CHANIN
"Not enough can be said about the quality consistently being produced by Gavin Chanin... Pulling primarily from sites like Bien Nacido, Los Alamos, and Sanford & Benedict, Gavin’s wines are always exceedingly elegant, with bright acidity, yet they also have depth, length, and a sense of pure class. In addition, they show singular characters. As to the winemaking, the Pinot Noirs generally see a small percentage of stems, and the new oak is kept in the 20% to 30% range pretty much across the board. Unfortunately, quantities are minuscule, so most of these releases are under 200 cases." - Jeb Dunnuck
"The 2021 Chardonnay Bien Nacido Vineyard is fabulous. Creamy, rich and layered, the 2021 is exquisite. Lemon oil, white pepper, chalk and chamomile all meld together in a Chardonnay of unusual viscosity. Even with all of its intensity, the 2021 remains light on its feet. Gavin Chanin certainly made the most of this fruit. What a wine. (Drink between 2024-2031)" Vinous 96VM
"I tasted the 2023 Pinot Noir (Sta. Rita Hills) from barrel just prior to bottling. It offers lovely aromatic presence to play off a core of pliant fruit. Sweet red berries, spice, rosewater and orange peel confer exotic beauty throughout. (Drink between 2024-2031)" Vinous 89-90VM
"The most fragrant and multidimensional wine of the range, the 2022 Pinot Noir Sanford & Benedict Vineyard is floral, oceanic, mossy and graceful on the nose. The palate straddles lavish decadence with silky refinement, perfectly displaying how this vineyard doesn't show all its cards at once, ceaselessly gaining in amplitude and volume but never weight. The finish combines delicious richness, bracing acidity and admirable focus. A beautiful showing of a classic site in a challenging year, this should be a pleasure to follow over the next decade. (Drink between 2024-2034)" Wine Advocate 95+WA
"From a vineyard in the western Santa Maria Valley hills that had gone nearly fallow, this delicious, eight-barrel bottling challenges conventional viticulture on many fronts. Smooth, rich and spicy aromas of cherry, root beer floats and mace lead from the nose into a clean expression of pure fruit and spice that's emboldened with a crushed-stone minerality. It's excellent and alluring, from back story to finish." Wine Enthusiast 97WE
