PnP, chilled, but continued to open through the first glass. A 5 minute decant or a 15 minute slo-ox may be best. The wine was a clear medium plus yellow. The nose showed lemon and minerality. The medium to plus bodied palate showed lots of lemon (both juice and crème) along with some green apple, pear and minerality. The acidity was quite mouth cleansing and just a bit more than needed to balance. It has been a bit over a year since our previous bottle of this wine and it continues to show advancing age - even as this bottle was a bit better than that previous one.
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Chablis like nose of lemon, citrus, dried flowers, lemon zest, and minerals. High acidity with more lemon notes, green apple, smoke, and chalk. Long finish. Outstanding CA Chardonnay. Perfectly balanced, intricate, and complex.
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Not a detailed not because I just quaffed the last drop, but this was rich, crisp, refreshing, deliciously acidic with mellow notes of ripe and preserved stone fruit. Perfect with shell-on pan fried garlic rosemary shrimp.
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Decanted this bottle for 30 minutes. The color was a clear light to medium straw yellow. Mostly minerality, with some citrus, on the nose. The medium to plus bodied palate showed lots of lemon and minerality, with no hint of oak, and very little of anything else. The acidity was quite vibrant and outran the fruit. The finish was medium and quite lemony. Overall, this bottle was consistent with our three previous bottles, all of which were purchased at auction.
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Decanted this bottle for 20 minutes. The wine was a clear medium yellow -- a bit darker than our previous bottle on 5/30/21. The nose showed lemon and minerality. The medium to plus bodied palate showed lots of lemon (both juice and crème) and some minerality. The acidity was quite mouth cleansing and just a bit more than needed to balance. This bottle was not as expressive as, and showed a bit more age than, our previous bottle. I fear our bottles of this wine, which were purchased at auction, are aging a bit prematurely.
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Finally popped the last of my magnums for Thanksgiving to pair with Jason’s delicious marinated smoked salmon. A perfect pairing. At almost 9 years of age, still singing in large format. The pronounced aromas of the Pacific are front and center, crushed seashells and salt spray. Delicious briny stone fruit. This large bottle was consumed in a flash, putting a big smile on everyone’s face as we prepared for our wonderful Thanksgiving feast.
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Delicious crisp chardonnay, simple mineral nose with a touch of honey and Indian spice. Pronounced lemon fruit on the palate, youthful. Medium finish. 12.5% Light yellow.
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Decanted for 30 minutes. The color was a clear light yellow. Citrus and minerality on the nose. The medium to plus bodied palate showed lots of lemon, a touch of lime, green apple, and minerality, with no hint of oak. The acidity is quite mouth cleansing and outruns the fruit. The finish is medium and quite lemony. This bottle was not quite as satisfying as our previous bottle on 3/12. I gave this bottle more air upfront, but it did not improve its presentation. I fear the wine is showing signs of age and should be enjoyed sooner than later. NOTE: This bottle was purchased at auction -- as were my previous bottle (3/12/21) and a few additional bottles which may account for some "premature" aging.
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Slo-oxed for 10 minutes, but this wine needs more air. The color was a light straw yellow. Green apple, citrus and a touch of minerality on the nose. The medium to plus bodied palate showed lots of lemon, green apple, and touches of grapefruit and minerality, with no hint of oak. The acidity is quite vibrant and outruns the fruit. The finish is medium and quite lemony. This wine should hold for a good 8 to 10 years after vintage, yet this bottle, at 7 1/2 years seemed to be showing signs of age. I'll give the next bottle a longer airing and see what happens.
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I remember my first bottle of this was delicious, but this bottle was not what I remember. If it wasn’t for the bottle saying it was Chardonnay I would have guessed this to lemon concentrate. All lemon all the time.
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Serious chardonnay, mineral with lemon and sea air like a Chablis. The acidity is high and this will not appeal to those who want a more typical oaky California chardonnay. The acidity might outlive the fruit, but I think this needs more bottle age. Impressive.
