RACINES
SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA 2022
WHY BUY:
Two 97-point wines of super-small production, from a revered micro-terroir, and for under $100 a bottle each. That's why Racines is the ultimate if-you-know-you-know: a California passion project from the winemakers behind one of Burgundy's benchmark estates, Domaine de Montille, and Rodolphe Péters of Champagne Pierre Péters. De Montille and Sieve searched exhaustively for the ideal patch of land to plant their flag, and found it in Sta. Rita Hills, which has established itself as one of California's best terroirs.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING:
Jeb Dunnuck awarded 97 points to the Bentrock Vineyard Chardonnay, calling it "incredible on the palate," with a "layered, seamless mouthfeel" that adds up to a "wow Chardonnay in the vintage." Decanter gave the exact same score to the Sanford & Benedict Pinot Noir, sourced from vines that trace back to Richard Sanford's original 1971 plantings, with "earth-driven notes of moss and sous-bois" layered against wild strawberry and dark cherry — a wine of “impressive depth and nuance” that “promises graceful aging for years to come.” The Sanford & Benedict Chardonnay, the Grand Sparkling Chardonnay, and the La Rinconada Pinot Noir each took home 96 points from Decanter, with the latter wine singled out for its "precision and structure, with echoes of Volnay in Burgundy."
OUR TASTING NOTES:
At our recent tasting, we were so captivated by the quality and charm of these wines that after a while we just kicked back and luxuriated in all the greatness. Racines' Chardonnays don't lead with fruit so much as structure, and, as the kids say, we are so here for it. That chalky, diatomaceous-earth minerality is the spine of these wines. And we simply must speak a few words here about tension, which is a quality we find in many great white wines. But Racines doesn’t just deliver tension: these wines all but thrum with it. Bentrock is the fullest-bodied of the three, seamless and layered without ever going soft. Sanford & Benedict, sourced from some of the oldest Chardonnay vines in the region, finishes on a note that is close to salt water, a reminder that this terroir was once, long, long ago, ocean floor.
The Pinots are Burgundian in the best way possible. Built on whole-cluster fermentation, they eschew the ripeness that is a character note throughout the state. Red fruit and violet are prominent but don’t dominate, and there is a persistent savory, almost green-olive undertow to many of these wines. Sanford & Benedict, sourced partly from vines planted in 1971, has more structure than its pale garnet color suggests. La Rinconada is the more cooler and finer-boned, the kind of Pinot, nervy and dynamic, that makes you slow down and pay attention. Drink any of these blind and, truly, you would never guess that these were from California.
THE STORY:
Racines is the coming together of some pretty exceptional talent: Étienne de Montille and Brian Sieve of Domaine de Montille in Burgundy, alongside Rodolphe Péters of Champagne Pierre Péters, and it marks the first time either family has made wine outside of France. They didn't choose Sta. Rita Hills casually. After an extensive search across California's cool-climate regions, they landed on a stretch of Santa Barbara County that shouldn't, by the usual rules of West Coast geography, be cool at all. Most Pacific mountain ranges run north to south, forming a wall that keeps cold ocean air from reaching far inland. Santa Barbara County breaks the pattern. Here, the Purisima and Santa Rosa Hills run east to west, opening a direct, low-elevation funnel straight at the sea. Icy fog and maritime wind pour through that gap every afternoon, dropping temperatures fast and, crucially, producing a diurnal swing that mimics that of Burgundy … but without any of Burgundy's elevation. The soil helps, too: this was ocean floor once, still rich with diatomaceous earth and limestone, which is what gives the wines their signature mineral snap. Since their first vintage in 2017, de Montille and Péters have pursued their Burgundian ideal with steadfast devotion: low intervention, whole-cluster fermentation, real patience with oak. The results have been nothing short of brilliant.
WHAT TO PAIR THEM WITH:
The Chardonnays are built for the raw bar: oysters, cocktail shrimp, clams. They’re also aces with sushi, or a whole grilled branzino with nothing more than lemon and olive oil. The sparkler makes an unusually serious aperitif. The Pinots are best with dishes that have a little earth to them, like roasted mushrooms, a pan-seared duck breast, or a roast chicken with lavender and thyme.
FUN FACT:
Racines was born, essentially, of a road trip: a three-week jaunt up and down the Pacific Coast, as de Montille and Sieve went looking for the best microclimate they could find.
OUR GUARANTEE:
As always, we only buy and source directly from the producer to ensure that your bottles arrive as they should, and as you deserve: with pristine provenance guaranteed. Secure your bottles and cases today!
*Offer NOT valid in-store. This offer is made pre-arrival, with wines estimated to be delivered to your preferred store in Spring 2027. With the supply chain issues that we are seeing globally, there may be some unforeseen delays which could affect the ETA. All sale prices are the lowest available at Total Wine & More and ONLY valid through Concierge Sales. No further discounts or coupons may be applied. Offer only valid in AZ, CO, FL, GA, IL, MA, MD, NC, NV, SC, TX, and WA. This offer will expire on Tuesday, November 17th, 2026.