As others have said, this is an interesting wine. Definite oak but not buttery, a little spice and aged fruit. Does not fall into CA Chard nor PNW steely Chard categories. More old world but not quite. Believe the bottle time helped very much.
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Quite nice before and with dinner, home made chicken soup. Light oak, vanilla, lovely apple, bit of melon others noted, citrus, good body, subtle richness characteristic of other Washington chards I've tasted, sufficient acid, balanced with light crisp & clean finish, good length. Has held up very well.
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It’s not often that you open an 8 year old American Chardonnay but this has stood the test of that time. This is not for everyone and before pouring it for guests I’d recommend giving them a heads up that this is supposed to be something unique. You definitely get the oak and vanilla with a subtle but still noticeable apple like acidity. It has depth for sure but I would have liked to have more acid at this stage to keep it balanced. It can very quickly veer into a monotone vanilla/butter sipper, but it has enough going on that it’ll probably stay clear of that. Just drink it up now - no sense in waiting any longer.
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This is OK, but not for me. It has a harsh edge to it, disjointed, new world treatment, decent underlying ripe fruit. Others liked it a bit more than me. Me: 81, Others: ~85? Glad I only allowed Rimmerman to foist one of these on me. (I see the CT drinking window extends for several more years. Maybe that will do the trick here, but I don't think so.)
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Notes after two hours open. A light gold color, clear and sound with a nice reflective sheen. Pure and attractive bouquet, with light hints of marshmallow, butter, vanilla, apple, and cantaloupe. A little more oak comes through on the palate, but it isn't overdone in any way. At 6 years in, it still isn't flabby or tired so perhaps it has some fuel still to burn, but I think any dreams of rich complexity just ain't gonna happen. Good enough for tonight's roast chix and garden salad. 5+11+15+8= 89
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More Cali than oregon. Too much wood and Caramel, more concentrated than elegant. WV bottling from Cameron or Goodfellow has this beat by a mile. Its not bad but too much hype from Rimmerman and lacking substance.
Outstanding. It hit that perfect sweet spot between New World richness and Old World restraint. Lots of tropicals upfront that give way to restrained oak, acids and minerality on the back. Very very nice. Buffyst really nailed it.
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Excellent wine, especially for the price. Rich nose, informed by toasty oak but not overpowered by it. On the palate, richness continues, but this wine is never heavy. There's always some acid to balance things out.
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Sometimes I think there should be a Tasting Note category: "I really like it." That is the case with the 2012 Array Cellars Dijon Clone Chardonnay from Otis Harlan Vineyard in the Yakima Valley. (Yeah, I wish I had purchased a case.) This Burgundian doppelgänger was whole cluster pressed, French oaked and sur-lee aged, with the benefit of native yeasts. For me this wine lays to rest any question regarding the inferiority of domestic Chardonnay. In fact, I dare anyone to host a blind tasting of your best Chardonnay from Burgundy, include a bottle of the above Array with your selections, and see what happens. (Okay, it is a Dijon Clone -- quite possibility Washington's oldest.) Color of sauterne gold. Medium body. Marvelous mouthfeel. Exquisite, refreshing acids. Long fervent finish. 13.6% abv. Really worth your time and study.
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4/7/2024 - carrtoonian Likes this wine: 89 Points
As others have said, this is an interesting wine. Definite oak but not buttery, a little spice and aged fruit. Does not fall into CA Chard nor PNW steely Chard categories. More old world but not quite. Believe the bottle time helped very much.
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4/4/2024 - cwiebe Likes this wine: 91 Points
Quite wonderful aged WA Chard. The various components are all still there, some oak, fruit, minerality, but all nicely wound together.
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6/15/2022 - geexploitation Likes this wine:
Quite tertiary at this point. Fruit is turned way down. Still integrated and tasty, but on the downslope now.
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1/1/2022 - vintage_whine wrote:
Restrained ripeness and oak. Flirts with minerality and old world expression. Quite impressive
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2/5/2021 - wayfarer Likes this wine: 90 Points
Quite nice before and with dinner, home made chicken soup. Light oak, vanilla, lovely apple, bit of melon others noted, citrus, good body, subtle richness characteristic of other Washington chards I've tasted, sufficient acid, balanced with light crisp & clean finish, good length. Has held up very well.
