This is really excellent with a little age. The young TG wines are often a bit tight - though outstanding. It's great to see how this unfurls after a few more years in bottle. Drink now, if you like, but it's not fading or anything.
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Bright lemon color Medium plus aromas - quite reductive at first with rubber aromas but eventually blowing off with a crisp apple and a mind-blowing mineral/ saline aroma Medium plus bodied with palate of bright yellow apple and salinity - really fruit driven palate with that acid/fruit Chardonnay core - really a contrast to the nose Medium plus acidity and medium alcohol with. minimal phenolics Moderate length led by fruit and acid Last of six bottles - Hadn't noted any reductive qualities previously but they are there in this bottle - my previous notes had even mentioned a bruised apple character which is not here at all - possibly the best bottle of the lot! Drinking very well now but based on this bottle there's probably years to go
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Blind tasting Lemon with gold reflections. Aromatics medium +. Reductive upon opening with a pungent rubber note that slowing fades to matchstick and later buttered popcorn. Possibly some pear underneath all of this Palate has a medium + body, rounded mouthfeel. Acid medium +. No phenolics. Alcohol medium +. Baked yellow apple, intense minerality with some of the above matchstick. Finish has a medium + length. Balanced Dry glass notes of matchstick I guessed Santa Barbara Chardonnay In reviewed by 3 prior tasting notes, this is the first that discussed reduction. Regardless, still a beautiful and different wine. Drink now based upon my other notes, but this bottle still has years given reduction.
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Per usual, this is my type of wine. My wife would disagree. Pale gold color with nice acidity but not too much. All citrus, saline and maybe yellow apple as other have commented. Lovely.
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Two days ago a bottle of the Watson Ranch (same vintage) left me pretty underwhelmed; this Trout Gulch is another story entirely. It's peculiarly neon yellow in color (comparatively anyway) with an almost pungent, saline bite to the aromas that really whets the taste buds. It's there on the palate too, along with super bright citrus and a slight sulfurous, matchstick-like quality. Very nice, and the 13.5 % alc. still surprises me, but it's nowhere in evidence.
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Butterscotch in a A-R chardonnay?! Utterly atypical, but ended up pleasing palates accustomed to more "traditional" domestic Chardonnay. There was good acidity there, but the flavor profile is not what I want from this wine.
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Medium yellow with hints of gold. Peach, honey, cumin on the nose, a hint of toast. Wide spread of peach and citrus fruit on the palate, palate soaking flavor with crisp acid edges, medium body, high acid, low to medium alcohol, long finish. Great balance and intensity.
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Light/ medium gold color Medium intensity aromas of fresh/ bruised yellow apples but dominated by intense dry stone/ chalk aromas - faint oxidative notes Absolutely gorgeous fruit driven palate of ripe and bruised yellow and red apples with hints of pineapple Medium plus acidity and medium alcohol Persistent finish led by fruit and acid Drinking very well now - suppose we have a number of years to go but not sure about improvement
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Yes! perfect chardonnay with all that illusive pungent perfume and that fresh lemony, apple wedge attack and a long rolling medium bodied mid palate that leaves nothing in the bottle. And the finish is balanced and contemplative.
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No formal notes, but I enjoyed this quite a bit more than in the past. Nice acidity with lots of lemon, citrus, Granny Smith apples, and minerals. Didn’t feel as ripe on the palate as the last bottles.
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I’d forgotten how good this is. The searing acidity feels more balanced as the fruit has dropped into a golden equilibrium. Awesome chardonnay and probably underpriced.
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Double blind tasting Pale gold Aromatics medium +. Gold bruised apple, spice. Possibly some yellow flower. Palate has medium body. Acid medium +. No phenolics. Alcohol medium. Sweet lemon, ripe yellow apple. Finish has medium length. Balanced I thought this was old world given structure Drinking well now. Has structure to age though. Looking back at my prior tasting notes 1 and 3 years ago, color has aged, fruit is still there, but I didn't get the minerality again. Still wonderful experience
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Medium gold color Medium plus aromas of fresh and bruised golden apple with dried spice and carried by beautiful minerality which gives this wine an ethereal feel Medium bodied with palate of beautiful fresh and bruised apple and candied lemon peel with touch of green herbs and intense dry minerality Medium plus acidity which dominates - medium alcohol and a nice length This wine appears to improving with time as suspected - I really enjoy the bruised apple character which is developing, though as noted the minerality continues to carry this wine Drink now or hold 5-10 yrs
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Citrus, honey, pineapple, ocean/saline air, and a touch of vanilla. Superb acidity on the palate - lip smacking. Hints of stone fruit and ample citrus. Very good. Still very young.
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Medium yellow with a hint of gold. Aromas of figs, lemon, honey, a touch of vanilla and a hint of sea. air. Penetrating fruit on the palate with a bolt of crackling acid down the middle, almost full bodied while maintaining an electric lightness, a sweet spread of stone fruit flavors towards the back with some aromatic back notes of preserved lemon and honey. Complex, compelling, complete. 13. 5% alcohol.