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From vines planted in 1980 above the coastal town of Aptos. 12.5% abv. Pale straw color, very expressive aromas. Lime, apricot, apple and pear combined with bright saline minerality. Excellent acidy, body, depth and length. Very intense and penetrating. This impressive wine should continue to age well for many more years.
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Mineral nose, lemon notes with a touch of honey, crisp and vibrant on the palate with some round depth at the back. Lovely aperitif on a warm summer evening in Tucson.
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Very pale. Nose is currently subdued but flavors are strong. Green apples, white peach, great acidity dominate over a complex whirlwind of evolving accents! Very dry and Chablis-like.
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Minerals, meyer lemon, green apple, and mediterranean herbs on the nose. High acidity with lemon, rocks, and a hint of spearmint on the palate. Long finish. I’m sure this will get better in 3-5 years.
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Creamy nose of oyster shell, lemon, white flowers, and salt water. Crystalline fruit on the palate with a hint of acidic buttterscotch, penetrating acid finish. Wonderful late night Thanksgiving wine, clearing the senses. 50 + 17 + 17 + 8 = 92.
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still very nice. more integrated than my previous bottles. the acid a bit less prominent and some very nice lemon and soft stone fruit as support. has really evolved well.
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Not really sure what to make of this. When I first opened it there was an overwhelming element of spicy oak. An hour or so later that faded, and left no notable features at all. It was just plain boring. I corked it up, and put it in the fridge for the night. Tonight it was flat and boring. Bizarre.
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This was a "wow" wine for me. Perfectly balanced and made with an elegance that you don't normally see in CA. The nose and the palate are in lock step with each other. You are initially hit with a slight bit of reduction that adds a savory quality, but then it opens up with a white floral quality, an underripe pineapple note is probably the most pronounced fruit, which is buffered by lemon and tart apple. There are light sweet creamy malo notes, which are expertly restrained; oyster shell, wet stone, and a saline quality that is drawn out by the high acidity, light smoke and a slight touch of sweet spices. Most remarkably, this manages to have a huge density and intensity of flavor while maintaining an absolutely weightless feel in the mouth. Everything in its right place.
Blind, this would be very hard to call as a CA Chardonnay, as it probably drinks closer to a GC Chablis or a 1er Cru Puligny-Montrachet. Pretty unique style, but right up there with the best domestic Chardonnays I've ever had.
Green apple, lemon, tropical fruit, and a hint of melon on the expressive nose. Very high acidity (a tad too much) with mouth coating flavors of green melon, lemon/lime, and minerals on the palate. The acidity kicks in late, but lasts. Long finish. This is not an easy drinking wine but requires attention to appreciate it. Interesting! This also changed quite a bit in the glass and got better with air and higher temperature.
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still seems young, high acidity, citrus, some chablis like character, but you can taste California. Nothing like the usual style of California chardonnay. Excellent with chicken picata
Shy aroma with subtle notes of honey, lime and oyster shell. Dominant acid on the palate with a focused fruit base and a ringing acid finish. Very bright, good with an omelette. 50 + 16 + 16 + 8 = 90. [Interesting to see the difference from my 94 rating 3 years ago. Is it evolution in the wine, bottle variation, or change in my perceptions? Time will tell.]
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12.5% alc. Crisp style, good acidity, lots of citrus. Very much what I wiah more Cal chards were. Obviously not the complexity of great Burgs, but very enjoyable. Bravo!
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Tropical fruit nose with modest oak. Very dry. Lots of citrus, tropical,flavors, and minerality. Long, complex finish. Very interesting. Sophisticated! And very good.
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Love it. Loads of citrus, crisp, great minerality and cut to it. C remarked liked quite a bit better than the grand cru Chablis we had a night or two before and I would agree. And when consider how much cheaper this is...
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Interesting nose with stone and a hint of lime, maybe popcorn. Palate is subtle and builds. Very balanced with Lemon and minerals and excellent length. Softer than great white burgundy but as long a finish. Maybe still improving since after an hour and a half after opening it was still getting more interesting.
