Community Tasting Note

NoahCap wrote:

Wednesday, September 1, 2021 - This is exactly the type of Chardonnay that I love to drink: everything is in balance with nothing sticking out, adding up to a delicious whole. If this wine were a shape, it would be a smooth sphere. It’s vibrant and fresh without being reduced to within an inch of its life (like so many high end Chardonnays on both sides of the Atlantic). Enjoyable fruit without tasting like a Starburst. Oak and some malo without tasting like a vanilla knob of butter. Acidity that is refreshing while keeping my tooth enamel intact.

A common descriptor of a wine like this is “Burgundian”, which has become a shorthand for a New World wine that is not overblown. But rather than “Burgundian”, I’d rather describe this wine as “best of the New World”. At first opening, it could, in fact, be easily be confused with white Burgundy. But as it develops, at least to me, it seems more and more New World in its aromatic/flavor profile with its warmer climate flavors of stone fruits and a bit more richness. Unfortunately, “New World” has become synonymous with super ripe fruit and high levels of extract, which really speak more to wine making style than terroir per se (debatable whether the winemaker counts as terroir, but that’s a conversation for another time). A perfect example of this “best of New World” style is Napa Cab from the 70s and 80s: not overblown at all, but still a separate beast than Bordeaux.

But returning to this wine; it is made such that the high quality, cool climate, California fruit, is allowed to fully express itself without heavy handed vinification getting in the way. The appearance is a light straw, very youthful appearing. The nose is full of lemons, lime zest, and chalk dust, as well as a bit of ripe warmer flavors of juicy yellow peaches and passionfruit. There is a wonderful acidity that causes your mouth to water…but not your eyes! The same fruits are at the fore, a chalkiness reminiscent of Chablis, medium complexity. Finish isn’t super long, but sticks around 30s or so. Half the bottle consumed on day one, second half decanted into a 375mL bottle and consumed on day 3. The day 3 wine was a bit richer, a bit “warmer”, but mostly similar. I love this stuff!

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