This is terrific wine that continues to drink beautifully. Deep yellow with some gold. Yellow plum, honey, oak accent. The nose is gorgeous, sweet and complex. Fullish palate with sweet fruit and a fine buffering acidity. Mature for sure yet still tied and lively. Serious depth. A great California Chardonnay. Last bottle which is sad - drink up. (94)
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This was prime time, even youthful! Still some reduction along with citrus, butterscotch, and plenty loads of acidity. And get this....it was from a 375ml!! Well stored bottles have TONS of time left.
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Deep golden yellow color. Lemon, flowers, orange peel, stone fruits. Great mouth-filling texture, nice acidity & mineral. Past its peak, but it’s still good enough to enjoy.
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Purchased on release from winery… and found in the cellar… glad I found it as it is just past its peak but still absolutely rich and delicious. The color was just getting a bit like light amber but only slight signs of oxidation - both rich with lovely tropical and citrus fruit while maintaining an element of savory minerality with some integrated oak and butter lurking in the background now. Good acidity which tingles the tongue. With sole a la meunière, mash and sautéed spinach. Absolutely wonderful but drink now.
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This was very good , probably not for all peoples taste's had some non-ordinary secondary things going on which blew off a little after an hour or so. Well aged Well made Cali chard
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Remarkable wine. Rich and opulent, with a viscous oily texture. Amazing mid-palate of ripe tropical and stone fruits, well-integrated oak and alcohol. The baking spice and almond character is immensely long-lasting, and really vibrant. Very complex, and this bottle was far from tired!
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This bottle was stunning ! Bright yellow straw color. Expansive aromas of tropical fruits which carry over onto the palate. Rich and viscous mouthfeel with added notes of caramel and spice. Smooth lingering finish echoing the lushness of this wine.
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These wines have a tendency to oxidise as they age. At 14 years old, this one is on the way down; it’s lightly oxidised now, masking much of the interest apparent in younger vintages. Drink now, don’t wait.
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As great a Chard as I have had in a long time, white burg or otherwise. Pale gold in color. Nice nose of honey and minerals. Fabulous palate. Long , balanced and smooth flavors of pear, butter and crushed stones with a nice slight earthy element. No acid or citrus. Just delicious. Last tried 7 years ago and very good then and a great bottle now.
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Gorgeous expression of Napa Chard that I feel would be enjoyable to Old World Burg drinkers as well. Very little signs of age other than a slightly darker golden color. Bright lemon zest and peel, white flowers, moderate dark caramel and toast notes. Palate is full of life. Really really nice.
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Very big chard dominated by tropical, ripe fruit. The nose was fruit and some petrol. The finish was silky and rounded with some minerality. I liked it better chilled compared to when it warmed up some in the glass.
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HDH auction tasting at Tru; 6/24/2016-6/25/2016 (Chicago, IL): Bizarrely smells of a teutonic grape, with all that spice on the nose. The palate is very, very ripe and rich, with just a bit too much oak. Surprisingly good acidity though, which is a plus, but this is certainly too ripe and fat for chardonnay.
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Super. I have tasted a number of fantastic bottles from this winery and this might be the best. Freshly popped popcorn was mixed with honey and oak spice on a vibrant and complex nose. Full and rich palate that was beautifully balanced. Terrific. (94)
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Pop and pour. Drank blind. Others thought it was 2010/2011 Sonoma Chard. It is much more youthful than its actual age. Got some creme Brulee on the nose. Also some caramel popcorn. Finish shows a little more age vs. the nose. Drinking very well at the moment, but I don't think that it has a long life ahead of it. Maybe another couple of years.
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Lovely deep golden color, as usual. Big nose of ripe melon & pineapple. Drank immediately after an 02 Boillot Puligny 1er cru, which was excellent in its own right, and glad I had this after as its a much bigger, bolder expression of chardonnay, though also possessing Burgundian elements. Notes of honey, a very pleasant roundness, though not overly so for this winemaker, and nicely ripened, sweet fruit, but not overdone as with some other vintages of K (see 2007). This is a great example of what the right winemaker can do with California chardonnay in the right year. This wine has ripe fruit, some oakiness, tropical fruit nuances, etc BUT it's not over the top. Rather, all elements are blended tightly into a very elegant, fairly bold expression of chardonnay. Delicious bottle of wine
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As always, drank at 55 or so degrees, as cold is not its friend and doesn't give the nuances that lies on the finish. Consistent with other bottles we've had.