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Expressive nose of green apple, citrus, chamomile, and chalk. Lovely acidity with lime, lemon oil, and minerals on the palate. Good finish. I liked this more than the last bottle we had about 2 years ago. Still somewhat ripe on the palate (at least for an Arnot-Roberts) but with excellent cut.
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With bottle age score is up two points. Everything in earlier notes applies, and now a slightly darker color and weight has been gained. Notes of honey, beeswax, a little earth. Simply outstanding.
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A bright fragrant, citrus nose. Well defined on the palate: lemon, minerals, hint of oak. Continues with the finish. A rare CA wine that resembles a quality French Chablis. I could see some finding the citrus, acidic dimensions a bit unusual for CA wine; no candied anything with this wine. I would estimate that this wine still has years of cellar time ahead.
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The cork crumbled away but the wine is just fine -- remarkably fine in fact. This is the antithesis of 'California Chardonnay.' Bright and positively saline with mouthwatering acidity. This strikes me as so à point right now that I want to drink up my remaining bottles -- could they get any better? Granted, the wine is not so complex as some of the Chablis it often gets compared with, but it is a genuine pleasure. At 13.5% alc. this has me rethinking what I thought I knew about ripeness levels.
13.5% abv. Pale wheat in color, excellent aromatics. Lemon zest, pear, wet stone and floral highlights. Very deep and long, great oily mouthfeel. This is exceptional, delicious Chardonnay. Should hold a fine plateau for years to come.
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Single blind tasting Clear straw with lemon reflections Aromatics medium+. Initially grass, green herbs and peppercorn moving towards rocks and green apples the longer one waits. No oak Palate medium+. Acid medium+, throughout the mouth. Mild phenolics. Medium alcohol. Lemons and chalk. Finish has a medium+ length and is balanced. Reminds me of a Chablis with aromatics I could smell all day. I feel it is ready to drink now, but could be held to see what else develops in the nose.
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Light gold - crystal clear Medium plus aromas of yellow apples and citrus with green herbs and dry rock minerality - splendid Medium plus palate of apples and some white pepper/ herbs with a striking dry minerality that really carries this wine Medium plus mouth filling acidity which is very harmonious - medium alcohol and great length No real change on day 2 - corked in the fridge This wine is so nice and drinking very well now but I see this improving over the next 5-10 yrs
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Excellent. Nose of cream and apricot. A wine of cream, lemon, minerals/flint and spice. Acid is nicely integrated now. Long citrus finish. Opens nicely over an hour or so.
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13.5% abv. Medium straw, very expressive aromas. Lemon, papaya, peach and cinnamon on the palate. Excellent depth, outstanding length, grippy and savory. Years of great drinking ahead.
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Aromas of caramelized pineapple, lemon, a hint of cumin. Rich fruit on the palate with great acid energy, taught and opulent at the same time, wonderful balance.
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PnP, consumed over two nights. I agree that this is bigger than usual, but it is still deft and delightful. Reminds me of premier cru Chablis. And I would say the prime drinking window just opened. Mid+ body, mid++ acid, 13.5%
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Shy nose of lees, dried apricots, white pepper. Focused intense fruit on the palate with a precise acid balance and a measured modulation to a crisp acid finish; precise but not dynamic. Very pleasing, a little uncontoured.
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Tasted over 2 hrs -translucent pale gold green -citrus saline and mildly sickly sweet pineapple-ish note wet stone -med+ acidity, med- weight tangy sweet citrus bitter note on finish -old world style with a bit of nearly tropical fruit
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Green apple, flint, chamomile, and smoke on the nose. Good acidity with citrus flavors and stone fruit notes on the palate. Good finish. A bit richer and maybe not quite as good as other vintages. 91+
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PnP, chilled. Nose of citrus and minerals. Same on the medium to plus palate with the citrus blossoming alongside stone fruits. Plenty of acidity to balance and cleanse. This is one fine CA chard. Should hold for many years. Opened earlier than I like, but it was the most available bottle to replace a premoxed '07 Fevre GC Vaudesir.
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Light gold color. Medium(+) aromas of honey/ golden apples/ ripe stone fruit and a touch of smoke and salt with light touch of oak. Medium(+) palate of golden apple and again some salinity.Medium(+) acidity and very nice length. Somewhat linear on the palate. This is really a nice wine.
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Single blind tasting Light straw color Medium plus aromatics. Golden apples with mild oak. Palate of medium acidity with green apples with salt. Linear mouth feel with nice finish. Seems more old world than typical new world Chardonnay
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Lemon and pineapple on the nose with a nice whisper of oak. Crackling acid fruit on the palate with deep drive and focus, long acid finish. 50 + 16 + 17 + 9 = 92.
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I have now had several bottles over last 6 months and this just keeps getting better. Would recommend decanting first and give it 30 minutes or more to open up. Light lemon oil flavors, green apple and fennel as well. Bright, high acid. Will take on more depth with a few more years. Needs food now.