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Annual Tasting Group Holiday Party (I Nonni, St. Paul, MN): I was really looking forward to a chance to taste this vintage tonight. Glad to get a pour. Light green color. Drank with the '09 Fevre Le Clos and I liked this a bit better than the Le Clos tonight. Both great, but there's just something about these Arnot Roberts Chards that i love. Very racy and pure, great acid and minerality always , with tremendous cut and clarity. Green fruits, lime, lemon-lime, very long, green melons, lifted, stony minerals. Loved it.
A wine that shows what California can do. This tastes like a California wine ( and I mean that in a good way) because you can actually taste it; a unique terroir for chardonnay comes through. It is like some French wines in its structure and lack of oak and circumstance. It is also not so alcoholic. High acid, citrus and mineral character, faintly and pleasantly herbal - I think this will get better with time. If you like the usual California chardonnay, you will probably not like this wine.
A delicious wine with tons of depth. Bright orchard fruit with cool, clear acidity. Wish I hadn't drank this now as I think it'll get better with time. Watch out for this bottle.
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pretty damn delicious. This has restrained - for santa cruz chard - fruit. bright, tart, mineral infused - also very pronounced acidity. The oak is noticeable - small amount of buttered popcorn - on finish, but certainly not in a cloying way. Quite a good example of great cali Chardonnay.
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Galloni used the word "precise" for this wine - I can't think of a better word. Lots of acid, albeit well balanced with everything else that's going on here. A bit Chablis-like - I've never before come across a wine like this from California. Not what I'd look for in a Chardonnay, though.
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Pale yellow. Flower and crushed rock on the nose. Tart citrus fruit and mineral-driven flavors on the palate, framed by nice acidity. I found this wine quite austere; given the backbone I'd let it rest and see where it goes. Drink starting 2018.
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Pale yellow color, fresh floral nose, richer mouth feel than the nose and palate would suggest. Palate citrus fruit, minerality and nice acidity in the finish. Really a pleasure to drink after so many rich overblown California chardonnays. This wine really begs to be consumed with food. I did not find the acidity too great for current drinking but will hold 2-3 years to see how it develops.
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Anyone who says they would get this blind as a new world is a liar. Total chablis style. Leesy. Saline. Minerals. Oyster shells.. So acidic it almost Hurts. Not for acid reflux folks. Reminds me of a young piuze. No other CA producers are doing this style. Even the unoaked trend doesn't produce a single wine remotely close to this. The Watson is so close to this that I'm not sure that's not the smarter buy.
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Wow! Open but young, too young. Lots of sea breeze and minerality. Equal parts tropical and citrus nose, but way more citrus on the palate, including acidic cut. I need to hide my remaining bottles for a bit.
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Yes, 97 points. This, for me, is the optimal style for Chardonnay. Clean, crisp, high acidity but bursting with fruit and minerals and salinity. Like squeezing lemons through a crushed stone filter. Full bodied mouthfeel, viscous, just an an absolute joy to drink. Another magnum in the cellar to age, wish I had bought more as usual. Bravo to A-R for making Chardonnay in this style!!!
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But for the excited words of tasters I respect, we would have waited on this one. Light gold with a bright, crisp, citrusy mix of lime, lemon, and grapefruit warming to pear, peach and vanilla, brimming with tingly mineral acidity. An oral alert- a vinous L.E.D. in your mouth. Very glad we did not wait.
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Wow. This is still just a baby and will continue to evolve in the bottle but man does it have some serious stuff. Super crisp, light floral notes but the minerality really takes your breathe away. I can't wait to see where this goes in another year.
Light golden color, with an expressive nose of citrus, fresh honeysuckle, and saline notes. The palate shows green apple, stone fruit, mineral, and light grapefruit flavors. Nice texture; attractive for the bright citrus flavors which are still a bit tingly with acidity, but in a pleasing way.
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Blind Dinner at Browntrout (Chicago, IL): Served blind. Very aromatic, herbal, and spicy, to the point I was pretty much convinced there was no way this was chardonnay. Little to no oak, with very high acidity. The green freshness and acidity had me thinking sauvignon blanc (and likely old world at that), despite not having any of the cat pee quality.
