Blind California Whites

My Place - Washington, DC
Tasted Thursday, April 24, 2014 by isaacjamesbaker with 322 views

Introduction

All wines were received as trade samples and tasted blind.

Flight 1 (10 Notes)

  • 2012 Jordan Vineyard & Winery Chardonnay Russian River Valley 90 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

    Light golden color. On the nose, a shot of lime zest, green melon, honey butter and fresh white flowers. Creamy on the palate, but medium+ acid keeps it fresh. Green melon mixes with papaya and lime juice, and there’s some hazelnut and honeycomb, but it’s not overwhelming. Floral and mineral notes carry the finish, which ends with a combination of zesty acid and honey. Complex and very pretty. Aged six months in French oak, about 40% new.

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  • 2012 FEL Chardonnay Anderson Valley 88 Points

    USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley

    Light golden color. Lemon, creamy peach, some papaya, a bit more richness on the nose, but still has lots of sea shell. Bold approach on the palate, solid concentration, with flavors of papaya, yellow apple and orange peel. Medium acid helps it pull together. I get this note that reminds me of crushed peanut shells and white tea. Honeyed on the finish, but it’s still fresh.

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  • 2012 J Vineyards & Winery Chardonnay Estate 89 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

    Generous aromas of white peach, baked pear, honeydew and honeysuckle. Full-bodied with a lot of creaminess and medium acid. This wine is all about the richness and complexity of the interwoven flavors: baked pear, yellow apple and apricot mix with toasted almond, whipped honey and something that reminds me of toast with butter and brown sugar. Long and creamy on the finish. This is a burly Chard, so don’t expect otherwise, but it’s very well made and shows lots of concentration and length.

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  • 2012 Starmont Chardonnay 86 Points

    USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros

    Aromas of white tea, apricot and honey. Fleshy on the palate, but crisp throughout. Apricot and white peach flavors blend well with honey, wax and white tea. Even with 100% maloactic fermentation and nine months in 19% new French oak, there isn’t a ton of emphasis on toast and cream. A fruit-focused wine, plump, full and fun. From Carneros fruit.

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  • 2011 Gloria Ferrer Chardonnay 88 Points

    USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros

    Color like a ripe banana peel. Ripe pear and apricot aromas, with some creamy, toasted nut notes and a hint of sea shell. Generous pear and yellow apple fruit, but the crisp acid makes this very easy to drink. Some almond shell, toasted bread, baked apple and honeycomb flavors add complexity, just a hint of sea breeze. Fleshy, ripe, but pleasantly balanced with a tangy finish. Fermented and aged in 100% French oak, with half of the wine undergoing maloactic fermentation. A great value.

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  • 2012 Foppiano Chardonnay 87 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

    A light golden color. Nectarine and lime aromas burst from the glass, also some papaya, sea salt, a bit of honey butter. Medium+ bodied with moderate acid. Yellow apple, ripe pear and apricot blend nicely with the buttered rum and honeyed tea flavors. Bold, forward, with notes of nougat and hazelnut, but stays away from being burdensome. A hint of mineral or crushed rocks on the finish.

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  • 2012 Riverbench Vineyard & Winery Chardonnay Estate 92 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Maria Valley

    Medium gold color. Aromas of lime zest and sea breeze mix with richer notes of honey and lemon oil. Rich but so tangy on the palate, the papaya and honey contrasts and complements the sea salt and lime zest. So pure and lively, full of floral and mineral undertones, with a long and nervy finish. So long and pure, capable of development in the cellar. Absurd in its deliciousness.

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  • 2012 Flowers Chardonnay Sonoma Coast 91 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

    Light gold color. Aromas show lots of white flowers, ocean air, lime and white peach. Plump mouthfeel, but the acid weaves it together. Green and yellow apple fruit, some lime, some white peach, but it’s got a lot of nerve and cut. Some lemon oil and honeycomb notes. The mineral and oyster shell notes are hitting the sweet spot for my palate. Combines rich sunshine with cold climate and the end result is a tangy but full wine. So clean and pure, just a beautiful Chardonnay.

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  • 2012 Alta Maria Sauvignon Blanc 86 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County

    Pale straw color. Grapefruit, lime zest, rosemary and green onion aromas. Tangy acid rips across the palate of this medium-bodied wine. Flavors mirror the aromas, but a bit of creamy peach and green melon rind as well. The grass and herbal flavors aren’t too strong, and I also get some honeysuckle. Great cut to this wine. Not very deep, but quality juice.

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  • 2009 Cornerstone Cellars Sauvignon Blanc 90 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

    Clean lemon color. Green melon, lime and sea breeze on the nose, a bit of white pepper and floral notes. Crisp and tangy throughout, I get themes of lime, honeydew melon, white peach, but also underlying spice and sea brine notes, which I like. A lot of depth to this wine, equal parts creamy fruit and live-wire acid and minerals. Complex, and very delicious, begging for oysters, salads, goat cheese. I was surprised to see it’s a 2009 because, if anything, I thought this could stand a year or two. Impressive stuff, that’s for sure.

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