| Community Tasting Notes (average 93.2 pts. and median of 94 pts. in 76 notes) |
| | Tasted by llink on 12/4/2023: PNP. Full yellow color. Deep nose, tropical fruit, lemon and marzipan. Rich and unctuous palate, high glycerol with deep layers of oak infused fruit. Some energy and acid remains, but this is far from lithe and refreshing. An 18 year old Chardonnay that is still very alive, just a bit too rich for my taste. (253 views) |
| | Tasted by jlgnml on 11/14/2023 & rated 94 points: Outstanding. Rich color, lemon curds on the palate. Good acidity. Lasting on the palate. For some, this would be too old, for me this was decadent. (256 views) |
| | Tasted by jlgnml on 7/1/2023 & rated 90 points: Time to drink up (362 views) |
| | Tasted by jlgnml on 4/10/2022 & rated 93 points: Needed time in a glass or decant for its full attention. (705 views) |
| | Tasted by jlgnml on 4/28/2021 & rated 95 points: Stunning. Deep and coordinated flavors, long finish. Buy/Drink or Hold. (982 views) |
| | Tasted by M DU VIN on 7/6/2018 & rated 96 points: At 13 years this wine was still fantastic. Tropical fruits, but with nice acidity. (1480 views) |
| | Tasted by jbaron on 9/2/2017: Over the hill (1565 views) |
| | Tasted by redpine42 on 4/16/2017: I'm not a fan of white wines, but this Winery makes really good ones. This was very good 10 years ago, but now is past its peak. The viscosity of this wine has diminished and it's starting to get more acidic. Time to drink up. (1759 views) |
| | Tasted by Tsliwinski on 1/30/2017 & rated 96 points: This old chardonnay is still sailing!!! A little upfront butterscotch, smooth fruit and long, nice finish. I thought way past peak, NO, not yet!! (1721 views) |
| | Tasted by madeiradog on 9/18/2014 & rated 95 points: Wow - this is still an intense wine. Packed with lemon zest, hazelnut, honey with a hint of smoke, it has great mouthfeel and finish. Some vanilla/oak adds to the mix. Good acidity provides the necessary balance to the long, sweet finish that has a touch of minerality as well. (4192 views) |
| | Tasted by KeithAkers on 6/13/2014 & rated 84 points: The (almost) Kick-Off to the World Cup (Domaine Wine Storage, Chicago IL): Nose: The nose is on the richer side with marzipan, lemon curds, a lot of creams, vanilla, and some noticeable oak tones. It isn't overblown, but the nose is very much driven by the oak and treatment.
Taste: Full bodied with lower acidity. There is a real richness and creaminess to the feel along with marzipan, creams, marshmallows, vanilla, and oak.
Overall: This isn't overdone, but it does feel a bit forced. This is far from my favorite style of Chardonnay, and this doesn't really do it all too well for me. (3643 views) |
| | Tasted by acyso on 6/13/2014 & rated 70 points: Not as horrifyingly bad as the Marcassin "chardonnays", though that's really hitting the bottom there. This would be grand vin if you were a termite. Overoaked, fat, clumsy, and greasy, the only saving grace is a bit of sweet fruit, which gets a bit cloying after more than a few sips. (3532 views) |
| | Tasted by rdsboca on 11/30/2013 & rated 94 points: Time has treated this wine well. Classic cloudiness in Aubert chards. Great lemon profile with a touch of creme brûlée. Nice long finish and a great pairing with shell fish. (3269 views) |
| | Tasted by tooch on 10/19/2013 & rated 86 points: Another Saturday at Domaine (Domaine Wine Storage - Chicago, IL): Rich and dense nose of lemons, limes, vanilla, and marzipan. The palate was equally big and bold and while not the style of Chardonnay I like, seemed well made. Thought the sweetness of the palate was just a bit too much for me. (4040 views) |
| | Tasted by JimN on 5/2/2013 & rated 94 points: My first bottle from this vintage, so I have no reference point v. earlier bottles. This bottle was superb. There is an alluring nose of honeycomb and butterscotch which gives way to vibrant and multi-faceted flavors on the palate. Perfect acidity to hold it all together. Did not need a decant. Served with just a slight chill, almost room temperature. Unlikely to get any better, but did not seem to be fading. That said, definite risk of holding too much longer based on other notes. Why wait? (2299 views) |
