Chicago Week Geeks Taste Chardonnay

Palmito
Tasted Friday, July 28, 2006 by Nanda with 524 views

Introduction

Our regular group gathered for a casual blind tasting of chards over Costa Rican cuisine. It was hot out and the casual Lakeview eatery was warm too. We quickly blasted through the blind tasting, revealed the wines, put them in ice water and enjoyed with food.

Flight 1 - Welcome Bubbly (1 Note)

1998 Pierre Péters Champagne Grand Cru Cuvée Speciale Blanc de Blancs Les Chetillons 92 Points

France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

Pale yellow in color. Yeasty nose. Large beads with a fresh and crisp palate. Lingering finish.

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Flight 2 - Wine A (1 Note)

1996 Martinelli Chardonnay Gold Ridge 90 Points

USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

Golden color. In your face thick and smokey nose. Palate has big and bold fruit with honey and vanillin. A long meaty finish. Nothin delicate about this bruiser. After revealing this was 1996 folks were shocked. Tasted much younger some thought it still had "baby fat".

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Flight 3 - Wine B (1 Note)

2004 Domaine Marc Morey & Fils Rully Blanc 87 Points

France, Burgundy, Côte Chalonnaise, Rully

Light gold color. Delicate and aromatic nose of white fruits, toast and smoke. For me the palate falls apart --- insufficient fruit and too much acid.

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Flight 4 - Wine C (1 Note)

2001 Walter Hansel Winery Chardonnay Cuvée Alyce 88 Points

USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

Light gold color with a reticent nose of green apples. Palate has toasty oak and apples. A light body and crisp style. Well balanced and nicely put together, but lacking depth.

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Flight 5 - Wine D (1 Note)

My surprise WOTN --- what QPR.

2004 Vincent Arroyo Chardonnay 92 Points

USA, California, Napa Valley

Light to medium gold color. Complex nose of honey, melons and vanillin. Palate has a similar flavor profile with oak nicely integrated into the supple fruit. Medium-to-full bodied. Well balanced with a a lingering finish. A very well put together wine. Once again shocked upon revealing that this was the Vincent Arroyo --- a notable Calistoga petite sirah and red wine producer. Great QPR at $20 from the winery.

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Flight 6 - Wine E (1 Note)

My #3 WOTN.

2001 Marcassin Chardonnay Upper Barn 90 Points

USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley

Light gold in color. Toasty nose. Honey, banana and white fruits on the palate. Medium to full bodied. Fresh and well balanced. For the pedigree, this was unremarkable upon revealing.

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Flight 7 - Wine F (1 Note)

My #2 WOTN --- very nearly #1.

2004 J. Rochioli Chardonnay Russian River Valley 92 Points

USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

Light gold in color. Well integrated white fruits and toast on the nose. A seamless stream of honey, melons and toasty oak on the palate. Well balanced with a long, long finish.

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Flight 8 - Wine G (1 Note)

2004 Verget Puligny-Montrachet 88 Points

France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Puligny-Montrachet

Very light gold in color with a earthy nose. Light and crisp in body. Some fresh fruits, but overall not showing much. Some thought almost watery. This has got to be closed down.

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