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Fall 2012 Blind Tasting Dinner at Hawley's: a fair amount of wood on the nose, a little rum raisin ice cream. Honey notes on the nose and a little tangy on the finish/citrus. Showing well at this point.
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Pop and pour with friends. Largely consistent with previous tasting note, but the oak has receded slightly, and a new secondary note of lime is present on the palate. Very pleasant pairing with lobster.
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Intense white fig, honeydew, smoke and tropical fruits leap out of the glass. The palate is crammed with fruit, a replay of the nose with buttery white peaches. Mouthwatering acidity, carry through to the balanced finish, with some minerality on the very long finish. This was truly special, and was drinking fantastic!
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This wine always has a rich, golden, sauternes-like color in the glass, regardless of the vintage. (I made a comment about this recently re the 2004 that I also loved). The wine was very rich, not quite as viscous as I expected, and had wonderful scents of tropical fruit and honey. The overriding tastes that I always get from K is gobs and gobs of ripe pineapple. The balance of this wine is always extraordinary, and I still would have a hard time not believing it to be a Burgundy if I dank it blind. A truly wonderful wine and a great great winemaker--the best chardonnay in California as far as I'm concerned.
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Amazing, deep and precise fruit. A little bit tropical, with some floral notes and perfectly balanced acidity. Lengthy finish. Wish I could make a habit of drinking $75 Chardonnay - this one was tremendous.
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Flamboyant nose with hints of heady reduction, melon, nutty, something I call "straw basket", fairly rich and oily with white flower notes and white fruit in the mouth. This is not typically my style, but I loved this. It was very well-balanced with alcohol in check, good citrusy acidity, and lots of flavor and complexity.
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Oakier than I expected. Very buttery with tropical fruit like pineapple and not like butterscotch. Lots of fruit. Well balanced but not high enough to age a long time. some pear visible, but no citrus notes. Pleasant and unique but not as powerful as I had the last time I had it.
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The nose is rich and surprisingly complex initially, and then turns oaky & marshmallowy like so many other California chards. An acrid taste builds in your mouth as you drink it. Oak is subdued and soft. Even at 40F, a noticeable alcohol burn. Tropical, slightly oaky and alcoholic. At this price I don't think it performs well enough but it is a tasty wine.
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very oaky -- it was a sweet oak palate, but integrated enough to not be a drawback. finish is lovely and has sweet apple and vanilla flavors. it will be interesting to see where this goes -- at the price i can no longer justify it, but this is a nice drink.
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Deep, clear golden color; a nose of honeysuckle, oily lemon and lime, flint, and a touch of green olive; plenty of oak, but settles in to tart citrus fruit, with a lingering finish of vanilla and spice; chewy, oily and dense--very rich.
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Am finding this sliding down the slope from ripe and flabby toward sour and old. Still a great intensity of fruit, but a bit off. May not have been a great bottle.
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of course, 2 years later ( I had predicted a year and it would be background noise) the oak is still prominent. I admit it, I was wrong. However, this has more minerality than a lot of American chards...had this at that amazing restaurant in Chilhowie called Townhouse.
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you just have to flipping love CT! reading my past notes...i had no recollection of this wine, or how many times i'd had it previously. it still displays too much oak, but even though it's a richly textured chard, i enjoyed the explosive marmalade/lemon zing in the finish of it tonight. our last bottle.
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Huge, buttery, toasty oak flavors which softened after about an hour of openning into a beautifully integrated, delicious chardonnay, previously drunk bottle seems to have been much lighter, the inconsistentency is noteworthy
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Smokey pineapple, honey, flowers, almond paste, and orange oil. It has depth, and complexity but I have trouble finding significant minerality. There is acidity but it's clearly new world.
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Another sexy Chardonnay from Cali-(is it wrong). Deep nose of oak,lemon oil,white florals,fresh mango,and minerals. Huge mouth feel that is very balanced in a new world way. Pure mango,butter,viscous oily goodness,chalky,with nice length.. I'm a fan.
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California Chards to kick off the spring (Bonsoiree, Chicago IL): nose: much more up to speed with deep and sexy tones of white fruits, lemon drops, bits of tropical citrus', navel oranges, butter and a touch of oak. This has a real classy quality to it while still being very cali
taste: full bodied with smooth and polished tones of white fruits, roasted nuts, tropical citrus, lemons, and bits of navel oranges. Has a real cool quality to it and good medium acidity
overall: a great chardonnay. There is some power behind it, but there is a sense of polish as well. Big and pungent, this was firing on all cylinders and showing itself off well
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Clear, pale golden yellow. Fragrant nose with floral elements, vanilla and oak. The nose had a weightiness to it, foreshadowing the body. Full, almost viscous body. The wine was nicely nuanced on the acidity front. Shows a tremendous amout of oak, vanilla and creaminess. It's not showing a lot of fruit. A good food wine.
