 2023
- Vinous — 92 pts: Rich yet energized, driven by taut minerality and juicy acidity. Barrel spice and ripe orchard fruit marry in harmony, with serious complexity, deep minerality and impressive finesse, especially for the price.
- Wine Enthusiast — 92 pts: Lemon balm, baked apricot and macadamia nut aromas. A blast of acidity cuts into the lightly salted core of pear, apple and citrus peel flavors, with a warm oak note carrying the finish.
- Jeb Dunnuck — 90 pts: Ripe stone and orchard fruits intermixed with honeysuckle and subtle spice. Medium-bodied, plush, round, and supple. A well-made, ready-to-drink California Chardonnay that delivers terrific value.
- Wine Spectator — 90 pts: Remarkable seamlessness and complexity — lemon blossoms, orange sherbet, papaya and marmalade, with a fresh thread of acidity and notes of lemon verbena, fresh ginger, and a hint of marzipan.
67Wine Buyer's Note
Debra, California Chardonnay Buyer — "This fleshy, medium-bodied wine offers plentiful flavors of tropical fruit, baking spice, and zest, with an underlying subtle oak influence. Harmoniously balanced with ample acidity and a buttery, creamy, mouth-coating finish."
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Wine Information:
Country: United States
Region: California
Sub-Region:
Appellation: Santa Barbara County
Variety: Chardonnay
Type: Whites
Size: 750ml
Choose when time is of the essence
Cambria's flagship Chardonnay is barrel-fermented giving it toasted oak, vanilla, and crème brûlée characteristics complemented by notes of citrus and baked apples. This white wine is known for its balance of oak and a refreshingly crisp finish.
Enjoy with grilled chicken and mango salsa, roast salmon and gruyere mac and cheese, or fish tacos.
Expert Reviews - Prior Vintages 2022, 2021
James Suckling — 93 pts: "Achieves excellent balance between a tangy feel and generous flavors. Quite toasty, flinty and nervy in aromas before a ripe, buttery palate delivers good richness and length. Minerals and sea salt on the nose, then bright pineapple, baked apple, butter and lemon zest on the palate." (Vintage 2022).
Wine Enthusiast — 92 pts: "Aromas of honey drizzled on ripe honeydew melon invite the nose into this comfortingly classic style of California Chardonnay. Toasted hazelnut and apple pie flavors on the palate are balanced by brisk lemon, cinnamon and star anise spices." (Vintage 2022).
Wine Spectator — 90 pts: "Impressive for its intensity and harmony, with caramelized pineapple, ripe Bosc pear, papaya and apricot flavors at the core, accented by touches of wildflower honey, brown sugar and vanilla. Mouthwatering acidity keeps everything in focus." (Vintage 2022).
Antonio Galloni writes: The 2021 Chardonnay Katherine's Vineyard Signature Collection is bright and super-focused. Citrus peel, mint, white flowers and tangerine peel all grace this exquisite, intense wine. The 2021 was fermented in tank and aged in barrel, of which 50% new. The Katherine's Vineyard comes from own-rooted vines planted in the 1970s. Readers should plan on giving this a bit of time, as it is quite nervous today. - Vinous 95 (Vintage 2021).
Jeb Dunnuck writes: Beautiful orchard fruits, toasted bread, and some sappy flower notes all emerge from the 2021 Chardonnay Katherine's Vineyard, a medium to full-bodied, beautifully balanced, elegant wine that has nicely integrated acidity as well as a supple, up-front, delicious style. - Jeb Dunnuck 91. (Vintage 2021).
Alder Yarrow writes: Smells of lemon curd and butterscotch. Flavours of lemon curd and white flowers have a nice mineral undertone and lemon-pith chalkiness. Excellent acidity with just a whiff of vanilla in the finish. - Jancis Robinson 16.5 (Vintage 2021).
MaryAnn Worobiec writes: Remarkably balanced, with details of fresh, crisp apple, citrus and pear that mingle with salted butter pastry and touches of brown sugar on a supple, creamy frame. Reveals a touch of lemongrass on the finish. Drink now. - Wine Spectator 90
This fleshy medium bodied wine offers plentiful flavors of tropical fruit, baking spice, and zest, with an underlying subtle oak influence. Cambria Chardonnay Katherine's Vineyard is harmoniously balanced with ample acidity and a buttery, creamy mouth coating finish.
Debra, California Chardonnay Buyer