Rich and creamy, pretty yellow, nose of moderate intensity, still nicely tart and fresh even though past it proported drinking window with mango, peaches, ripe apple, biscuits and a lingering finish.
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Despite age, this was really nice. Pale yellow and nose of minerals. Delicious palate of mostly minerals with a hint of lemon and peach. Soft, smooth, easy drinker!. Nice sipper with pre dinner cheese and crackers.
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Some tropicality on nose. Medium weight tending towards oakey richness. Oakier than I sometimes like, but this worked for me. Lots of cream, balanced with some interesting guava and a finishing acidity. A well made wine.
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light golden in color. mineral, floral, citrus, earth, on the nose. floral, spicy, citrus, toast, on the palate. medium acid on this zest filled finish.
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A bit of a disappointment. Over oaked but not in the usual overblown buttery way. Instead, the oak imparted a bitter note that I just couldn't get past. Decent fruit concentration but the bitterness just overwhelmed.
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This bottle was a gift but it had been well stored for approximately the past two plus years in a climate controlled cellar. If you were on a deserted island and if you could find enough ice to render the bottle ice cold and if you needed to get to get drunk, yes you could physically drink it. However, it was gone. Since I had another 100+ bottles of white wine to chose from this one went bottoms up into the kitchen sink.
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After a long picnic that saw a lot of Loire whites, various rosé wines, Rhone whites, food, etc., this magically appeared at the end of the day, and served as dessert (too hot for any more food at 90F). That's to say that yes, it can be enjoyed on it's own now (a cheese plate would have been brilliant) but also shows the structure for food and short-to-mid term cellaring potential. Plenty of spiced apples, grilled peach, quince, apricot and zesty citric dominate, with a light essence of wood kept in the distance. Medium+ finish, lively acids, medium+ mid-palate. Drink thru 2016
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Beautiful wine. Medium yellow color. Pretty nose of ripe apple, light spice, and a hint of wood. In the mouth, a beautiful, pure texture. Lightly oily but light on its feet. Great purity of fruit, with apple and pear, and a smooth texture. Good acidity and a long finish. A-
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Rich, refined nose - hazelnut, apple, bit of citrus. Nice mouthfeel, consistent throughout, but falls apart on the finish. Hot and alcoholic. Otherwise very good.
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Yellow color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of toast, vanilla and apple pie. Flavors of yellow pears, yellow apples and lemon. Medium acidity, medium to full bodied. Drink over the short term, perhaps the next 2-5 years at most.
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Clear light straw in the glass. Nice length on the fingers. Nose of light oak, melon, some tropical fruit. The palate has a nice layer of vanilla, complemented with light oak, hint of creme brulee, hazelnut. There appears to be some MLF, but it's not overpowering. Medium finish with very light acidity.
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No notes . . . recall this being somewhat simple and muted on the nose and palate except for the acidity which added some nice balance. Like the single vineyards much much more.
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Reserve California Wine Flight (Cellar on Greene, Columbia, SC): This is a very respectable bottle of wine. These people have great vineyards, a soft touch, and loads of experience creating great Chardonnay. This one did not disappoint. They have found a way, I think by picking a little less ripe, to combine some of the great characteristics of old world Chardonnay, with some of California's special nuances. At first sniff, I got a chalky minerality that is often absent from California Chardonnay. It was slightly musty, in a good way. The color is dark golden. By far the best characteristic of this wine is how they used the oak and lees treatment to bring forward a creamy richness, that is not buttery popcorn, does not continue to the finish, but simply raises the sophistication. The fruit components are equally balanced by the non fruit flavors. Probably has less than 100% malo lactic fermentation.The alcohol is completely civilized. The finish cleanses the palate without any heavy influences. Excellent.
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I remember liking this wine when I tried it about a year ago at the winery. This bottle seems to be lacking in a lot of ways. Currently it's analogous to a woman with a pretty face but no curves. Some fruit, not too crisp. Overall unexciting.
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Light nose with some butterscotch and herbal tones. Good broad mid palate with flavors that range from vanilla (not toasted) to coconut. Beautiful wine that is not overdone but extremely well balanced.
