The Hilt by Jonata "Radian Vineyard" Chardonnay 2023
(Santa Rita Hills, California) - [JS 98] [VM 95+] [WA 95] [JD 95]

About the Winery:
From the same proprietors as Jonata, The Hilt was founded in 2008 as a separate winery focusing on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the Santa Rita Hills and Santa Maria Valley. In 2014, the Rancho Salsipuedes estate was purchased and a new, permanent home for The Hilt was found. Outside of Salsipuedes, The Hilt also sources old-vine fruit from the marled soils of Sanford and Benedict and the loamy sandy soils of Solomon Hills in the Santa Maria Valley.

Winemaker Matt Dees is very much in charge of the entire process, from vine to bottle. He's passionate about the rugged terrains and an enthusiast of the art of blending. As of 2014, he abolished the use of herbicides and pesticides in Rancho Salsipuedes and established his own farming parameters for the vineyards. 

About this Wine:
The Radian Vineyard is located in the Sta. Rita Hills and the vines are 14 years old on average. The wine ages in 85% neutral French oak barrels, 15% stainless steel barrels for 11 months, followed by 5 months in stainless tank with full lees. 

Tasting Notes:
"Agave, early apricot, challah and bergamot oil. Lemon verbena. Yellow and green vibes with absolute purity and precision. Still very taut and tense with energy pulsing throughout. Classic Radian lime juice and zest. Great verve and bite alongside inviting richness. Reticent and compact today but begins to open with time in the glass. Fresh and very fragrant. Turns to laser beam on finish with mouthwatering acidity and essence of orange oil. Doesn't seem to end. As always, one can taste the wind, the salt and the cold sunshine of the Radian Vineyard. Such a powerfully evocative wine. On day two and three, it is the length of this wine that the highlight." - Matt Dees, Winemaker

Ratings & Reviews

98 Points - James Suckling:
"Crushed oyster shells lend a saline note to the nose. On the palate, there’s a structural, finely tuned and persistent element to the yellow apples with lemon flesh and peel. The salinity sweeps back in on the nervy finish. The character of the site shines through. Drink or hold." (Aug 2025)

95+ Points - Vinous Media:
"The 2023 Chardonnay Radian Vineyard absolutely brims with scintillating energy and vibrating tension. Linear and bracing, it pulses with lemon oil, oyster shell and white pepper, carried on a spine of chalky grip and saline acidity. Beneath its tightly wound frame lies immense, almost untamed phenolic power. Today, the Radian is wound incredibly tight, emanating subtle marine inflections that ripple across the palate. Time in the bottle will allow the 2023 to unclench its fists and relax its shoulders. I can't wait.” – Billy Norris (Aug 2025)

95 Points - Wine Advocate:
“The 2023 Chardonnay Radian Vineyard is another fantastic example of The Hilt's recent gains in Chardonnay production, offering an electrifying expression of this modern classic Sta. Rita Hills site. Opening with a finessed, detailed bouquet of weightless oceanic aromas and citrus-driven lift, the palate is elastic, mouthwatering and succulent, its top-end clarity counterbalanced with a subtle, weightless breadth. It explodes into an unsurprisingly lively, long and vibrant finish that lingers with a mirror-like sheen." - Matthew Luczy (Nov 2025)

95 Points - Jeb Dunnuck:
"The 2023 Chardonnay Radian Vineyard reveals apple and pear-like fruit intermixed with minty herbs, oyster shell, and ripe lemon zest. Tasting like a Grand Cru Chablis, it's medium-bodied, fresh, focused, and vibrant, with chiseled acidity and a great finish. Give it a year and drink over the following decade. Drink 2026-2036." (Sep 2025)