November 26, 2022 - This wine is done. Using it as a cooking wine now.
July 24, 2019 - Pop and pour, consumed over 2 hours. Nose: Medium expressiveness, butterscotch, pear, and lemon curd attack, subtle mineral notes appear in the mid-palate, blood orange and minerals dominate the back-end and linger thru a 30-45 second finish. My third of 4 bottles purchased in 2012, this is evolving very nicely - still a few years left, though I don't see it getting any better.
October 22, 2016 - Consumed over 2 days (vacuvined), note from day 2. Nose: Medium expressiveness, butterscotch, pear, and lemon oil with hints of licorice and wet rocks. Palate: Medium-full bodied, creamy mouth-feel, tropical fruit and melon attack, lemon zest and butter appear mid-palate, citrus driven tartness dominates the back-end. Finish: Medium length sense of tart citrus, butterscotch, and lemon butter.
June 15, 2016 - Popped and poured, consumed over 3 hours. Nose: Medium expressiveness, butterscotch, pineapple, buttered bread, and pear. Palate: Medium-full bodied, 10 years old but definitely not passed it's prime - plenty of acid and fruit structure to create beautiful balance, nice back-end lift driven by lemon citrus and persisting through a 30+ second finish.
February 1, 2015 - I have had a few Chasseurs, even a few from this vineyard and vintage. They have been big, buttery, and oaky. I am not really a huge fan of that style, but it has its place and I can appreciate it. Oddly, this wine was not buttery, nor big, and certainly not oaky. This was oddly devoid of all of those adjectives. In fact, it was pretty much devoid of flavor altogether. Very Odd. thedrunkencyclist.com
November 22, 2014 - Whoa. Buttery and oaky on the nose which lets u know this is a Cali chard. Digging deeper there is certainly some pineapple and lemon curd goodness. On the palate rich and creamy with noticeable oak but it's all in balance. Big Cali chards have their place and I will exclaim that from the highest soapbox. Outstanding. thedrunkencyclist.com
December 6, 2013 - A great example of classic American chardonnay--pineapple and buttered popcorn on the nose and great balance on the palate. Some bright zingy citrus with a lingering finish that seems to increase in intensity. Outstanding. thedrunkencyclist.com
March 20, 2013 - Also from an auction buy, but just barely showing incipient oxidation and actually quite tasty if a little fat in presentation. Nice full nose.
December 2, 2012 - This bottle is burnt out; what a shame. Totally oxidized -- poured light brown, and is dominated by nuts, apple juice, and cider vinegar.
I just bought this at auction, so it's impossible to say how it was stored up until now, i.e. there could be bottles out there still in top form.
July 31, 2011 - A little bit over Oakes for my taste but enjoyable.