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Touch of green in pale gold. Nose of warm apples and pears, some vanilla scented oak. Soft texture, decent acidity balancing the richness. Medium finish. Nice wine.
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Pop and pour. Nose starts off with a little funk. But still beautiful bright and vibrant. Citrusy. Creamy and rich. Apple peal, melon and pear. Cane sugar. Full bodied. Low acid.
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What I like most about this wine is its ability to pick you up and take you somewhere, to give you the full experience of savoring its unique sense of place. On the nose, you are immediately greeted by sea stone and an excellent, oceanic quality. It’s extremely crisp, but there is also a bit of tropical flowers and kitchen spice that make the wine fascinatingly appealing.
This wine opens soft, with a reserved, tropical fruit, apple, and spiced pastry quality. This then gives way distinctly to a creamy, more oak-influenced core, complete with elegant vanilla and butter tones. This really is a beautiful wine, and it could be one of the most refined Chardonnays that I have had from anywhere in California. It’s just gorgeously structured, clearly with an Old World style in mind, and its finish, which seems to last indefinitely, is exceptional. Not inexpensive at $60, but this has got to be one of the finest examples of Chardonnay that I have tried at this, or any other price point, in this part of the world. I can say without a doubt, you’ll get every bit of your money’s worth from this wine.
Source: What's Worth Drinking: Post #32: Russian River Valley Chardonnay ( http://whatsworthdrinking.com/2010/06/24/post-32-russian-river-valley-chardonnay/ )
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Rote disclaimer: I don't like new world wine, RR chards are my wife's favorite wines, always looking for one that somehow rewards both of us etc...I thought at first impression this might be the ONE. Candied fruit and lots of other over-the-top aromas but it had a roundness to it that made me think initially it wasn't over-oaked. I mean, there's all kinds of stuff going on here and I was able to turn off my brain and just let it kind of wash over me for about a half hour. Then it turned, well, ugly, and the wood and alcohol asserted themselves and converted the ripe and voluptuous finish into a harsh medley of heat and toasted vanilla wood. Is this well made and of high quality? I think so. Is it the answer to saving my (wine) marriage? I think not. I suppose it's possible this is still too young and will integrate better with time, but I don't want to ever feel a good wine is this far out of whack at any stage of development. So I will simply say if this is your style you'll probably love it.
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A wine of great class and refinement, this is drinking well already. Apple and fig on the nose, with plenty of minerals. In the mouth, plush and rich, with very well integrated oak adding to the apple fruit. Refined acidity and a solid finish. A-
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Decent chardonnay, has the typical buttered popcorn of most Cali Chards and the typical hot finish, but for the region seems dialed back a couple notches. Fun quaff to drink with halibut, but for $35 not a re-buy.
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Stunning scent of caramel, clearly reminiscent of a mature Montrachet. Taste slightly flat and complacent, medium-short finish. A very well made wine for the vintage. 90+
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Too young, I know. There was too much oakiness for me and it was masking a lot of the aromas. Left a full glass for 3 hours and it was much better. Still have that butterscotch/vanilla combo but there's more showing of tropical fruit aromas with accompanying tropical fruit flavors mixed with vanilla. Decent finish. Probably would be better in a year or three.
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In the glass a light gold offering a reticent nose of peach,floral scents and light oak - In the mouth a harmonius and seamless medium bodied wine with elegance and class offering faint pineapple - a very light hint of sweetness - citrus and light oak. The wine at this young age is tight and may offer more in a year. I would like to see better concentration of flavor. The wine has a very nice elegant finish. My only fault is the QPR - Rochioli doesn't come cheap.
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4/20/2020 - rustyRudy Likes this wine: 93 Points
Rich and creamy, pretty yellow, nose of moderate intensity, still nicely tart and fresh even though past it proported drinking window with mango, peaches, ripe apple, biscuits and a lingering finish.
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7/28/2019 - cos82 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Despite age, this was really nice. Pale yellow and nose of minerals. Delicious palate of mostly minerals with a hint of lemon and peach. Soft, smooth, easy drinker!. Nice sipper with pre dinner cheese and crackers.
