Dec 30, 2022
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Chanin Wine Company
| Owner(s) | Gavin Chanin |
| Web site | www.chaninwine.com |
| Link to this site |
This winery was founded by Gavin Chanin who studied under Jim Clendenen at Au Bon Climat and Bob Lindquist at Qupé. He worked his first harvest at age eighteen at Au Bon Climat and three years later made his first wine. He then left for some harvest experience in New Zealand and South Africa. He produces his wines under the Chanin Wine Company label in the same facility in Santa Maria that houses Au Bon Climat and Qupé and is also the assistant winemaker for both labels.
Jim Clendenen, Bob Lindquist, Adam Tolmach, and Tony Chanin started at Zaca Mesa Winery. Zaca Mesa was built in 1978 and was one of the earliest wineries in the Santa Ynez Valley. Tony Chanin is the nephew of Ed Lazarus, one of the original editors of the old Underground Wineletter and today a contributing editor for the new Underground. When Clendenen and Tolmach founded Au Bon Climat, Tony Chanin went back to his family's business and in 1991, Tolmach left Au Bon Climat to start The Ojai Vineyard. Gavin Chanin, Tony's son, started working summers at Au Bon Climat after graduating from high school in 2004. In 2009 he graduated Phi Beta Kappa from UCLA with a major in art and started working full time at Au Bon Climat and Qupe.
His winemaking goal is to pick grapes early to limit the alcohol and preserve a wine's expression of terroir. The first Chanin Pinot Noir was released in 2009 from the 2007 vintage and sourced from Le Bon Climat Vineyard. In 2008 he added Bien Nacido Vineyard as a Pinot Noir source. The emphasis is on elegant, restrained Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from Santa Barbara County. Gavin Chanin grew up tasting the classic wines of Europe since his uncle was a major wine collector. He eventually embraced those styles in his own winemaking.
The bottles are literally works of art as each bears a painting done by Gavin Chanin the artist.
Chanin wines are available through a mailing list with some retail distribution.
Articles About Chanin Wine Company
2015 California & Oregon Chardonnay First Team All-Americans (10.23 12/27/2015)
Chardonnay Smack Down (11.1 3/29/2017)
Elite California Pinot Noir Vineyards III: Central Coast - Sta. Rita Hills (12.22 9/18/2021)
In Pursuit of Balance: A Discriminating Goal (9.20 2/26/2013)
More Pinot Surprises (8.45 11/1/2011)
Recent Sips of Chardonnay (10.6 3/15/2015)
Sips of California Pinot Noir (9.18 1/19/2013)
Reviewed Wines
2016 Chanin Sanford & Benedict Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir
13.9% alc., $30.
·
Moderately light
garnet color in the glass. Pleasing aromas of cranberry, prickly pear and clay. Light in weight offering flavors of
oak-dusted cherry, cranberry and spice. A good grip of acidity drives the red cherry finish. Easygoing with
restrained tannins and a modest finish. Unchanged when sampled the following day from a previously opened
bottle. A solid wine but not endearing.
Score: 91.
Reviewed September 19, 2021
ARTICLE »
2012 Chanin Los Alamos Vineyard Santa Barbara County Chardonnay
14.21%, $37.
·
Light golden yellow color and clear
in the glass. A marvelous wine with aromas of lemon curd, pear,
tropical fruits, walnut and crushed sea shells. Impressive
transparency with vibrant flavors of golden apple, pear, and
pineapple. Oak seasoning is very subtle. Slightly creamy, with
very good energy and cut. A complete wine deserving of
accolades.
Score: 94.
Reviewed March 16, 2015
ARTICLE »
2011 Chanin Wine Company Los Alamos Vineyard Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir
13.62% alc., $48.