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Pineapple, mango and buttery oak on the nose. The oak has mellowed significantly from the last one of these I had, but it is still very prominent. Sweet buttery oak, orange jam and nice minerals on the plate. Thickly textured with a long finish.
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what a great chard. Lots of tropical fruit, lemon zest and orange marmalade. Intermixed with a great mouthfeel and long finish. Almost an oil of flavors that slid down your palate. Fantastic.
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Light straw color. Nose filled wtih citrus fruit and a bit of lemon zest. Mouthfeel filled with explosive fruit and perfect balance and acidity. Finish lasted a full minute. May revisit this wine in another 6 months to see how it evolves. Still very young but absolutely deicious.
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Clear golden color. This bottle actually needed decantation. Upon opening, the nose was slightly closed from what I was expecting. The floral and pineapple flavors were a bit subdued. After twenty minutes of breathing, all the scents and flavors returned. EG
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In the glass, pale, clear gold. On the nose, a nice mixture of floral and fruity elements. On the palate, white fruits, minerals, and oak, with secondary notes of bourbon/vanilla, and a moderately long finish. There is noticeable oak here, but it is well-balanced with substantial fruit and good acidity. Quite nice now, but I think there is more upside over the next 3-4 years.
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Aromas of exotic and over-ripe white fruits, with notes of vanilla, spice, and tropcal fruit. Full-bodied on the palate, with bold flavors, lush texture and sweet finish.
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Butter, yellow apple on nose. Apple and some pear on the palate, butter, caramel. Very nice, but it needs to be cooler. I enjoyed, but I don't think I'd buy it again for the price.
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Very soft, medium-bodied citrus fruit with honey and melony flavors, creamy texture but somewhat disappointing fullness of fruit and linger, seemed to lack expected complexity
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This wine is going through some evolution. Upon opening there was a bouquet of licorice. The taste was a bit different leaning towards a pineapple flavor with a bit of straw. The color was a muted golden color. It went great with the fish served for dinner.
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i have had rotten luck with my '04 kongsgaard chards- the last 3 bottles have been oxidized and undrinkable but this 2005 was the real deal- a big chard that was overpowering right from the bottle but once it got some air in the glass it settled down a bit and became a balanced big chard- with great acidity,tangerine citrus, and minerality complemented by a nice toasty oak component but without the over powering malo butter- loved this wine and its got a long life ahead of it- no oxidation at all.
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shimmering light golden color; fragrant nose of tree fruits; balanced with bright acidity; delicious fruit and complex mineral finish; very very nice; some vanilla too;
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Not burgundian, but CA all the way. I like both styles, and Broadbent notwithstanding, there should be room for both. Medium yellow with a nice clean nose of pineapple and crushed stones. Intense palate of pear, green apple, flint and crushed stones. Some oak on both, but so what. A big wine, but with great balance and a forever finish. I loved it and can't wait to drink the next one.
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Has a lot of elements of a typical Cali chardonnay, but also had nice acidity and balance that made it much more drinkable and food friendly. Had some Burgundy-like characteristics, but definitely maintained its own style. What really set it apart was the finish. Went on for almost a minute...purely delicious!
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At first I thought this bottle might be slightly off or very mildly corked (I'm not very sensitive to TCA) as there wasn't much on the nose right out of the bottle and there was an odd, slightly "stale" aroma. However, after about 30 minutes, it was gone and wonderful notes of citrus, white fruits, and some toasty oak (just enough) showed. Nice mix of minerality and acidity. Well balanced and a very nice compliment to the crab cakes.
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As a longterm fan of Kongsgaard, I was really looking forward to drinking the '05. We poured immediately after opening, and found the nose very closed. As the wine opened up, it began to reveal the wine I anticipated. Straw color, with a tint of green apple, the typical chard fruit of pear, green apple, white flowers , and flinty minerality began to reveal. Totally balanced, with crisp acidity,oak perfectly integrated with the fruit and acid. We paired the wine with Grilled scallop toped with fios gras. Upon offering the chef a glass, he thought it was a Batard Montrachet......This is a great American Chardonnay, matched only by Aubert and Marcassin.....Drink it if you have it, if not, find it.....Cheers
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Wow, not as nice as the last bottle. The same flavor profiles exist, but they are lighter and not as fat. The finish is not as long on flavor but rather on alcahol heat.