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8/30/2014 - Doblk Likes this wine: 91 Points
Some tropicality on nose. Medium weight tending towards oakey richness. Oakier than I sometimes like, but this worked for me. Lots of cream, balanced with some interesting guava and a finishing acidity. A well made wine.
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9/5/2013 - affordableCollector wrote: 89 Points
light golden in color. mineral, floral, citrus, earth, on the nose. floral, spicy, citrus, toast, on the palate. medium acid on this zest filled finish.
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3/22/2013 - cookiefiend wrote: flawed
Blarg - corked. Just barely, I could still smell the fruit underneath the stank.
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3/17/2013 - mgstull wrote: 85 Points
A bit of a disappointment. Over oaked but not in the usual overblown buttery way. Instead, the oak imparted a bitter note that I just couldn't get past. Decent fruit concentration but the bitterness just overwhelmed.
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1/21/2013 - paulst Likes this wine: 90 Points
Rich and full of pep; apricot-banana; spicey; 14.5% alc is there for sure; rather nice finish but a bit redundant.
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12/28/2012 - paulst Likes this wine: 88 Points
Light nose; steeley; precise with light apricot; heat; rather heavy with a coarse finish.
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11/7/2012 - paulst wrote: 89 Points
Apricot fruit with some heat and light acidity.
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8/20/2012 - plitton wrote: 90 Points
Enjoyable. Some nice oak, floral, tropical. Most expressive at cellar temp. It really closes up when iced.
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7/3/2012 - FLI wrote: 87 Points
A bit woody for my taste.
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6/24/2012 - KonaPichon wrote: 50 Points
This bottle was a gift but it had been well stored for approximately the past two plus years in a climate controlled cellar. If you were on a deserted island and if you could find enough ice to render the bottle ice cold and if you needed to get to get drunk, yes you could physically drink it. However, it was gone. Since I had another 100+ bottles of white wine to chose from this one went bottoms up into the kitchen sink.
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6/24/2012 - Tim Heaton wrote:
After a long picnic that saw a lot of Loire whites, various rosé wines, Rhone whites, food, etc., this magically appeared at the end of the day, and served as dessert (too hot for any more food at 90F). That's to say that yes, it can be enjoyed on it's own now (a cheese plate would have been brilliant) but also shows the structure for food and short-to-mid term cellaring potential. Plenty of spiced apples, grilled peach, quince, apricot and zesty citric dominate, with a light essence of wood kept in the distance. Medium+ finish, lively acids, medium+ mid-palate. Drink thru 2016
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2/27/2012 - paulst wrote: 87 Points
Rich deep burnt apricot; broad oaky texture.
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1/31/2012 - gutt22 wrote:
Beautiful wine. Medium yellow color. Pretty nose of ripe apple, light spice, and a hint of wood. In the mouth, a beautiful, pure texture. Lightly oily but light on its feet. Great purity of fruit, with apple and pear, and a smooth texture. Good acidity and a long finish. A-
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1/21/2012 - Fishboy wrote: 87 Points
Butterscotch, apple and vanilla notes.
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1/9/2012 - JPH104 wrote: 88 Points
Rich, refined nose - hazelnut, apple, bit of citrus. Nice mouthfeel, consistent throughout, but falls apart on the finish. Hot and alcoholic. Otherwise very good.
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12/11/2011 - paulst wrote: 92 Points
Lush soft with some heat; balanced and smooth; austere vanilla-apricot; lingering finish.
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12/9/2011 - Harry Cantrell wrote: 91 Points
Pale yellow. Nose was like a Peter Michael watered down 25%. Taste was exactly the same. Not bad, but on the lighter side.
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8/6/2011 - wineismylife wrote: 90 Points
Saturdays at One - Volume 55 (Farpointe Wine Bar, Southlake, Texas): WIML90
Tasted non blind at a retail tasting.
Yellow color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of toast, vanilla and apple pie. Flavors of yellow pears, yellow apples and lemon. Medium acidity, medium to full bodied. Drink over the short term, perhaps the next 2-5 years at most.