| | Tasted by taipeileviathan on 12/23/2012 & rated 93 points: What a wine! I am at a loss for words regarding exact tasting notes beyond the oversimplified comment that it tasted, by and large, like an aged CA chard, but I can say this: it baffled me endlessly. I loved it upon opening (beautiful aromas right after the cork came out... my wife's comment on first sip was, "This is a CHARD??"), but it kinda fell apart after an hour or so. Drank half the bottle, refrigerated, then on day 2 it was waaay better than at any previous point. 93 would be the score for its average performance... at its best showing on day 2, 95+, at its worst, 89. (2626 views) |
| | Tasted by mnh on 9/27/2012 & rated 90 points: On the decline? (1801 views) |
| | Tasted by ashegedyn on 4/29/2012: Oaked and intense nose - some minerality and honeyed acacia, buttered notes with a hint of smokiness. On taste medium intensity flavors carry through the notes from the nose. Good finish that has excellent length. I am not sure about my taste for this wine since it clearly tastes like its from california - a bit intense and oaked. I did enjoy it but it is not my usual kind of chardonnay. It matches well with dishes that are intense - had it with a lobster and avocado appetizer. (1225 views) |
| | Tasted by jeff nowak on 4/22/2012 & rated 93 points: This wine has been in decline of late in our experience so we have been simply trying to drink our inventory to zero post haste. Wouldn't you know it, this, our last bottle makes a U-turn toward excellence, approaching a performance level we enjoyed in it's youth. Go figure. Wine can be a mystery. (2975 views) |
| | Tasted by jeff nowak on 4/14/2012 & rated 88 points: bottle age has not been kind to this wine, although this is a better showing than a last recent taste. a rare miss for aubert as i am inclined to view their sweet spot as 5-8 years. (2735 views) |
| | Tasted by jeff nowak on 3/3/2012 & rated 86 points: this has steadily declined over time. this bottles has limited fruit and too much oak. drink. STAT (2621 views) |
| | Tasted by plitton on 11/24/2011 & rated 96 points: All the qualities of a great Cali chard in an elegant, lighter profile. Delicious. (2703 views) |
| | Tasted by mdgberg on 11/12/2011 & rated 97 points: Very well balanced, with banana and exotic spice most prominent, classic cream and butterscotch prevalent but not overpowering. Tannins perfect, great long finish, oak not overpowering like Aubert sometimes is. I'm rarely this happy with a wine. Maybe one year left, better to drink now and enjoy the back end of its peak. (2385 views) |
| | Tasted by jeff nowak on 11/6/2011 & rated 90 points: 15.3% alcohol. same wine was corked last night, so opened another to take it's true temperature. super ripe + toasted oak = a wine i liked better in it's true youth. not actually offensive, and possesses enough aubert characteristics to please on a general level. however, we drink so much chard that nuances make a difference. i'd recommend drinking up, despite the plethora of CT! high scores. in my humble, but correct opinion, this is past prime. still, better than most domestic crap at half speed. (2810 views) |
| | Tasted by jeff nowak on 11/5/2011 flawed bottle: corked. although it was slow to reveal, it certainly presented early on as flawed. (2777 views) |
| | Tasted by Topper on 10/10/2011 & rated 94 points: Completely gorgeous wine. Fruit, flavor, acidity and oak all in balance. A huge crowd pleaser. Much more refined that the typical oaky cal chard. (2444 views) |
| | Tasted by Topper on 10/10/2011 & rated 94 points: Completely gorgeous wine. Fruit, flavor, acidity and oak all in balance. A huge crwod pleaser. Much more refined that the typical oaky cal chard. (2387 views) |
| | Tasted by Mike V on 6/19/2011 & rated 96 points: Omg (2748 views) |
| | Tasted by rosenst1 on 4/9/2011 & rated 92 points: Popped and poured. Had thrown a reasonable amount of sediment; wine slightly cloudy but light gold. Lemon and citrus on the nose initially; on the palate quite full, but not at all sweet, with a sour/saline finish, which is quite unusual. This softens quite rapidly in the glass and the finish integrates, although it still has a sour quality, which eventually fades away; becomes a lovely wine. (2764 views) |
| | Tasted by beezer6 on 3/12/2011 & rated 93 points: Saturday Tasting Group (Knightsbridge Wine Shop (Northbrook, IL)): Rich pear, yellow fruit. Tropical coconut, cotton, pineapple. Light smoke, cotton and yellow flowers.