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Golden hay color. Rich aromas of red apple, clementine, peach, popcorn kernels, honey, jasmine, and lemon merengue. Powerful and especially noticeable lingering acidity. Apple, lemon pie, spiced orange, and oak on the palette. Nice components but unharmonious. Likely an off-year with unusually high acidity due to climate.
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Tasted along side a Walter Scott 2015 X-Novo Chard. This was more forward and approachable with great concentration and depth already. Rich fruit concentration with lots of spice and good acid-driven structure to hold it together. Long finish. Drinking splendidly now.
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Straw colored - crystal clear. Medium(+) aromas of yellow/ green apples with underlying smoke and minerality. Linear but intense palate of apples/ citrus and touch of tarragon. Also buttery mouthfeel, presumably from malo? Long finish with intense minerality/ chalk/ salinity. Medium acidity. This is really fantastic New World Chardonnay. Made in Old World style, but not quite letting go of California.
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Starts off smoky with struck match. Uncertain if it is reductive or if that's just how the wine is expressing itself; either way, it's more of a feature than a bug. Once the smoke and flint blows off, it remains very mineral. Tart lemon curd and unripe apple. Clean, salty, beautiful chard with great acid.
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Beautiful gold color, citrus like aromas, full bodied, beautiful smooth texture, long legs, intense apple, lemon, and pear flavors with razor sharp acidity that gives it a zesty and ethereal feel. Cuts the palate in a big way. A great wine at any price.
Kept its form over several days, showing more stony novacaine aromas and mineral complexity on day 2. Yes a bit warmer than prior vintages but likely to show its best 2018-2020 as more of that baby fat recedes. 90-91.
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A tasty bottle with a reasonable if not superior amount of weeknight complexity. With about an hour of time open some delightful funk comes through over the clean but rich yellow and white Asian fruits.
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Nose is of crème fraîche, orchard fruit and a beautiful nutty, soon to be truffley, aroma. Absolutely beautiful. Palate is of bracing acidity that vibrates almost numbs the tongue, salty and saline. So so good. Give it at least five years if you can hold off. I’m positive it will be something truly special.
As I finished writing this I gave this another whiff. It’s been in the glass for 30 minutes now and fruit has gone from being front and center to playing harmoniously with the nutty aromas. As I said, wait or decant.
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One of the best Cali Chardonnays I have had. Love the acidity. Such a good complement to food. If you have backed away from California chards because of the oaky butter bombs that seem to flood the market, this is the wine for you. Think a young Chablis on steroids.
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Riper than usual for sure, but still great tension and nice acid. Citrus, florals, some creaminess but not too fat at all. Great right now but will still benefit from some time in bottle.
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As a trout fisherman I love the name--can just picture the fish hanging in the gulch. Unique label with not a word on the front. Plenty of mineral but I am thinking the lemon overwhelms at this point. I would wait at least a year for it to gel.
Bright yellow. First bottle showing some secondary complexity, with a whiff truffle, and then it is all seashells by the seashore. Intense saline minerality and crisp acidity on the palate, if also showing some of the ripeness of the vintage. I love these wines.
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Excellent. More burgundy or really chablis than california. But it is santa Cruz and ridge and rhys and mount eden turn out some interesting chard like this too so maybe there's something there. Very ocean spray, salty, Briney, oyster shells, lemon. Racy but with a kiss of oak. Great now and great later.
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Bright yellow. Expressive nose of melon, citrus blossom, and seabreeze. On the ripe side for Trout Gulch, but still offering that vineyard's intense saline minerality and crisp acidity. This is more accessible than previous bottles but will still reward patience.
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This is a solid Chardonnay that has delicate lemon cream aromas and flavor profile. It does present a bit of an initial edge but softens with time in the glass. Nice touch of oak adds complexity with structure. Nice finish and strong effort.
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Very light straw. Nose of citrus peel, melon, and oyster shell. On the palate, racy, vibrant acidity frames minerality and salinity that dominate subtle citrus oil flavors. The 2015 Trout Gulch is still restrained but already offering a glimpse of its gorgeous future.
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I really, really liked this, but expect it may not appeal to everyone. This is the most "French", least "California", Chardonnay in style I've ever had. Some citrus fruit, but highly restrained. Dominant elements are strong minerality , salinity, like oyster shells. Should be great with fresh seafood.
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Very light straw. Nose of citrus blossom, melon, and oyster shell. On the palate, mineral and saline flavors brace subtle citrus. Racy, vibrant, gorgeous. The 2015 Trout Gulch is less accessible at this age than other vintages but will open up with time.
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Bright and relatively clean candied citrus notes to the nose and palate. Doesn't really come across as much new oak at all. Obviously no malo. Great bottle of Chardonnay, at odd with the perceived domestic model.
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A fun bottle! Needs food - will serve as a balancing component to something rich. I'd love to open one of these up near a grill outside with friends. It has the brightness of Chablis with the stone and rock of a German Riesling.