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7/21/2011 - DonWinspear wrote: 90 Points
Clear light straw in the glass. Nice length on the fingers. Nose of light oak, melon, some tropical fruit. The palate has a nice layer of vanilla, complemented with light oak, hint of creme brulee, hazelnut. There appears to be some MLF, but it's not overpowering. Medium finish with very light acidity.
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7/19/2011 - tfesmgk wrote: 91 Points
Wonderful balance of fruit, oak & acid. Not overdone. This producer is very consistent.
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7/16/2011 - Stumpy wrote: flawed
Flawed
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6/27/2011 - SUN-J wrote: 89 Points
No notes . . . recall this being somewhat simple and muted on the nose and palate except for the acidity which added some nice balance. Like the single vineyards much much more.
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5/27/2011 - Mike Kopanski wrote: 93 Points
Reserve California Wine Flight (Cellar on Greene, Columbia, SC): This is a very respectable bottle of wine. These people have great vineyards, a soft touch, and loads of experience creating great Chardonnay. This one did not disappoint. They have found a way, I think by picking a little less ripe, to combine some of the great characteristics of old world Chardonnay, with some of California's special nuances. At first sniff, I got a chalky minerality that is often absent from California Chardonnay. It was slightly musty, in a good way. The color is dark golden. By far the best characteristic of this wine is how they used the oak and lees treatment to bring forward a creamy richness, that is not buttery popcorn, does not continue to the finish, but simply raises the sophistication. The fruit components are equally balanced by the non fruit flavors. Probably has less than 100% malo lactic fermentation.The alcohol is completely civilized. The finish cleanses the palate without any heavy influences. Excellent.
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5/8/2011 - DuaneT wrote: 86 Points
I remember liking this wine when I tried it about a year ago at the winery. This bottle seems to be lacking in a lot of ways. Currently it's analogous to a woman with a pretty face but no curves. Some fruit, not too crisp. Overall unexciting.
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5/8/2011 - hanratty21 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Light nose with some butterscotch and herbal tones. Good broad mid palate with flavors that range from vanilla (not toasted) to coconut. Beautiful wine that is not overdone but extremely well balanced.
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5/6/2011 - nectar14 wrote: 90 Points
Touch of green in pale gold. Nose of warm apples and pears, some vanilla scented oak. Soft texture, decent acidity balancing the richness. Medium finish. Nice wine.
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2/13/2011 - ListenToMeWine wrote: 89 Points
Tasting note consistent with prior.
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1/8/2011 - xtrmjoe wrote: 89 Points
My system (nose mouth finish) /+/
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11/23/2010 - JOsgood wrote:
Pretty nice juice. Oak is there but not in any way overpowering. Good acids and a nice finish.
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11/3/2010 - pakabear wrote: 91 Points
Consistent notes.
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10/6/2010 - ScottGoodwin Likes this wine: 89 Points
Pop and pour. Nose starts off with a little funk. But still beautiful bright and vibrant. Citrusy. Creamy and rich. Apple peal, melon and pear. Cane sugar. Full bodied. Low acid.
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9/30/2010 - pakabear wrote: 91 Points
Great at this point, comparable to 50 dollar chards!
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9/26/2010 - Jr11454 wrote: 71 Points
Wine had turned. Bad for an expensive wine
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9/7/2010 - J-Sho wrote: 91 Points
well balanced with good mix of oak/malolactic fermentation and zip of acidity.
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8/7/2010 - willison wrote: 87 Points
Oak was over-powering and not to my taste. Good underlying structure and fruit, but hard to get past the oak.
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7/31/2010 - raydawgone wrote: 90 Points
Creamy butterscotch with almonds soaked in tangerine. Refined, almost no oak after-taste.
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7/30/2010 - NoCalKid wrote:
Drank with Shohets
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6/24/2010 - Tyler_at_WWD Likes this wine: 92 Points
What I like most about this wine is its ability to pick you up and take you somewhere, to give you the full experience of savoring its unique sense of place. On the nose, you are immediately greeted by sea stone and an excellent, oceanic quality. It’s extremely crisp, but there is also a bit of tropical flowers and kitchen spice that make the wine fascinatingly appealing.