The palate shows nice viscosity with a honey vanilla play on the finish. There is a nice chalky (agreed) minerality that adds finesse, focus and balance.
So much butter and oak on the nose though - gotta like that style to enjoy this juice to its fullest. Big screaming Cali Chard. (3294 views) |
| | Tasted by psmith on 3/12/2011: Ripe, tropical, and lush. Pineapple and mango-type fruits that clearly push the ripeness boundary, but which manage to be held in check by a tense, firm structure in a great balancing act (though one gets the feeling it could tip to either side at any moment). Very nice. (2796 views) |
| | Tasted by Amerique on 8/23/2010 & rated 95 points: Elegant, rich, delicious nectar/citrus fruit with nutty nose and flavors, excellent structure, showing a little age on palate, long, smooth finish (3314 views) |
| | Tasted by spts1000 on 8/14/2010 & rated 98 points: The best domestic chardonnay I have ever had. It has wonderful fruit and structure. The oak sets up the structure on the end. Very smooth with sweet tannins. (3403 views) |
| | Tasted by herberto on 7/20/2010 & rated 87 points: Super duper ripe, and, as with many super duper ripe Chards with a few years in the bottle, starting to slide down the backside of whatever "over the top" takes you over. Reasonably pleasant, if heavy, mouthfeel and exotic spice, but this tastes to me more like wood and old ripe fruit than good wine. Got some points for lingering intensity of flavor. I think this style of wine needs to be consumed younger. (3316 views) |
| | Tasted by ginfizz on 6/27/2010 & rated 98 points: A kaléidoscope of flavors from citrus to quince to green apple to oaky vanilla to hints of caramel, with perfect balance and weight. Decanted off the sediment, so clear throughout. Purest flavors, really a treat and needs to stand on its own as a work of art, rather than a complement to food. Although, it was perfect with scallops in champagne cream. This has a minerality and crispness that bring all of these flavors into focus. Lasted for an hour, but then seemed to get a bit muddled. Drink or hold, if well stored. (3578 views) |
| | Tasted by LikeABC on 6/6/2010 & rated 96 points: Pale green-yellow color. Wonderful aromas of apple, ripe pear, dried apricot with some minerals and spice. Good acidity. This was my WOTF and 2nd to the 07 Kongsgaard. (3551 views) |
| | Tasted by Mrbuzz on 6/6/2010 & rated 95 points: Jen's Fund Raiser Dinner (Max's Bistro, Fresno Ca.): Super dusty, chalky minerals, exotic honey butter, rich fruit with a citrus edge....well balanced. Best Chard of the flight! (4313 views) |
| | Tasted by jaylew1 on 5/3/2010 & rated 97 points: Why do I only have one bottle of this? jbro's note captures many of the flavors and smells. There is something luxurious without being sweet. Wonderful. Definitely CA, not France, but carried off in the best possible way. (3841 views) |
| | Tasted by jbro on 4/27/2010 & rated 96 points: This stuff is the real deal. Kudos to Mark Aubert. The nose is pear, honey, citrus, blended together so that it is FRESH. In the glass it is light gold, slightly cloudy and has legs like a syrah--it coats like motor oil. It's oily and unctuous on the palate, with dull citrus, honey and balanced acidity. I don't find the oak to be particularly obtrusive. The finish is among the longest I can remember in either a white or a red--when did a white take five minutes to clear the palate? I couldn't and wouldn't want to drink this every night, but if I could have it once a week I would be in Valhalla.