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Blind Dinner at Browntrout (Browntrout - Chicago, IL): Despite my promise not to open another one of these for a while, I couldn't resist. Brought this to a blind tasting, but I knew that this was mine. Very bright and tropical (at times) nose at first with tangerine and peaches. Some guessed it was a pinot gris, others thought it was Burgundy or California chardonnay. The palate was intensely mineral-driven - so different was the plush flavors that were coming through on the nose. Definitely needs some time to gain complexity and depth, but I liked this quite a bit.
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Pale yellow. Refined and elegant nose of citrus rind, buttery pastry, a hint of sea air. Crisp tart apple on the palate, driving energetically to a long finish. A beautiful ringing balanced wine with verve and character. 50+18+17+9.
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Air and temp is your friend here….drink this like a Puligny Montrachet/Chablis….very bright lemon, nectarine citrus fruit…creamed up with pear, apple, melon fruit. Has killer salty minerality..crushed stones, sea air……raw peanut, rain water, white flowers, chalk. Very fresh, clean, and vibrant….yet complexes as it warms. Reminds me of a two headed Louis……Domaine Louis Michel Chablis and Louis Carillon Puligny Monty! This wine rocks!
Came across very young and angular. The nose has some lemony, flinty notes, but was pretty closed. Same goes for the palate. Gave off nice citrus tones, but was somewhat one dimensional at this point. Will hold on my other bottles for a bit.
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3/17/2023 - VlgJeff wrote: 90 Points
PnP, chilled, but continued to open through the first glass. A 5 minute decant or a 15 minute slo-ox may be best. The wine was a clear medium plus yellow. The nose showed lemon and minerality. The medium to plus bodied palate showed lots of lemon (both juice and crème) along with some green apple, pear and minerality. The acidity was quite mouth cleansing and just a bit more than needed to balance.
It has been a bit over a year since our previous bottle of this wine and it continues to show advancing age - even as this bottle was a bit better than that previous one.
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10/8/2022 - glou.sf Likes this wine: 95 Points
Chablis like nose of lemon, citrus, dried flowers, lemon zest, and minerals. High acidity with more lemon notes, green apple, smoke, and chalk. Long finish. Outstanding CA Chardonnay. Perfectly balanced, intricate, and complex.
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7/21/2022 - wgmccallum Likes this wine: 93 Points
Not a detailed not because I just quaffed the last drop, but this was rich, crisp, refreshing, deliciously acidic with mellow notes of ripe and preserved stone fruit. Perfect with shell-on pan fried garlic rosemary shrimp.
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2/20/2022 - VlgJeff wrote: 89 Points
Decanted this bottle for 30 minutes. The color was a clear light to medium straw yellow. Mostly minerality, with some citrus, on the nose. The medium to plus bodied palate showed lots of lemon and minerality, with no hint of oak, and very little of anything else. The acidity was quite vibrant and outran the fruit. The finish was medium and quite lemony.
Overall, this bottle was consistent with our three previous bottles, all of which were purchased at auction.
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12/11/2021 - VlgJeff wrote: 90 Points
Decanted this bottle for 20 minutes. The wine was a clear medium yellow -- a bit darker than our previous bottle on 5/30/21. The nose showed lemon and minerality. The medium to plus bodied palate showed lots of lemon (both juice and crème) and some minerality. The acidity was quite mouth cleansing and just a bit more than needed to balance.
This bottle was not as expressive as, and showed a bit more age than, our previous bottle. I fear our bottles of this wine, which were purchased at auction, are aging a bit prematurely.
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11/25/2021 - markydecker Likes this wine: 97 Points
Finally popped the last of my magnums for Thanksgiving to pair with Jason’s delicious marinated smoked salmon. A perfect pairing. At almost 9 years of age, still singing in large format. The pronounced aromas of the Pacific are front and center, crushed seashells and salt spray. Delicious briny stone fruit. This large bottle was consumed in a flash, putting a big smile on everyone’s face as we prepared for our wonderful Thanksgiving feast.