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Bam! Light golden color. This wine finally weighted up! A lovely nose of terroir, oak and stems. The flavors are intense oak with a tangerine finish. The finish lasts a full 45 seconds
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The Generosity of Steve Nordhoff Blind (Antonello Ristorante): Rich oaky nose of popcorn. This seemed balanced at first but also seemed to lack some acidity. Oak was in check on the palate. Well done for a Cali styled Chard but not for my palate.
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Steve's Blind Tasting (Antonello Ristorante - Costa Mesa, CA): The initial rush of oak is a turn-off, but beyond that lies fragrant notes of orange blossoms, nectarines, and crushed sea shells. Nice acidity and a mineral-laced alcohol-tinged finish.
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clunky oak and sharp acidity. quality calichards should be coming into their own by this age, and this one is sliding the wrong way. to me it's a high end, second level wine.
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Three bottles tasted with consistent notes. Medium gold color. A very ripe, lush, honeyed, tropical style of CA Chardonnay. The palate is impressively concentrated, intense, and long, and displays a healthy amount of new oak. While the alcohol level here is not shy, the fruit and acidity balance out nicely. Based on my experience with oxidation in prior vintages of this wine (see TNs), this should be drunk up within the next year or two, IMO.
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opened to compare to the judge from the same vintage. i've always thought this was a good, but not great wine that has too much oak. tonight it seemed particularly ponderous.
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G7 (Jeff): Golden yellow color. Oaky nose. Tastes of apple and pear. It appears to be beaten to within an inch of it's life with way too much new oak. I'm surprised my tongue didn't have splinters in it after my first sip. Rich and overly alcoholic. A total contrast to the Judge of the same vintage. Over blown, over manipulated and over done. Over and out.
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Wow this starts off with a lot of oak, even more than previous vintages. Butter cinammon and oak on the nose at first and lots of oak on the finish as well. As it opens up, starts to show some nice lemon oil and limestone - the oak starts to recede somewhat. I decided to do a vigorous decant of what was left and that seemed to help tremendously - started to get even more complexity - rose petals and incense on the nose, peaces and pears started to show up on the palate - much more ripe fruti and less oak. Will this ever fully integrate? I think many more years will be required to see. In the menatime, if you like traditioonal oaky chards with some more complexity thrown in , this is the wine for you.
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i'm comfortable with this being a good, but second tier chard behind peter michael, kistler, and aubert. i need to burn a 'the judge' to see what it's level is.
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Outstanding Chardonnay. Beautifully integrated, smooth and complex, with layer after layer of aroma and flavor. Lemon/citrus, tropical fruit, green apple, pear, limestone, light oak, pear and fig, with hints of creme brulee. Amazing finish lingers for at least a minute.
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Light gold color that needed some time and a little warmth to open and show some ripe tart pear, light citrus components and a light backing of woodsy oak textures. An assertive grip that was beguiling in nature...especially with a little time as it just got better and better. A delightful wine that was good with food, but would easily stand alone...
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One of my two favorite chardonnays. Openned as a preface to and with appetizers at Nells. Was a great accompniment to the onion tart and Selah's calamari. Straw colored. nose of citirus fruits. A little heavier on the oak then the Aubert wines but extremely nice nevertheless. Never seems to disappoint.
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Easily the most disappointing wine of the 7 we tasted blind. This was on the high side of the price spectrum, so that factor was taken into account in the rating. Finished consensus near the bottom of the 7. A very oaked nose with notes of wet rags, broccoli, vegetables. A palate of butter, oak, green apple, pear and vanilla. This had a strong "typical" chardonnay taste. The consensus was that it needs food -- with cheese it improved. A good amount of bitterns, though. The finish was long and there was agreement that this would rank higher if re-tasted in 5-7 years. However, in the present, a disappointment.
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This is a beauty of a chardonnay...light on its feet like a degas ballerina....needs another year to integrate the oak, but nice acidity with lemon notes dancing about the palate...superb finish.
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Ordered a bottle from the Admiral's List at the Reel Club in Oak Brook. The wine was a beautiful color in the glass. A deep rich golden hue. The aromas were overwhelming, toasted nuts, deep pineapple, pear and other citrus fruits. Oak and more charred wood entered the scene. The palate is impeccable. Beautifully balanced. Long and rich finish that doesn't let up. So much going on here, yet in perfect harmony. Lovely creamy feeling on the palate showing more citrus fruit, burnt toffee and yet again, OAK. But the oak isn't out of balanced, it's just right up front. This was the best white wine I have tried to date. Bought a second bottle at cost for the cellar. Yay!