This wine opens soft, with a reserved, tropical fruit, apple, and spiced pastry quality. This then gives way distinctly to a creamy, more oak-influenced core, complete with elegant vanilla and butter tones. This really is a beautiful wine, and it could be one of the most refined Chardonnays that I have had from anywhere in California. It’s just gorgeously structured, clearly with an Old World style in mind, and its finish, which seems to last indefinitely, is exceptional. Not inexpensive at $60, but this has got to be one of the finest examples of Chardonnay that I have tried at this, or any other price point, in this part of the world. I can say without a doubt, you’ll get every bit of your money’s worth from this wine.
Source: What's Worth Drinking: Post #32: Russian River Valley Chardonnay ( http://whatsworthdrinking.com/2010/06/24/post-32-russian-river-valley-chardonnay/ )
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6/12/2010 - ListenToMeWine wrote: 89 Points
Nice nose of vanilla and some butterscotch. Nice palate, quite a bit of classic Chardonnay here but a nice balance of minerality as well
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6/5/2010 - Xfactor wrote:
Apple nose, tropical fruit palate, well balanced.
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5/17/2010 - slywka7 wrote: 88 Points
This had a lot of oak to me. It wasn't bad at all but for people who like fresh fruit flavors this isn't a wine for you.
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5/2/2010 - rwilmeth wrote: 92 Points
Oaky, smooth, beautiful Cali chardonnay. Good fruit but well balanced. Could age a bit but not too long.
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4/23/2010 - bevetroppo wrote: 89 Points
Rote disclaimer: I don't like new world wine, RR chards are my wife's favorite wines, always looking for one that somehow rewards both of us etc...I thought at first impression this might be the ONE. Candied fruit and lots of other over-the-top aromas but it had a roundness to it that made me think initially it wasn't over-oaked. I mean, there's all kinds of stuff going on here and I was able to turn off my brain and just let it kind of wash over me for about a half hour. Then it turned, well, ugly, and the wood and alcohol asserted themselves and converted the ripe and voluptuous finish into a harsh medley of heat and toasted vanilla wood. Is this well made and of high quality? I think so. Is it the answer to saving my (wine) marriage? I think not. I suppose it's possible this is still too young and will integrate better with time, but I don't want to ever feel a good wine is this far out of whack at any stage of development. So I will simply say if this is your style you'll probably love it.
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4/17/2010 - soyhead wrote: 90 Points
limited notes. nose of smoke. elegant and clean
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4/16/2010 - gutt22 wrote:
A wine of great class and refinement, this is drinking well already. Apple and fig on the nose, with plenty of minerals. In the mouth, plush and rich, with very well integrated oak adding to the apple fruit. Refined acidity and a solid finish. A-
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4/8/2010 - spacewrangler wrote: 83 Points
Decent chardonnay, has the typical buttered popcorn of most Cali Chards and the typical hot finish, but for the region seems dialed back a couple notches. Fun quaff to drink with halibut, but for $35 not a re-buy.
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3/15/2010 - alanr wrote: 88 Points
Notes from RRV Barrel Tasting 2010: Straightforward chard, good flavors, but a bit ripe with some sweetness. Well made, but lacks any real interest.
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2/27/2010 - honest bob wrote: 90 Points
Stunning scent of caramel, clearly reminiscent of a mature Montrachet. Taste slightly flat and complacent, medium-short finish. A very well made wine for the vintage. 90+
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2/23/2010 - Love4Vino wrote:
Too young, I know. There was too much oakiness for me and it was masking a lot of the aromas. Left a full glass for 3 hours and it was much better. Still have that butterscotch/vanilla combo but there's more showing of tropical fruit aromas with accompanying tropical fruit flavors mixed with vanilla. Decent finish. Probably would be better in a year or three.
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11/6/2009 - elliotgl wrote: 90 Points
In the glass a light gold offering a reticent nose of peach,floral scents and light oak - In the mouth a harmonius and seamless medium bodied wine with elegance and class offering faint pineapple - a very light hint of sweetness - citrus and light oak. The wine at this young age is tight and may offer more in a year. I would like to see better concentration of flavor. The wine has a very nice elegant finish. My only fault is the QPR - Rochioli doesn't come cheap.
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