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9/21/2021 - wgmccallum Likes this wine: 92 Points
Delicious crisp chardonnay, simple mineral nose with a touch of honey and Indian spice. Pronounced lemon fruit on the palate, youthful. Medium finish. 12.5% Light yellow.
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5/30/2021 - VlgJeff wrote: 90 Points
Decanted for 30 minutes. The color was a clear light yellow. Citrus and minerality on the nose. The medium to plus bodied palate showed lots of lemon, a touch of lime, green apple, and minerality, with no hint of oak. The acidity is quite mouth cleansing and outruns the fruit. The finish is medium and quite lemony.
This bottle was not quite as satisfying as our previous bottle on 3/12. I gave this bottle more air upfront, but it did not improve its presentation. I fear the wine is showing signs of age and should be enjoyed sooner than later. NOTE: This bottle was purchased at auction -- as were my previous bottle (3/12/21) and a few additional bottles which may account for some "premature" aging.
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3/12/2021 - VlgJeff wrote: 90 Points
Slo-oxed for 10 minutes, but this wine needs more air. The color was a light straw yellow. Green apple, citrus and a touch of minerality on the nose. The medium to plus bodied palate showed lots of lemon, green apple, and touches of grapefruit and minerality, with no hint of oak. The acidity is quite vibrant and outruns the fruit. The finish is medium and quite lemony.
This wine should hold for a good 8 to 10 years after vintage, yet this bottle, at 7 1/2 years seemed to be showing signs of age. I'll give the next bottle a longer airing and see what happens.
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10/1/2020 - ccotton8 wrote:
I remember my first bottle of this was delicious, but this bottle was not what I remember. If it wasn’t for the bottle saying it was Chardonnay I would have guessed this to lemon concentrate. All lemon all the time.
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8/30/2020 - wgmccallum Likes this wine: 93 Points
Nose of lime (mineral) and lime (fruit). Honeyed fruit on the palate with vibrant acids and bitter rind at the back.
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8/30/2020 - vindictive wrote:
Serious chardonnay, mineral with lemon and sea air like a Chablis. The acidity is high and this will not appeal to those who want a more typical oaky California chardonnay. The acidity might outlive the fruit, but I think this needs more bottle age. Impressive.
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6/13/2020 - Mike Dildine Likes this wine: 95 Points
From vines planted in 1980 above the coastal town of Aptos. 12.5% abv. Pale straw color, very expressive aromas. Lime, apricot, apple and pear combined with bright saline minerality. Excellent acidy, body, depth and length. Very intense and penetrating. This impressive wine should continue to age well for many more years.
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5/17/2020 - wgmccallum Likes this wine: 91 Points
Mineral nose, lemon notes with a touch of honey, crisp and vibrant on the palate with some round depth at the back. Lovely aperitif on a warm summer evening in Tucson.
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4/11/2020 - Sourdough Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very pale. Nose is currently subdued but flavors are strong. Green apples, white peach, great acidity dominate over a complex whirlwind of evolving accents! Very dry and Chablis-like.
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11/7/2019 - cartime Likes this wine: 93 Points
Lemon, mineral, white fruit. Terrific acidity. Drinking great but may improve over 2-3 years.
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9/9/2019 - Neecies Likes this wine:
Lemon, white flowers, salinity and minerality, amazing nose and great attack on the palate. Superb balance. OFS.
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8/12/2019 - UofM Likes this wine: 92 Points
Yummy! What an interesting Chardonnay. Agree with many of the previous notes; meter lemon, green apple, even a tad chalky. Wish I had more.
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3/21/2019 - glou.sf Likes this wine: 95 Points
Minerals, meyer lemon, green apple, and mediterranean herbs on the nose. High acidity with lemon, rocks, and a hint of spearmint on the palate. Long finish. I’m sure this will get better in 3-5 years.