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full bodied with the type of balance that is typically from a French white burgundy. Lemon and tropical fruit. Excellent wine that seems to reflect California big flavors while suggesting the finesse of the French burgundy wines.
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Light gold with clearing. Medium aromas of lemon zest with stone fruits and wonderful smoke. Great on the palate, with more lemon and some yellow apple. Chalk as well with lingering salinity. Good length and medium(+) acidity. Great finesse in this wine, will age at least 3-5 years, prob longer. Most Chablis-like California Chardonnay I have had, a delightful experience.
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Young apricot, pineapple, pears, lime, lemon, minerals and some flint notes on this expressive but still very elegant Chardonnay. Fantastic acidity with great precision and a mouthwatering finish. Definitely my style of Chardonnay.
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Expressive nose of citrus, smoke, and oyster shell. Racy and vibrant in the mouth, with mineral and saline flavors. Just gorgeous! The 2015 Trout Gulch Vineyard is among the finest examples of California Chardonnay. This should evolve positively for several years; I suspect my score is low.
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My favorite California Chardonnay terroir. Another fantastic example of premier cru Chablis (oh wait, it's California)! Acidity and fruit for miles, in perfect harmony. Crushed stones and flint, seashells. So hard to keep the corks in these. What an incredible wine. I'm hooked.
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(Pick-up day) A tasting portion of this was just about enough to confirm that it is, once again, the top white wine from this source. Where the Watson Ranch was very reserved, this was racier and deeper. You could put this on the table tonight and be pleased. A 2014 opened a couple of weeks ago was terrific, and a 2011, also open at the winery today, was going strong, suggesting that for a few years after release this wine only improves. The one wine I bought more of today.
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4/29/2024 - Kloseframe Likes this wine: 93 Points
This is really excellent with a little age. The young TG wines are often a bit tight - though outstanding. It's great to see how this unfurls after a few more years in bottle. Drink now, if you like, but it's not fading or anything.
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9/11/2023 - wgmccallum Likes this wine: 94 Points
From memory, sophisticated balance of citrus and tropical fruits, utterly delicious melding of honey and acids on the palate. A lovely wine.
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7/24/2023 - dsamuel Likes this wine: 92 Points
Bright lemon color
Medium plus aromas - quite reductive at first with rubber aromas but eventually blowing off with a crisp apple and a mind-blowing mineral/ saline aroma
Medium plus bodied with palate of bright yellow apple and salinity - really fruit driven palate with that acid/fruit Chardonnay core - really a contrast to the nose
Medium plus acidity and medium alcohol with. minimal phenolics
Moderate length led by fruit and acid
Last of six bottles - Hadn't noted any reductive qualities previously but they are there in this bottle - my previous notes had even mentioned a bruised apple character which is not here at all - possibly the best bottle of the lot!
Drinking very well now but based on this bottle there's probably years to go
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7/23/2023 - S.Wayne Likes this wine: 92 Points
Blind tasting
Lemon with gold reflections.
Aromatics medium +. Reductive upon opening with a pungent rubber note that slowing fades to matchstick and later buttered popcorn. Possibly some pear underneath all of this
Palate has a medium + body, rounded mouthfeel. Acid medium +. No phenolics. Alcohol medium +. Baked yellow apple, intense minerality with some of the above matchstick.
Finish has a medium + length. Balanced
Dry glass notes of matchstick
I guessed Santa Barbara Chardonnay
In reviewed by 3 prior tasting notes, this is the first that discussed reduction. Regardless, still a beautiful and different wine.
Drink now based upon my other notes, but this bottle still has years given reduction.
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7/5/2023 - UofM Likes this wine: 91 Points
Per usual, this is my type of wine. My wife would disagree. Pale gold color with nice acidity but not too much. All citrus, saline and maybe yellow apple as other have commented. Lovely.
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5/16/2023 - slanum wrote:
Two days ago a bottle of the Watson Ranch (same vintage) left me pretty underwhelmed; this Trout Gulch is another story entirely. It's peculiarly neon yellow in color (comparatively anyway) with an almost pungent, saline bite to the aromas that really whets the taste buds. It's there on the palate too, along with super bright citrus and a slight sulfurous, matchstick-like quality. Very nice, and the 13.5 % alc. still surprises me, but it's nowhere in evidence.
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2/8/2023 - Michael T. Zoppo wrote:
Butterscotch in a A-R chardonnay?! Utterly atypical, but ended up pleasing palates accustomed to more "traditional" domestic Chardonnay. There was good acidity there, but the flavor profile is not what I want from this wine.
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12/15/2022 - wgmccallum Likes this wine: 93 Points
Medium yellow with hints of gold. Peach, honey, cumin on the nose, a hint of toast. Wide spread of peach and citrus fruit on the palate, palate soaking flavor with crisp acid edges, medium body, high acid, low to medium alcohol, long finish. Great balance and intensity.
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12/4/2022 - qcwino wrote:
Consumed with lots of bottles on a Sunday funday. It held up. Acidity was decent. Clearly cali but refined. Drink these young if you want them to pop.