·
Medium reddish-purple hue in the glass. Initially
the showy nose offers aromas of black cherries, dark berry jam and a hint of oak
spice. Over time bramble and floral notes emerge. A seamless wine of
considerable appeal, featuring flavors of dark berries, spiced plums and savory
herbs, supported by supple tannins and bright acidity. Velvety soft in the mouth
with impressive length on the hi-tone finish. Plenty of vibrancy in this wine.
Very good.
Reviewed January 19, 2013
ARTICLE »
2009 Chanin Wine Company Los Alamos Vineyard Santa Barbara County Chardonnay
13.4% alc., 150 cases, $30.
·
Light straw color and clear in the glass. Fresh and vivid aromas
of apples, baked pear, sawdust and fresh brioche. Bright, crisp
and juicy flavors sing the same tune ending with a lively and
refreshing citrus-imbued finish. The wine keeps pumping out
charm over time in the glass. An excellent food wine that is all
you can ask for in a California Chardonnay. I ran out and bought a half case.
Reviewed November 2, 2011
ARTICLE »
2008 Chanin Wine Company Bien Nacido Vineyard Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir
12.9% alc., 200 cases,, $50.
·
Moderate reddish-purple color in the
glass. Aromatically intense with well oaked, crushed cherry perfume. Lighter in
weight and red fruited with supportive oak in the background. Simple and
straightforward with soft tannins and a lingering cherry-driven finish. A wine for
those that embrace oak and prefer delicacy and restraint. Good (+).
Reviewed November 2, 2011
ARTICLE »
2016 Chanin Sanford & Benedict Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir
13.9% alc., $30. · Moderately light garnet color in the glass. Pleasing aromas of cranberry, prickly pear and clay. Light in weight offering flavors of oak-dusted cherry, cranberry and spice. A good grip of acidity drives the red cherry finish. Easygoing with restrained tannins and a modest finish. Unchanged when sampled the following day from a previously opened bottle. A solid wine but not endearing. Score: 91. Reviewed September 19, 2021 ARTICLE »
2012 Chanin Los Alamos Vineyard Santa Barbara County Chardonnay
14.21%, $37. · Light golden yellow color and clear in the glass. A marvelous wine with aromas of lemon curd, pear, tropical fruits, walnut and crushed sea shells. Impressive transparency with vibrant flavors of golden apple, pear, and pineapple. Oak seasoning is very subtle. Slightly creamy, with very good energy and cut. A complete wine deserving of accolades. Score: 94. Reviewed March 16, 2015 ARTICLE »
2011 Chanin Wine Company Los Alamos Vineyard Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir
13.62% alc., $48. · Medium reddish-purple hue in the glass. Initially the showy nose offers aromas of black cherries, dark berry jam and a hint of oak spice. Over time bramble and floral notes emerge. A seamless wine of considerable appeal, featuring flavors of dark berries, spiced plums and savory herbs, supported by supple tannins and bright acidity. Velvety soft in the mouth with impressive length on the hi-tone finish. Plenty of vibrancy in this wine. Very good. Reviewed January 19, 2013 ARTICLE »
2009 Chanin Wine Company Los Alamos Vineyard Santa Barbara County Chardonnay
13.4% alc., 150 cases, $30. · Light straw color and clear in the glass. Fresh and vivid aromas of apples, baked pear, sawdust and fresh brioche. Bright, crisp and juicy flavors sing the same tune ending with a lively and refreshing citrus-imbued finish. The wine keeps pumping out charm over time in the glass. An excellent food wine that is all you can ask for in a California Chardonnay. I ran out and bought a half case. Reviewed November 2, 2011 ARTICLE »
2008 Chanin Wine Company Bien Nacido Vineyard Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir
12.9% alc., 200 cases,, $50. · Moderate reddish-purple color in the glass. Aromatically intense with well oaked, crushed cherry perfume. Lighter in weight and red fruited with supportive oak in the background. Simple and straightforward with soft tannins and a lingering cherry-driven finish. A wine for those that embrace oak and prefer delicacy and restraint. Good (+). Reviewed November 2, 2011 ARTICLE »