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11/22/2018 - wgmccallum Likes this wine: 92 Points
Creamy nose of oyster shell, lemon, white flowers, and salt water. Crystalline fruit on the palate with a hint of acidic buttterscotch, penetrating acid finish. Wonderful late night Thanksgiving wine, clearing the senses. 50 + 17 + 17 + 8 = 92.
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10/27/2018 - amoryb Likes this wine:
still very nice. more integrated than my previous bottles. the acid a bit less prominent and some very nice lemon and soft stone fruit as support. has really evolved well.
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10/27/2018 - Mike Dildine Likes this wine: 95 Points
Really fine, energetic and focused with a delicious lemon zest thing going on. Singing now, but showing no sign of age.
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10/5/2018 - 560 B&W Likes this wine: 93 Points
This has definitely improved with time. Racy and delicious. Probably still hasn't peaked. 12.5%
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9/16/2018 - Rieslingfan wrote:
Not really sure what to make of this. When I first opened it there was an overwhelming element of spicy oak. An hour or so later that faded, and left no notable features at all. It was just plain boring. I corked it up, and put it in the fridge for the night. Tonight it was flat and boring. Bizarre.
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5/18/2018 - Seafoam Manor wrote: 96 Points
This was a "wow" wine for me. Perfectly balanced and made with an elegance that you don't normally see in CA. The nose and the palate are in lock step with each other. You are initially hit with a slight bit of reduction that adds a savory quality, but then it opens up with a white floral quality, an underripe pineapple note is probably the most pronounced fruit, which is buffered by lemon and tart apple. There are light sweet creamy malo notes, which are expertly restrained; oyster shell, wet stone, and a saline quality that is drawn out by the high acidity, light smoke and a slight touch of sweet spices. Most remarkably, this manages to have a huge density and intensity of flavor while maintaining an absolutely weightless feel in the mouth. Everything in its right place.
Blind, this would be very hard to call as a CA Chardonnay, as it probably drinks closer to a GC Chablis or a 1er Cru Puligny-Montrachet. Pretty unique style, but right up there with the best domestic Chardonnays I've ever had.
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5/10/2018 - glou.sf Likes this wine: 94 Points
Green apple, lemon, tropical fruit, and a hint of melon on the expressive nose. Very high acidity (a tad too much) with mouth coating flavors of green melon, lemon/lime, and minerals on the palate. The acidity kicks in late, but lasts. Long finish. This is not an easy drinking wine but requires attention to appreciate it. Interesting! This also changed quite a bit in the glass and got better with air and higher temperature.
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1/30/2018 - vindictive wrote:
still seems young, high acidity, citrus, some chablis like character, but you can taste California. Nothing like the usual style of California chardonnay. Excellent with chicken picata
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11/7/2017 - wgmccallum Likes this wine: 90 Points
Shy aroma with subtle notes of honey, lime and oyster shell. Dominant acid on the palate with a focused fruit base and a ringing acid finish. Very bright, good with an omelette. 50 + 16 + 16 + 8 = 90. [Interesting to see the difference from my 94 rating 3 years ago. Is it evolution in the wine, bottle variation, or change in my perceptions? Time will tell.]
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10/15/2017 - Mrbuzz Likes this wine:
Wonderful right now, especially day two. Very Chablis-like in the grand cru range. Buy more.
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7/4/2017 - Cote d'Or wrote:
Lean lemon stony.
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6/7/2017 - CMallard wrote: 90 Points
12.5% alc. Crisp style, good acidity, lots of citrus. Very much what I wiah more Cal chards were. Obviously not the complexity of great Burgs, but very enjoyable. Bravo!
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4/14/2017 - Sourdough Likes this wine: 93 Points
Tropical fruit nose with modest oak. Very dry. Lots of citrus, tropical,flavors, and minerality. Long, complex finish. Very interesting. Sophisticated! And very good.
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4/9/2017 - SMZ wrote: 90 Points
Better than the last bottles, but not my style
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2/28/2017 - domco wrote:
Love it. Loads of citrus, crisp, great minerality and cut to it. C remarked liked quite a bit better than the grand cru Chablis we had a night or two before and I would agree. And when consider how much cheaper this is...