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11/20/2022 - dsamuel Likes this wine: 92 Points
Light/ medium gold color
Medium intensity aromas of fresh/ bruised yellow apples but dominated by intense dry stone/ chalk aromas - faint oxidative notes
Absolutely gorgeous fruit driven palate of ripe and bruised yellow and red apples with hints of pineapple
Medium plus acidity and medium alcohol
Persistent finish led by fruit and acid
Drinking very well now - suppose we have a number of years to go but not sure about improvement
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9/5/2022 - R.H. Likes this wine:
A trout that does rip the enamel off your teeth? I’m lost, but also happy to be drinking it
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7/2/2022 - Omar Khayyam Likes this wine: 96 Points
Yes! perfect chardonnay with all that illusive pungent perfume and that fresh lemony, apple wedge attack and a long rolling medium bodied mid palate that leaves nothing in the bottle. And the finish is balanced and contemplative.
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4/24/2022 - ledwards wrote: 94 Points
Best bottle yet. Great spot- fully integrated and showing some depth.
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4/2/2022 - glou.sf Likes this wine: 93 Points
No formal notes, but I enjoyed this quite a bit more than in the past. Nice acidity with lots of lemon, citrus, Granny Smith apples, and minerals. Didn’t feel as ripe on the palate as the last bottles.
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2/28/2022 - Jahull03 wrote:
I’d forgotten how good this is. The searing acidity feels more balanced as the fruit has dropped into a golden equilibrium. Awesome chardonnay and probably underpriced.
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10/11/2021 - S.Wayne Likes this wine: 92 Points
Double blind tasting
Pale gold
Aromatics medium +. Gold bruised apple, spice. Possibly some yellow flower.
Palate has medium body. Acid medium +. No phenolics. Alcohol medium. Sweet lemon, ripe yellow apple.
Finish has medium length. Balanced
I thought this was old world given structure
Drinking well now. Has structure to age though.
Looking back at my prior tasting notes 1 and 3 years ago, color has aged, fruit is still there, but I didn't get the minerality again. Still wonderful experience
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9/29/2021 - dsamuel Likes this wine: 92 Points
Medium gold color
Medium plus aromas of fresh and bruised golden apple with dried spice and carried by beautiful minerality which gives this wine an ethereal feel
Medium bodied with palate of beautiful fresh and bruised apple and candied lemon peel with touch of green herbs and intense dry minerality
Medium plus acidity which dominates - medium alcohol and a nice length
This wine appears to improving with time as suspected - I really enjoy the bruised apple character which is developing, though as noted the minerality continues to carry this wine
Drink now or hold 5-10 yrs
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7/10/2021 - bravo.solares Likes this wine: 91 Points
Citrus, honey, pineapple, ocean/saline air, and a touch of vanilla. Superb acidity on the palate - lip smacking. Hints of stone fruit and ample citrus. Very good. Still very young.
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5/29/2021 - wgmccallum Likes this wine: 95 Points
Medium yellow with a hint of gold. Aromas of figs, lemon, honey, a touch of vanilla and a hint of sea. air. Penetrating fruit on the palate with a bolt of crackling acid down the middle, almost full bodied while maintaining an electric lightness, a sweet spread of stone fruit flavors towards the back with some aromatic back notes of preserved lemon and honey. Complex, compelling, complete. 13. 5% alcohol.
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2/1/2021 - glou.sf Likes this wine: 92 Points
Expressive nose of green apple, citrus, chamomile, and chalk. Lovely acidity with lime, lemon oil, and minerals on the palate. Good finish. I liked this more than the last bottle we had about 2 years ago. Still somewhat ripe on the palate (at least for an Arnot-Roberts) but with excellent cut.
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1/22/2021 - markydecker Likes this wine: 96 Points
With bottle age score is up two points. Everything in earlier notes applies, and now a slightly darker color and weight has been gained. Notes of honey, beeswax, a little earth. Simply outstanding.
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12/22/2020 - davidb18 Likes this wine: 94 Points
A bright fragrant, citrus nose. Well defined on the palate: lemon, minerals, hint of oak. Continues with the finish. A rare CA wine that resembles a quality French Chablis. I could see some finding the citrus, acidic dimensions a bit unusual for CA wine; no candied anything with this wine. I would estimate that this wine still has years of cellar time ahead.
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12/20/2020 - slanum wrote:
The cork crumbled away but the wine is just fine -- remarkably fine in fact. This is the antithesis of 'California Chardonnay.' Bright and positively saline with mouthwatering acidity. This strikes me as so à point right now that I want to drink up my remaining bottles -- could they get any better? Granted, the wine is not so complex as some of the Chablis it often gets compared with, but it is a genuine pleasure. At 13.5% alc. this has me rethinking what I thought I knew about ripeness levels.
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10/18/2020 - Mike Dildine Likes this wine: 96 Points
13.5% abv. Pale wheat in color, excellent aromatics. Lemon zest, pear, wet stone and floral highlights. Very deep and long, great oily mouthfeel. This is exceptional, delicious Chardonnay. Should hold a fine plateau for years to come.