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1/3/2020 - Aparritz Likes this wine: 89 Points
It’s not often that you open an 8 year old American Chardonnay but this has stood the test of that time. This is not for everyone and before pouring it for guests I’d recommend giving them a heads up that this is supposed to be something unique. You definitely get the oak and vanilla with a subtle but still noticeable apple like acidity. It has depth for sure but I would have liked to have more acid at this stage to keep it balanced. It can very quickly veer into a monotone vanilla/butter sipper, but it has enough going on that it’ll probably stay clear of that. Just drink it up now - no sense in waiting any longer.
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10/26/2019 - UpfromtheCellar wrote: 91 Points
Consistent with recent bottles. Yumm.
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6/30/2019 - UpfromtheCellar wrote: 91 Points
Outstanding. Tropicals, tension and finish. Last tasted over a year ago with consistent notes.
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5/12/2019 - davidspieker wrote: 87 Points
Light gold color with a little viscosity. Fresh tropical and citrus fruit aromas. Pineapple and melon flavors with a lengthy oaky finish.
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3/15/2019 - RDHudak wrote: 88 Points
A bit heavy and tight, which never developed during the decant. Tight butter and oak, this was good, but seemed to be a bit one dimensional.
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1/26/2019 - Nojomoschwa wrote: 88 Points
Rich and oaky, a little OTT for me but not that offensive.
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10/26/2018 - tward Does not like this wine: 83 Points
This is OK, but not for me. It has a harsh edge to it, disjointed, new world treatment, decent underlying ripe fruit. Others liked it a bit more than me. Me: 81, Others: ~85? Glad I only allowed Rimmerman to foist one of these on me. (I see the CT drinking window extends for several more years. Maybe that will do the trick here, but I don't think so.)
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8/10/2018 - fingers wrote: 89 Points
Notes after two hours open. A light gold color, clear and sound with a nice reflective sheen. Pure and attractive bouquet, with light hints of marshmallow, butter, vanilla, apple, and cantaloupe. A little more oak comes through on the palate, but it isn't overdone in any way. At 6 years in, it still isn't flabby or tired so perhaps it has some fuel still to burn, but I think any dreams of rich complexity just ain't gonna happen. Good enough for tonight's roast chix and garden salad. 5+11+15+8= 89
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7/2/2018 - Seanwsmithm3 Likes this wine: 88 Points
More Cali than oregon. Too much wood and Caramel, more concentrated than elegant. WV bottling from Cameron or Goodfellow has this beat by a mile. Its not bad but too much hype from Rimmerman and lacking substance.
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4/30/2018 - Bob23 wrote: 89 Points
No flaws, but a little underwhelming. Pretty color.
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4/29/2018 - UpfromtheCellar wrote: 91 Points
Outstanding. It hit that perfect sweet spot between New World richness and Old World restraint. Lots of tropicals upfront that give way to restrained oak, acids and minerality on the back. Very very nice. Buffyst really nailed it.
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4/12/2018 - geexploitation Likes this wine:
Excellent wine, especially for the price. Rich nose, informed by toasty oak but not overpowered by it. On the palate, richness continues, but this wine is never heavy. There's always some acid to balance things out.
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4/2/2018 - buffyst Likes this wine:
Sometimes I think there should be a Tasting Note category: "I really like it." That is the case with the 2012 Array Cellars Dijon Clone Chardonnay from Otis Harlan Vineyard in the Yakima Valley. (Yeah, I wish I had purchased a case.) This Burgundian doppelgänger was whole cluster pressed, French oaked and sur-lee aged, with the benefit of native yeasts. For me this wine lays to rest any question regarding the inferiority of domestic Chardonnay. In fact, I dare anyone to host a blind tasting of your best Chardonnay from Burgundy, include a bottle of the above Array with your selections, and see what happens. (Okay, it is a Dijon Clone -- quite possibility Washington's oldest.) Color of sauterne gold. Medium body. Marvelous mouthfeel. Exquisite, refreshing acids. Long fervent finish. 13.6% abv. Really worth your time and study.
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