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2/4/2017 - burgbob wrote: 92 Points
Interesting nose with stone and a hint of lime, maybe popcorn. Palate is subtle and builds. Very balanced with Lemon and minerals and excellent length. Softer than great white burgundy but as long a finish. Maybe still improving since after an hour and a half after opening it was still getting more interesting.
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1/1/2017 - Jahull03 wrote:
Outstanding. Acidic, mineral, and dangerously drinkable. In a great spot now
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12/9/2016 - rocknroller wrote: 94 Points
Annual Tasting Group Holiday Party (I Nonni, St. Paul, MN): I was really looking forward to a chance to taste this vintage tonight. Glad to get a pour. Light green color. Drank with the '09 Fevre Le Clos and I liked this a bit better than the Le Clos tonight. Both great, but there's just something about these Arnot Roberts Chards that i love. Very racy and pure, great acid and minerality always , with tremendous cut and clarity. Green fruits, lime, lemon-lime, very long, green melons, lifted, stony minerals. Loved it.
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10/16/2016 - peterk Likes this wine:
Crisp acidity, quite Chablis-like, not one's quintessential Cali Chardonnay
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7/6/2016 - vindictive wrote:
A wine that shows what California can do. This tastes like a California wine ( and I mean that in a good way) because you can actually taste it; a unique terroir for chardonnay comes through. It is like some French wines in its structure and lack of oak and circumstance. It is also not so alcoholic. High acid, citrus and mineral character, faintly and pleasantly herbal - I think this will get better with time. If you like the usual California chardonnay, you will probably not like this wine.
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7/4/2016 - tooch wrote: 91 Points
A delicious wine with tons of depth. Bright orchard fruit with cool, clear acidity. Wish I hadn't drank this now as I think it'll get better with time. Watch out for this bottle.
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6/29/2016 - SMZ wrote: 88 Points
Outstanding.....if you like Chablis and Savingnon Blanc....this does not, in any way, resemble a Chardonnay!
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6/12/2016 - lolo66 wrote:
pretty damn delicious. This has restrained - for santa cruz chard - fruit. bright, tart, mineral infused - also very pronounced acidity. The oak is noticeable - small amount of buttered popcorn - on finish, but certainly not in a cloying way. Quite a good example of great cali Chardonnay.
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6/5/2016 - peterk wrote:
Galloni used the word "precise" for this wine - I can't think of a better word. Lots of acid, albeit well balanced with everything else that's going on here. A bit Chablis-like - I've never before come across a wine like this from California. Not what I'd look for in a Chardonnay, though.
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5/5/2016 - WST Likes this wine:
Whoa, that's good. That's really good.
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2/6/2016 - rlove wrote: 90 Points
Pale yellow. Flower and crushed rock on the nose. Tart citrus fruit and mineral-driven flavors on the palate, framed by nice acidity. I found this wine quite austere; given the backbone I'd let it rest and see where it goes. Drink starting 2018.
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10/24/2015 - wine65 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Pale yellow color, fresh floral nose, richer mouth feel than the nose and palate would suggest. Palate citrus fruit, minerality and nice acidity in the finish. Really a pleasure to drink after so many rich overblown California chardonnays. This wine really begs to be consumed with food. I did not find the acidity too great for current drinking but will hold 2-3 years to see how it develops.
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6/30/2015 - jeffreylubowski Likes this wine: 92 Points
Anyone who says they would get this blind as a new world is a liar. Total chablis style. Leesy. Saline. Minerals. Oyster shells.. So acidic it almost Hurts. Not for acid reflux folks. Reminds me of a young piuze. No other CA producers are doing this style. Even the unoaked trend doesn't produce a single wine remotely close to this. The Watson is so close to this that I'm not sure that's not the smarter buy.
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6/22/2015 - Pierre-Yves wrote: 89 Points
Great acidity, some roundness lactic, no noticeable oak. Freshness, great minerality and precision, with some flower on top of it.
Liked it very much.