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8/30/2020 - wgmccallum Likes this wine: 92 Points
Figs, cumin, mellow yellow on the mineral nose. Rich fruit on the palate well supported with crisp acids.
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7/18/2020 - gudetama Likes this wine: 90 Points
Opened without decanting for about four hours. Still needs time. Gonna open another bottle in another year or two. Probably two.
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6/30/2020 - S.Wayne Likes this wine: 92 Points
Single blind tasting
Clear straw with lemon reflections
Aromatics medium+. Initially grass, green herbs and peppercorn moving towards rocks and green apples the longer one waits. No oak
Palate medium+. Acid medium+, throughout the mouth. Mild phenolics. Medium alcohol. Lemons and chalk.
Finish has a medium+ length and is balanced.
Reminds me of a Chablis with aromatics I could smell all day.
I feel it is ready to drink now, but could be held to see what else develops in the nose.
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6/30/2020 - dsamuel Likes this wine: 92 Points
Light gold - crystal clear
Medium plus aromas of yellow apples and citrus with green herbs and dry rock minerality - splendid
Medium plus palate of apples and some white pepper/ herbs with a striking dry minerality that really carries this wine
Medium plus mouth filling acidity which is very harmonious - medium alcohol and great length
No real change on day 2 - corked in the fridge
This wine is so nice and drinking very well now but I see this improving over the next 5-10 yrs
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5/18/2020 - davidb18 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Excellent. Nose of cream and apricot. A wine of cream, lemon, minerals/flint and spice. Acid is nicely integrated now. Long citrus finish. Opens nicely over an hour or so.
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5/15/2020 - Mike Dildine Likes this wine: 94 Points
13.5% abv. Medium straw, very expressive aromas. Lemon, papaya, peach and cinnamon on the palate. Excellent depth, outstanding length, grippy and savory. Years of great drinking ahead.
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4/29/2020 - wgmccallum Likes this wine: 93 Points
Aromas of caramelized pineapple, lemon, a hint of cumin. Rich fruit on the palate with great acid energy, taught and opulent at the same time, wonderful balance.
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3/23/2020 - R.H. wrote:
Good! Would drink over next few years
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1/11/2020 - Bob23 Likes this wine: 92 Points
I like it - good acidity, a little lighter weight than the ceritas version from this vineyard.
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12/11/2019 - 560 B&W Likes this wine: 93 Points
PnP, consumed over two nights. I agree that this is bigger than usual, but it is still deft and delightful. Reminds me of premier cru Chablis. And I would say the prime drinking window just opened. Mid+ body, mid++ acid, 13.5%
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9/4/2019 - BHP1994 wrote: 92 Points
Lovely!
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7/18/2019 - wgmccallum Likes this wine: 90 Points
Shy nose of lees, dried apricots, white pepper. Focused intense fruit on the palate with a precise acid balance and a measured modulation to a crisp acid finish; precise but not dynamic. Very pleasing, a little uncontoured.
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7/4/2019 - Cote d'Or wrote:
Tasted over 2 hrs
-translucent pale gold green
-citrus saline and mildly sickly sweet pineapple-ish note wet stone
-med+ acidity, med- weight tangy sweet citrus bitter note on finish
-old world style with a bit of nearly tropical fruit
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5/17/2019 - yaCellar Likes this wine: 91 Points
Agreed this is not remarkable like other vintages, though certainly a nice bottle of chard. Ripeness meets acid, flint and salinity.
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3/4/2019 - glou.sf Likes this wine: 91 Points
Green apple, flint, chamomile, and smoke on the nose. Good acidity with citrus flavors and stone fruit notes on the palate. Good finish. A bit richer and maybe not quite as good as other vintages. 91+
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2/17/2019 - 560 B&W Likes this wine: 93 Points
PnP. Delightful. Mid body, high acid, 13.5%.
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2/9/2019 - THECORKDORK Likes this wine: 92 Points
Great bottle of AR Chard, slightly tropical and floral. A baby still- should revisit in another 3 years.
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11/9/2018 - VlgJeff wrote: 91 Points
PnP, chilled. Nose of citrus and minerals. Same on the medium to plus palate with the citrus blossoming alongside stone fruits. Plenty of acidity to balance and cleanse. This is one fine CA chard. Should hold for many years.
Opened earlier than I like, but it was the most available bottle to replace a premoxed '07 Fevre GC Vaudesir.
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11/6/2018 - dsamuel Likes this wine: 91 Points
Light gold color. Medium(+) aromas of honey/ golden apples/ ripe stone fruit and a touch of smoke and salt with light touch of oak. Medium(+) palate of golden apple and again some salinity.Medium(+) acidity and very nice length. Somewhat linear on the palate. This is really a nice wine.
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11/5/2018 - S.Wayne Likes this wine: 90 Points
Single blind tasting
Light straw color
Medium plus aromatics. Golden apples with mild oak.
