One off ($38) about 18 months ago from Napa cellerage operation #2. On the nose and palate, fairly subdued notes of lemon-lime, green apples, yellow grapefruit, white melon, river rocks, saline and a faint bit of beeswax. Crystalline, light to medium bodied, medium legs. Medium+ acidity, not a trace of heat. VG+ intensity, VG persistence, good complexity. This producer has been a favorite of mine since being introduced to the Estate bottling hiking the Milford Track almost 20 years ago to the day. Brisk, crisp, sleek, lithe and steely, this bottling, which I’m having for the first time, perhaps even more than the others (despite WE calling it the producer’s most opulent bottling, and the last writer 2x describing it as “rich), could easily pass for Chablis, as I find nary a hint of tropical or stone fruits. It opened ever so slightly more both with time and coming to room temperature (although even with a less expansive frame, I preferred cooler, I know: call me a philistine), but it was never my idea of generous. This is a terrific wine with the right food, and it excelled with crabcakes one night and sushi another (I think that it would be right there with my fave, the Spottswoode SB with oysters, too), better, for my palate than on its own, although like a good sancerre or chablis, I think that sipping it on a warm evening from Auberge’s deck overlooking the Valley wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world, either. Robust acidity gives the sense that this should last at least a few more years at a VG level and could incrementally improve. Solid effort, if slightly behind Coddington, the Estate and the Mate’s. 91-92+
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Deep yellow. Yellow and green apple the nose with just a slight hint of stone fruit. Crisp and saline on the palate, with mostly ripe lemon showing through the finish. This is great, blind I would have called a Meursault village.
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2/17/2024 - sfwinelover1 Likes this wine: 92 Points
One off ($38) about 18 months ago from Napa cellerage operation #2. On the nose and palate, fairly subdued notes of lemon-lime, green apples, yellow grapefruit, white melon, river rocks, saline and a faint bit of beeswax. Crystalline, light to medium bodied, medium legs. Medium+ acidity, not a trace of heat. VG+ intensity, VG persistence, good complexity. This producer has been a favorite of mine since being introduced to the Estate bottling hiking the Milford Track almost 20 years ago to the day. Brisk, crisp, sleek, lithe and steely, this bottling, which I’m having for the first time, perhaps even more than the others (despite WE calling it the producer’s most opulent bottling, and the last writer 2x describing it as “rich), could easily pass for Chablis, as I find nary a hint of tropical or stone fruits. It opened ever so slightly more both with time and coming to room temperature (although even with a less expansive frame, I preferred cooler, I know: call me a philistine), but it was never my idea of generous. This is a terrific wine with the right food, and it excelled with crabcakes one night and sushi another (I think that it would be right there with my fave, the Spottswoode SB with oysters, too), better, for my palate than on its own, although like a good sancerre or chablis, I think that sipping it on a warm evening from Auberge’s deck overlooking the Valley wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world, either. Robust acidity gives the sense that this should last at least a few more years at a VG level and could incrementally improve. Solid effort, if slightly behind Coddington, the Estate and the Mate’s. 91-92+
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5/26/2023 - mjgkng Likes this wine: 90 Points
Ripe and rich fruit. Excellent NZ Chardonnay.
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3/4/2023 - mjgkng Likes this wine: 91 Points
Ripe, rich and delicious.
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9/16/2022 - jfpwine Likes this wine: 92 Points
Deep yellow. Yellow and green apple the nose with just a slight hint of stone fruit. Crisp and saline on the palate, with mostly ripe lemon showing through the finish. This is great, blind I would have called a Meursault village.
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3/12/2022 - mjgkng Likes this wine: 92 Points
Ripe dry citrus with hints of lemon. Little or no oak. Excellent vintage.
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