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| | Tasted by shaferguy91 on 4/25/2010 & rated 95 points: Beautiful Chardonnay ! (3599 views) |
| | Tasted by the godfather on 4/2/2010: ugh! totally dominated by oak and massively extracted, not a hint of elegance, bull in a china shop, etc! (3580 views) |
| | Tasted by ginfizz on 1/9/2010 & rated 95 points: Sensational as always. Wonderful balance, mouth-watering citrus flavors, lemon oil, and a long finish. A touch of heat kept this bottle from an even higher score, but that did blow off after a while. (3695 views) |
| | Tasted by cleghorn3 on 10/11/2009 & rated 98 points: Bottle was extraordinary and well balanced. (4093 views) |
| | Tasted by rdsboca on 9/4/2009 & rated 96 points: No formal note. Great wine, well balanced and crisp fruit and acidity. (4006 views) |
| | Tasted by elliotgl on 6/6/2009 & rated 93 points: The Quarry Vineyard has probably been my favorite Aubert wine. I read the reviews of the Ritchie and Lauren Vineyards and they are always rated higher which simply means you have to find a reviewer that likes what you like and tastes the way you taste - I am often amused by the simile in describing tastes that wines offer and the one that often pops up in white wines and chardonnay in particular is " stones" or " wet stones " - who do you know who puts stones in their mouth to taste and what do they taste like? My wife and I and our grand daughter went to one of those fish shacks that dot the Maine coast here in season and had our fried clams,fried haddock,french fries and fried onions tonight and a bottle of Aubert. The wine had a great nose, was seamless on the palate and had a great finish and went great with all that greasy seafood and tasted f@^*ing great - It is no surprise that Peter Michael will no longer sell Mark Aubert grapes as his wine has been much better than the Peter Michael wine from the same vineyard. This an overly verbose way to say I really,really like the wine and will miss it in the mailing list offering. (3982 views) |
| | Tasted by pakabear on 6/6/2009 & rated 96 points: No formal note taking but this wine was just amazing, blew me away. Great acidity and elegance, can last another 5 years. It's a shame this is my last bottle. (4169 views) |
| | Tasted by rsepulve on 6/5/2009 & rated 95 points: I'm increasingly convinced that Auberts Chards just need some bottle age. Young I have found them too rich and dense. This one, however, was almost there with much less baby fat and a leaner and more mineral expression. It's still a bit too rich for my palate but I can see where it's going and I believe that in another year or two this goes from being simply outstanding to extraordinary. 95+. (3758 views) |
| | Tasted by Harry Cantrell on 5/30/2009 & rated 93 points: pale gold-the first time I recall significant color in this wine. Nose was citus, lemon curd, vanilla. The ataste was a nice mix of the nose. Very good. (3470 views) |
| | Tasted by Harry Cantrell on 5/2/2009 & rated 95 points: pale gold. Nose is a wonderful mix of lemon curd, cinnamon,pineapple. Taste was amazing mix of textures and flavors miming the nose. Wonderful! (3481 views) |
| | Tasted by elliotgl on 4/18/2009 & rated 92 points: In the glass a slightly cloudy golden hued wine offering a nose of pineapple,citrus and faint oak intermixed with wet stones - In the mouth a full flavored wine offerring lemon curd,good acidity,pineapple, butterscotch without sweetness and a midpalate that seems to take over and accentuate those flavors and continues into a nice finish. That mid palate created for me a somewhat disjointed experience - Most Auberts I have had were similar in nose and taste but were seamless - this one was a little different - not bad but different. (3660 views) |
| | Tasted by ginfizz on 3/16/2009 & rated 94 points: Wonderful balance and a flinty edge to the ripe, full Aubert chardonnay profile. Refreshing acidity, not overblown, will age well but excellent now. (3558 views) |