Palate of medium acidity with green apples with salt. Linear mouth feel with nice finish.
Seems more old world than typical new world Chardonnay
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10/20/2018 - wgmccallum Likes this wine: 92 Points
Lemon and pineapple on the nose with a nice whisper of oak. Crackling acid fruit on the palate with deep drive and focus, long acid finish. 50 + 16 + 17 + 9 = 92.
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9/3/2018 - acidqueen wrote: 93 Points
I have now had several bottles over last 6 months and this just keeps getting better. Would recommend decanting first and give it 30 minutes or more to open up. Light lemon oil flavors, green apple and fennel as well. Bright, high acid. Will take on more depth with a few more years. Needs food now.
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9/2/2018 - Elycohn wrote: 88 Points
Golden hay color. Rich aromas of red apple, clementine, peach, popcorn kernels, honey, jasmine, and lemon merengue. Powerful and especially noticeable lingering acidity. Apple, lemon pie, spiced orange, and oak on the palette. Nice components but unharmonious. Likely an off-year with unusually high acidity due to climate.
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8/31/2018 - VinoViking Likes this wine: 92 Points
Agree with the wonderful notes posted. Unique and delicious. Strong apple and citrus, with a hint of effervescence. Great QPR. Wow this is good.
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6/22/2018 - Nanda wrote: 93 Points
Tasted along side a Walter Scott 2015 X-Novo Chard. This was more forward and approachable with great concentration and depth already. Rich fruit concentration with lots of spice and good acid-driven structure to hold it together. Long finish. Drinking splendidly now.
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5/18/2018 - dsamuel Likes this wine: 92 Points
Straw colored - crystal clear. Medium(+) aromas of yellow/ green apples with underlying smoke and minerality. Linear but intense palate of apples/ citrus and touch of tarragon. Also buttery mouthfeel, presumably from malo? Long finish with intense minerality/ chalk/ salinity. Medium acidity. This is really fantastic New World Chardonnay. Made in Old World style, but not quite letting go of California.
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4/14/2018 - qcwino wrote:
Starts off smoky with struck match. Uncertain if it is reductive or if that's just how the wine is expressing itself; either way, it's more of a feature than a bug. Once the smoke and flint blows off, it remains very mineral. Tart lemon curd and unripe apple. Clean, salty, beautiful chard with great acid.
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3/16/2018 - wineotim Likes this wine: 94 Points
Beautiful gold color, citrus like aromas, full bodied, beautiful smooth texture, long legs, intense apple, lemon, and pear flavors with razor sharp acidity that gives it a zesty and ethereal feel. Cuts the palate in a big way. A great wine at any price.
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3/7/2018 - silton Likes this wine:
Kept its form over several days, showing more stony novacaine aromas and mineral complexity on day 2. Yes a bit warmer than prior vintages but likely to show its best 2018-2020 as more of that baby fat recedes. 90-91.
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3/5/2018 - bthatton wrote: 90 Points
A tasty bottle with a reasonable if not superior amount of weeknight complexity. With about an hour of time open some delightful funk comes through over the clean but rich yellow and white Asian fruits.
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3/2/2018 - Jinandy Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nose is of crème fraîche, orchard fruit and a beautiful nutty, soon to be truffley, aroma. Absolutely beautiful. Palate is of bracing acidity that vibrates almost numbs the tongue, salty and saline. So so good. Give it at least five years if you can hold off. I’m positive it will be something truly special.
As I finished writing this I gave this another whiff. It’s been in the glass for 30 minutes now and fruit has gone from being front and center to playing harmoniously with the nutty aromas. As I said, wait or decant.
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2/18/2018 - JOsgood wrote:
Great nose - Chablis like in the best possible way. Crisp and big acidity on the palate. A wine I kept coming back to. Strong California Chardonnay.
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2/18/2018 - Bob23 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Lovely - dancing acidity, lovely golden color.
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1/10/2018 - mkmast wrote: 93 Points
One of the best Cali Chardonnays I have had. Love the acidity. Such a good complement to food. If you have backed away from California chards because of the oaky butter bombs that seem to flood the market, this is the wine for you. Think a young Chablis on steroids.
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9/29/2017 - acidqueen wrote: 91 Points
Riper than usual for sure, but still great tension and nice acid. Citrus, florals, some creaminess but not too fat at all. Great right now but will still benefit from some time in bottle.
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9/29/2017 - spicy1 Likes this wine: 90 Points
As a trout fisherman I love the name--can just picture the fish hanging in the gulch. Unique label with not a word on the front. Plenty of mineral but I am thinking the lemon overwhelms at this point. I would wait at least a year for it to gel.
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9/22/2017 - rlove wrote: 93 Points
Bright yellow. First bottle showing some secondary complexity, with a whiff truffle, and then it is all seashells by the seashore. Intense saline minerality and crisp acidity on the palate, if also showing some of the ripeness of the vintage. I love these wines.
