Duvarita Vineyard Belle de Jour Chardonnay
⏳ Drinking Window
2022 - 2029
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Pan-seared sea scallops, roasted chicken with tarragon cream sauce, creamy mushroom risotto
✨ Technical Specifications
Sourced from the unique Duvarita Vineyard, located just west of the Sta. Rita Hills AVA, this Chardonnay thrives in a cool, maritime-influenced microclimate defined by ancient, windblown sandy soils. The challenging terroir forces the vines to dig deep, resulting in low yields of intensely concentrated fruit. Named 'Belle de Jour'—a nod to both the radiant daylily and classic French cinema—this cuvée is crafted by Paul Lato with minimal intervention. Fermented and aged in select French oak barrels, it beautifully marries vibrant, electric acidity with a luxurious, textured mouthfeel, capturing the pure, saline-tinged essence of its coastal origin.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 2002 by Polish-born former Toronto sommelier Paul Lato, this boutique Central Coast winery emerged after early mentorship from Au Bon Climat's Jim Clendenen and encouragement from Bien Nacido's Bob Miller. Operating without estate acreage, Lato contracts premier, meticulously farmed plots across premier maritime-influenced cool-climate terroirs, spanning the Santa Maria Valley, Sta. Rita Hills, Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Lucia Highlands, and Los Carneros. The viticultural philosophy focuses on rigorous yield restriction, physiological maturity, and sustainable management tailored block by block. In the cellar, Lato applies an intuitive, non-interventionist approach with small-lot fermentations, ambient yeast, and sensitive French oak aging to deliver exceptional textural tension, purity, and culinary balance. Celebrated white cuvées—including the Hyde Vineyard Goldberg Variations Chardonnay, Sierra Madre Kokoro Chardonnay, Le Bon Vivant, and O Sole Mio Sauvignon Blanc—stand alongside benchmark Pinot Noir and Syrah as some of California's most critically acclaimed, authentic, and seamless single-vineyard expressions.
🍇 Grapes
Chardonnay
🍷 ABV
13.5-14.5%