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6/21/2015 - SMZ wrote: 90 Points
I'm definitely the outlier here, but this seems more like a Sauvignon Blanc than a Chardonnay. Citrus and tropical notes. Not really my style.
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5/23/2015 - WST Likes this wine:
Wow! Open but young, too young. Lots of sea breeze and minerality. Equal parts tropical and citrus nose, but way more citrus on the palate, including acidic cut. I need to hide my remaining bottles for a bit.
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5/13/2015 - markydecker Likes this wine: 97 Points
Yes, 97 points. This, for me, is the optimal style for Chardonnay. Clean, crisp, high acidity but bursting with fruit and minerals and salinity. Like squeezing lemons through a crushed stone filter. Full bodied mouthfeel, viscous, just an an absolute joy to drink. Another magnum in the cellar to age, wish I had bought more as usual. Bravo to A-R for making Chardonnay in this style!!!
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3/8/2015 - Onthelees Likes this wine:
But for the excited words of tasters I respect, we would have waited on this one. Light gold with a bright, crisp, citrusy mix of lime, lemon, and grapefruit warming to pear, peach and vanilla, brimming with tingly mineral acidity. An oral alert- a vinous L.E.D. in your mouth. Very glad we did not wait.
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2/19/2015 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Bill says insanely bonkers. And it is.
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2/7/2015 - DaButtah Likes this wine: 94 Points
Wow. This is still just a baby and will continue to evolve in the bottle but man does it have some serious stuff. Super crisp, light floral notes but the minerality really takes your breathe away. I can't wait to see where this goes in another year.
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1/10/2015 - scott davis wrote: 91 Points
Light golden color, with an expressive nose of citrus, fresh honeysuckle, and saline notes. The palate shows green apple, stone fruit, mineral, and light grapefruit flavors. Nice texture; attractive for the bright citrus flavors which are still a bit tingly with acidity, but in a pleasing way.
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12/18/2014 - acyso wrote: 90 Points
Blind Dinner at Browntrout (Chicago, IL): Served blind. Very aromatic, herbal, and spicy, to the point I was pretty much convinced there was no way this was chardonnay. Little to no oak, with very high acidity. The green freshness and acidity had me thinking sauvignon blanc (and likely old world at that), despite not having any of the cat pee quality.
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12/18/2014 - tooch wrote: 91 Points
Blind Dinner at Browntrout (Browntrout - Chicago, IL): Despite my promise not to open another one of these for a while, I couldn't resist. Brought this to a blind tasting, but I knew that this was mine. Very bright and tropical (at times) nose at first with tangerine and peaches. Some guessed it was a pinot gris, others thought it was Burgundy or California chardonnay. The palate was intensely mineral-driven - so different was the plush flavors that were coming through on the nose. Definitely needs some time to gain complexity and depth, but I liked this quite a bit.
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12/15/2014 - wgmccallum Likes this wine: 94 Points
Pale yellow. Refined and elegant nose of citrus rind, buttery pastry, a hint of sea air. Crisp tart apple on the palate, driving energetically to a long finish. A beautiful ringing balanced wine with verve and character. 50+18+17+9.
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12/5/2014 - Mrbuzz Likes this wine: 94 Points
Air and temp is your friend here….drink this like a Puligny Montrachet/Chablis….very bright lemon, nectarine citrus fruit…creamed up with pear, apple, melon fruit. Has killer salty minerality..crushed stones, sea air……raw peanut, rain water, white flowers, chalk. Very fresh, clean, and vibrant….yet complexes as it warms. Reminds me of a two headed Louis……Domaine Louis Michel Chablis and Louis Carillon Puligny Monty! This wine rocks!
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11/22/2014 - tooch wrote:
Came across very young and angular. The nose has some lemony, flinty notes, but was pretty closed. Same goes for the palate. Gave off nice citrus tones, but was somewhat one dimensional at this point. Will hold on my other bottles for a bit.
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11/16/2014 - 560 B&W wrote: 92 Points
By 2013, could the Napa cuvÈe actually be better?
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