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9/20/2017 - jeffreylubowski Likes this wine: 93 Points
Excellent. More burgundy or really chablis than california. But it is santa Cruz and ridge and rhys and mount eden turn out some interesting chard like this too so maybe there's something there. Very ocean spray, salty, Briney, oyster shells, lemon. Racy but with a kiss of oak. Great now and great later.
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9/18/2017 - markydecker Likes this wine: 94 Points
Consistent with previous note. Have to be disciplined and keep the corks in these because they will only improve. This is killer Chardonnay.
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8/27/2017 - rlove wrote: 92 Points
Bright yellow. Expressive nose of melon, citrus blossom, and seabreeze. On the ripe side for Trout Gulch, but still offering that vineyard's intense saline minerality and crisp acidity. This is more accessible than previous bottles but will still reward patience.
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7/25/2017 - air guitar & pinot noir Likes this wine: 91 Points
This is a solid Chardonnay that has delicate lemon cream aromas and flavor profile. It does present a bit of an initial edge but softens with time in the glass. Nice touch of oak adds complexity with structure. Nice finish and strong effort.
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6/23/2017 - rlove wrote: 92 Points
Very light straw. Nose of citrus peel, melon, and oyster shell. On the palate, racy, vibrant acidity frames minerality and salinity that dominate subtle citrus oil flavors. The 2015 Trout Gulch is still restrained but already offering a glimpse of its gorgeous future.
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6/23/2017 - elodin wrote: 93 Points
I really, really liked this, but expect it may not appeal to everyone. This is the most "French", least "California", Chardonnay in style I've ever had. Some citrus fruit, but highly restrained. Dominant elements are strong minerality , salinity, like oyster shells. Should be great with fresh seafood.
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5/31/2017 - riversedge Likes this wine: 92 Points
Bright and fresh. Citrusy.
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5/19/2017 - rlove wrote: 92 Points
Very light straw. Nose of citrus blossom, melon, and oyster shell. On the palate, mineral and saline flavors brace subtle citrus. Racy, vibrant, gorgeous. The 2015 Trout Gulch is less accessible at this age than other vintages but will open up with time.
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5/11/2017 - nzinkgraf wrote:
Bright and relatively clean candied citrus notes to the nose and palate. Doesn't really come across as much new oak at all. Obviously no malo. Great bottle of Chardonnay, at odd with the perceived domestic model.
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5/8/2017 - bthatton Likes this wine: 92 Points
A fun bottle! Needs food - will serve as a balancing component to something rich. I'd love to open one of these up near a grill outside with friends. It has the brightness of Chablis with the stone and rock of a German Riesling.
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5/7/2017 - davidb18 Likes this wine: 91 Points
full bodied with the type of balance that is typically from a French white burgundy. Lemon and tropical fruit. Excellent wine that seems to reflect California big flavors while suggesting the finesse of the French burgundy wines.
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2/25/2017 - dsamuel Likes this wine: 93 Points
Light gold with clearing. Medium aromas of lemon zest with stone fruits and wonderful smoke. Great on the palate, with more lemon and some yellow apple. Chalk as well with lingering salinity. Good length and medium(+) acidity. Great finesse in this wine, will age at least 3-5 years, prob longer. Most Chablis-like California Chardonnay I have had, a delightful experience.
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1/28/2017 - Ultimatewinekick_Andreas wrote: 93 Points
Young apricot, pineapple, pears, lime, lemon, minerals and some flint notes on this expressive but still very elegant Chardonnay. Fantastic acidity with great precision and a mouthwatering finish. Definitely my style of Chardonnay.
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12/31/2016 - Jeremy Holmes wrote:
Expressive nose of citrus blossom, white peach and green melon. Nice shape in the mouth with a fruit sweet core and good chew to the finish.
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12/22/2016 - EstimatedEyes Likes this wine: 94 Points
Crisp and delicious, brilliant fruit and racy acidity. Don't know how this made it to day 2, but it was great then too.
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12/18/2016 - rlove wrote: 93 Points
Expressive nose of citrus, smoke, and oyster shell. Racy and vibrant in the mouth, with mineral and saline flavors. Just gorgeous! The 2015 Trout Gulch Vineyard is among the finest examples of California Chardonnay. This should evolve positively for several years; I suspect my score is low.
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12/10/2016 - 560 B&W wrote: 93 Points
PnP. Racy mid-weight. 13.5%
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11/18/2016 - markydecker Likes this wine: 94 Points
My favorite California Chardonnay terroir. Another fantastic example of premier cru Chablis (oh wait, it's California)! Acidity and fruit for miles, in perfect harmony. Crushed stones and flint, seashells. So hard to keep the corks in these. What an incredible wine. I'm hooked.
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11/5/2016 - slanum wrote:
(Pick-up day) A tasting portion of this was just about enough to confirm that it is, once again, the top white wine from this source. Where the Watson Ranch was very reserved, this was racier and deeper. You could put this on the table tonight and be pleased. A 2014 opened a couple of weeks ago was terrific, and a 2011, also open at the winery today, was going strong, suggesting that for a few years after release this wine only improves. The one wine I bought more of today.
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