2006 Fess Parker Winery Ashley’s Vineyard Chardonnay

Mission Codename: Western Influence

Operative: Agent White

Objective: Acquire a superb Chardonnay from Santa Barbara County

Mission Status: Accomplished!

Current Winery: Fess Parker Winery

Wine Subject: 2006 Ashley’s Vineyard Chardonnay

Winemaker: Blair Fox

Backgrounder:

The Sta. Rita Hills AVA, located within Santa Barbara County and almost entirely in the Santa Ynez Valley was established in 2001 and is considered one of California’s best regions for growing the Burgundian varietals of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay due to its cooler climate. The AVA’s weather is heavily influenced by cool coastal breezes and persistent Pacific fog. Just less than 200 acres in the AVA are under vine. Interestingly, the name of the appellation was changed from Santa Rita Hills to Sta. Rita Hills so as to not conflict with Chilean powerhouse winery Vina Santa Rita.

Wine Spies Tasting Profile:

Look – Light straw-yellow with gold and slight orange-honey hues through the clear core. Slow thin legs cluster and fall gracefully along the edge of the glass when swirled.

Smell – Fragrant aromas of lemony citrus, pineapple and other tropical fruit balanced over a sweet hint of baking spice and vanilla. A toast of toasted oak and sweet kettle corn round out the fresh redolent nose of this wine.

Feel – Medium bodied and dry, the initial attack is cool with bright acidity and a touch of spice that is balanced over a rich, slightly weighty creaminess that hits mid palate and lingers through to the finish.

Taste – Classic flavors of rich, sweet and tart citrusy lemon meringue; tropical pineapple and tart Anjou pear are well integrated with a touch of vanilla and sweet baking spice and hints of toasted oak.

Finish – Clean, balanced and lingering tropical fruit, sweet vanilla and spice and a touch of oak that fades effortlessly and invites another sip.

Conclusion – The 2006 Fess Parker Winery Ashley’s Vineyard Chardonnay is a lovely and extremely well balanced Chardonnay. Not overly oaked – nor a butterball – This wine has the slight aroma of sweet kettle corn that contrasts with with the bright tropical fruit and the sweet vanilla and baking spice over the hints of oak makes this wine both complex and elegant. Perfect for food pairing or enjoying all by itself. An excellent example of a California Chard that can rival its Burgundian brethren.

Mission Report:

When I was a little Agent, my father took me on a journey through my family history. It was rife with intrigue, unsavory characters, artists, criminals, tales of fortunes won and lost – and even actual spies, and even an honest-to-god (only) horse thief.

My fathers father, a gentleman professor of romance languages and a student of history, had traced our roots back many generations. The generations which fascinated me the most were those that occupied early American history. The distant relative that held the most fascination was Daniel Boone.

American Folk Hero, explorer, businessman, military man and woodsman, it was Boones role in extending American civilization and his moniker, ”the Columbus of the woods”, that interested me most about the man. Or at least the popularized versions of the man. I became an avid student of the Disney series, Daniel Boone, and even took to wearing a coonskin cap. Granted, I was 6 years old.

Many years hence I became a Wine Spy, blazing trails of my own with Wine Spies co-founder, Agent Red. Red suggested that we were pioneers and that comment triggered memories of long-ago relative, Daniel Boone. A few days later, I rented the Disney series and, as I was watching the credits, spotted a name familiar to me from the wine industry, Fess Parker! Fess played played Daniel Boone in the Disney series of the same name.

This revelation led me to call on the winery immediately, declaring to them excitedly that I was ‘related’ to them. When I explained myself, I was met with a somewhat quizzical chuckle. Apparently, they felt that my claim was a bit of a stretch. Imagine that!

Long story short, I made an appointment with the winery, to taste their wines – and I fell in love. Their 2006 Ashley’s Vineyard Chardonnay was particularly wonderful and, right then and there, I secured a cache for our Operatives. With fruit from the Sta. Rita Hills appellation, this wine strikes a great balance of serious, fun and sincere – just like Fess Parker himself.

As for Daniel Boone, while he was not perfect by any means, he did blaze trails and he did make important discoveries – just as I try to do with the wines that I spy for you every day, dear Operative…

Wine Spies Vineyard Check:

The location of the Fess Parker Winery in Santa Barbara’s famous Foxen Canyon can be seen in this satellite photo.