Diatom
Diatom produces Chardonnay from Sta. Rita Hills, a cool-climate pocket of Santa Barbara County known for precision white wines. The winery's portfolio centers on single-vineyard expressions: the Babcock, Huber, and Drum Canyon bottlings each capture distinct terroir signatures from their respective sites. These Chardonnays have been assessed by Wine Enthusiast, Wine Advocate, Wine Spectator, Falstaff, and Decanter. The Babcock and Huber both score in the mid-94s, while Drum Canyon reaches 93.5, reflecting the caliber of fruit and winemaking across the range. Sta. Rita Hills' maritime influence—cool nights, morning fog, and afternoon winds—shapes the character of these wines, lending them the acidity and mineral tension that define the region's Chardonnay identity.
Critics
Wine Advocate, Wine Enthusiast, Decanter, Wine Spectator