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Gaining a bit of body since the last time I tried this. Solid minerality, blanced with a citric blend of lemon and orange peel. should continue to improve with some time.
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This is a difficult call. I am trying to decide on the best chardonnay for my cellar. The Kistler is really good so decided to try this as a comparison with king crab and a few veggies. When I first tasted it thought "what is the big deal" as the Kistler seemed so much more upfront. After about an hour the Kongsgaard kind of opened up and showed amazing complexity. MY experience had not prepared me for a CA chardonnay opening up much like a red. This and Kistler are great wines both costing about $75. Would like something a little less expensive for everyday drinking or for my wife to drink with friends. However after tasting this and Kistler anything else pales in comparison. Have to say these two are in a class by themselves and which one is better is a personal choice. Maybe I will just split the difference with equal quantities of each.
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Wow! What can I say, another stellar bottle of Kongsgaard. Beautiful hazy, golden straw color. Viscous, almost tactile aromas, of fresh cut buttery wood, sherry, vanilla wood, and licorice. Also some mineral highlights. The wine is so balanced and the finish is so long. In a word, Awesome.
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A very medicinal nose with hints of turpentine... Later one more of the classic butter popcorn and orange peel develop. Palate has more of the same, butter, popcorn, lemon and other citrus components with good sharp acidity on the finish. There is a bit of oak and alcohol that I can detect on the finish, but I'm resolved to thing this will be taken care of with proper time.
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Blind tasting (Terkels appartment): Straw yellow color. Exotic nose with some fruit and minerals, but mostly dominated by roasted oak and notes of caramel. On the palate the oak is also dominating, pricking on the tongue and leaving a very dry finish. A full-bodied white with a creamy feel to it. Very good lenght but lacking some fruit acidity. It matches its new world chardonnay profile perfectly. I retasted this after a few hours standing in the open bottle, and it opened up gaining more finesse. Give it more cellaring time and serve with a good meal then this should perform brilliantly.
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Straw gold with honeysuckle, pear and iron on the nose. Young chardonnay that is deep and rich with great balancing acid. A great young wine that shows wonderful promise for the future. (93+)
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Atypical, large scaled, high end, Cali chard. Big wine with notes of vanilla, orange rind and bettuerscotch. Medium to full bodied on the palette. The package is complete, big fruit balanced acidity. Like this wine a lot. May improve with some time.
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A very big Cali Chardonnay which has everything you think of when it comes to Kongsgaard. Tropical fruits and aromas that flow with vibrant acidity and finish with well integrated oak into a creamy, mouthcoating finish. Excellent.
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Nose of lemon and honeysuckle. Layers and layers of citrus and tropical fruit, very big wine, long lingering finish. I think this will merit a few more points in a year or two.
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nicest chardonnay i've had in a while (i dont drink much) -- well balanced acid with a hint of sweetness. lime, vanilla, floral, stone fruit palate, finish lasted for 20+ seconds and was the best part of this wine. oak was there, but well integrated with the fruit
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lemon, lime, honey, pear, and peach. nice acidity, with most components present and balanced. but, it doesn't have the soul of a really legendary chard, especially when compared to several that i have tasted recently. it's the finish that is lacking. i'm hoping it will flesh out with a year or two of bottle age.
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3/30/2024 - dbkitc wrote: 94 Points
This is terrific wine that continues to drink beautifully. Deep yellow with some gold. Yellow plum, honey, oak accent. The nose is gorgeous, sweet and complex. Fullish palate with sweet fruit and a fine buffering acidity. Mature for sure yet still tied and lively. Serious depth. A great California Chardonnay. Last bottle which is sad - drink up. (94)
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11/8/2023 - RichEB1 Likes this wine: 93 Points
This was prime time, even youthful! Still some reduction along with citrus, butterscotch, and plenty loads of acidity. And get this....it was from a 375ml!! Well stored bottles have TONS of time left.
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5/26/2023 - kstoddard wrote:
Undrinkable
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1/13/2022 - jwalkuro Likes this wine: 95 Points
Deep golden yellow color.
Lemon, flowers, orange peel, stone fruits.
Great mouth-filling texture, nice acidity & mineral.
Past its peak, but it’s still good enough to enjoy.