| | Tasted by spotfin on 3/16/2009 & rated 92 points: Delish. (3621 views) |
| | Tasted by mebydef on 11/20/2008 & rated 97 points: It wasn't until a day after opening, as the wine came into focus, that it really showed its greatness. It was such a powerful and rich wine, but it needed air and time. Upon initial exposure, it was very tight and not so giving. The nose was subtle of wet stone and pineapple, mostly the oak dominated. The color was a bit green and murky. As time moved, the wine bloomed and became balanced, long, and elegant. These wines are so intellectually challenging. Sometimes I want to hate them for their heavy, clunky, blowziness, but then they metamorph into something utterly sublime. Fundamentally, I love them. They aren't cheap, and I wish I could afford more, but there's certainly no doubting their greatness. (3300 views) |
| | Tasted by dream on 11/15/2008 & rated 93 points: Beautiful nose of spicy cinamin, browned butter and wet stones. Deeply rich and complex and maintains a freshness of acidity to balance it out. Very ripe fruit flavors of sweet lemons, pears and browned butter. Finishes concentrated with good intensity and complexity. This is perhaps Aubert's best bottling and like all Aubert chards, should be drunk young. A very Burgundian style of Cali chard that's just mouth-watering and delicious. (3024 views) |
| | Tasted by Burgundy Al on 9/2/2008 & rated 92 points: Aubert Tasting and Dinner (My home - Chicago IL): Green apple and fresh pear aromas with modest spice and some new oak that still stands out. Ripe fruit and concentration on palate, with good minerality and acidity from middle to long finish. (2054 views) |
| | Tasted by winefool on 9/2/2008 & rated 94 points: Aubert Tasting (Alan's): Cloudy yellow green color. Slightly green bright nose. Nice rich tight focused mineral yellow fruit on the palate. Upside here 94+ pts. (3554 views) |
| | Tasted by Nanda on 9/2/2008 & rated 92 points: Burgundy Al's Aubert Dinner - Near Complete Vertical / Horizontal (Chicago, IL): Shy nose. Palate has bright pure fruits and liquefied minerals. Primary richness on the mid-palate. Long toasty finish. (3967 views) |
| | Tasted by jeff nowak on 9/1/2008 & rated 92 points: not as expressive as my last bottle. i wanted to open another 05 after the napa valley reserve dinner where we had a lauren from magnum. that seemed tight and over acidified to me, but this quarry is solid, if not a bit subdued. (2533 views) |
| | Tasted by jeff nowak on 6/10/2008 & rated 95 points: minerals and flowers, and a green tinged hue, but it was the dollop of creaminess, not from oak, but from the deft winemaker's touch which added the complexity to make this outstanding. (2709 views) |
| | Tasted by mnh on 2/4/2008: Excellent (1055 views) |
| | Tasted by jasonh on 12/25/2007: Christmas Dinner - 2007: A big and pleasant contrast to The Ritchie. As always, The Quarry has that stoney quality. On this night I certainly found this more interesting and it is the most I have enjoyed an 05. Still I would not touch another bottle a few years. The texture is more oily but the body is lighter. Still not delicate but I like this wine shows lots of minerals but still has nicely balanced fruit. Hopefully with time some of the oak will subside. (3254 views) |
| | Tasted by jbaron on 12/22/2007 & rated 94 points: Very penetrating nose of tangy minerals and orange fruit; rich mouth of spice and fruit - lot of papaya with some pear, grapefruit and other orange fruit; lingering length with good persistence. Good balance with excellent sense of lighty etherealness. Very nice drink. (2825 views) |
| | Tasted by superuser on 9/16/2007 & rated 97 points: Incredible nose of pear and hints of honey. Great mouthfeel and good acidity. (3156 views) |
| | Tasted by Harry Cantrell on 4/28/2007 & rated 93 points: Light gold color. Spring flowers, allspice hints. Oak was just a whiff in the background. Nice now, but perhaps 1-2 years in the cellar will help it blossom. (3056 views) |
