65% 2022 Marsanne, Demetria Vineyard
12 months in tank

35% 2021 Chardonnay, Riverbench Vineyard

50% skin-fermented, 50% direct-to-press

2 years in neutral oak

This latest iteration of D&E is led by Marsanne from Demetria, one of Santa Barbara County’s great sites for Rhone varieties. This vineyard’s rocky shale soils and permaculture farming approach make for an expression of Marsanne that is waxy and honeyed, a texture-driven Rhone white doesn’t lack verve. Its down-the-middle presence is complemented by the more exotic tones of Chardonnay from Riverbench.

Half of this Chardonnay was skin-fermented for 14 days, with the other half foot-crushed, briefly macerated, and then basket pressed right away to ferment in barrel. Having spent 2 years in neutral oak on undisturbed lees, it has developed very singular aromatics that evoke this site’s coastal location in Santa Maria; its notes of sea salt and Nori are intensely oceanic. It is a powerful wine; though it only makes up 35% of the blend, its presence is deeply felt, particularly in the long lingering finish.