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11/29/2021 - jonnyoro wrote: 95 Points
Purchased on release from winery… and found in the cellar… glad I found it as it is just past its peak but still absolutely rich and delicious. The color was just getting a bit like light amber but only slight signs of oxidation - both rich with lovely tropical and citrus fruit while maintaining an element of savory minerality with some integrated oak and butter lurking in the background now. Good acidity which tingles the tongue. With sole a la meunière, mash and sautéed spinach. Absolutely wonderful but drink now.
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8/20/2020 - jsebiri wrote:
This was very good , probably not for all peoples taste's had some non-ordinary secondary things going on which blew off a little after an hour or so.
Well aged
Well made Cali chard
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3/9/2020 - CManthei wrote: 97 Points
Remarkable wine. Rich and opulent, with a viscous oily texture. Amazing mid-palate of ripe tropical and stone fruits, well-integrated oak and alcohol. The baking spice and almond character is immensely long-lasting, and really vibrant. Very complex, and this bottle was far from tired!
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12/19/2019 - scottj Likes this wine: 98 Points
This bottle was stunning ! Bright yellow straw color. Expansive aromas of tropical fruits which carry over onto the palate. Rich and viscous mouthfeel with added notes of caramel and spice. Smooth lingering finish echoing the lushness of this wine.
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7/27/2019 - AlanM68 wrote: 90 Points
These wines have a tendency to oxidise as they age. At 14 years old, this one is on the way down; it’s lightly oxidised now, masking much of the interest apparent in younger vintages. Drink now, don’t wait.
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6/30/2019 - awitz78 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Shocked how fresh it was. Fantastic not overly oaked
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4/1/2018 - Naplesgolfer wrote: flawed
oxidized
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3/31/2018 - Naplesgolfer wrote: 93 Points
surprised this still as good as it is. Focused fruit with nice balancing acid. Drink soon
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10/8/2017 - DesMarteau Likes this wine: 94 Points
needs 1 hour of air...picks up weight and complexity....melted butter color and weight...but then gets incredibly light and floral.
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9/3/2017 - DesMarteau Likes this wine: 91 Points
needs 30 mins of air to blow of funk...thick, oily, lemon, vanilla, long finish. will continue to taste over the life of the bottle and will add.
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3/18/2017 - cos82 Likes this wine: 97 Points
As great a Chard as I have had in a long time, white burg or otherwise. Pale gold in color. Nice nose of honey and minerals. Fabulous palate. Long , balanced and smooth flavors of pear, butter and crushed stones with a nice slight earthy element. No acid or citrus. Just delicious. Last tried 7 years ago and very good then and a great bottle now.
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12/26/2016 - beezer6 wrote: 93 Points
Gorgeous expression of Napa Chard that I feel would be enjoyable to Old World Burg drinkers as well.
Very little signs of age other than a slightly darker golden color.
Bright lemon zest and peel, white flowers, moderate dark caramel and toast notes. Palate is full of life. Really really nice.
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9/4/2016 - Deepdrop Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very big chard dominated by tropical, ripe fruit. The nose was fruit and some petrol. The finish was silky and rounded with some minerality. I liked it better chilled compared to when it warmed up some in the glass.
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6/25/2016 - acyso wrote: 80 Points
HDH auction tasting at Tru; 6/24/2016-6/25/2016 (Chicago, IL): Bizarrely smells of a teutonic grape, with all that spice on the nose. The palate is very, very ripe and rich, with just a bit too much oak. Surprisingly good acidity though, which is a plus, but this is certainly too ripe and fat for chardonnay.
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6/15/2016 - kenv Likes this wine: 94 Points
1996 Barolo & Barbaresco Blind (L'Apicio, NYC): [Pop & pour.] Big rich buttery nose. Complex and full in the mouth. Delicious wine!
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6/8/2016 - dbkitc wrote: 94 Points
Super. I have tasted a number of fantastic bottles from this winery and this might be the best. Freshly popped popcorn was mixed with honey and oak spice on a vibrant and complex nose. Full and rich palate that was beautifully balanced. Terrific. (94)
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5/23/2016 - spts1000 Likes this wine: 92 Points
bright darkish straw color, if that makes sense. rich, but not clawing. oak in the flavor profile, but no heat from it.
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4/26/2016 - Mike V wrote: 95 Points
Last of 14 bottles. Better than the first. Great long lasting Cali Chard
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11/20/2015 - sayward Likes this wine: 93 Points
Pop and pour. Drank blind. Others thought it was 2010/2011 Sonoma Chard. It is much more youthful than its actual age. Got some creme Brulee on the nose. Also some caramel popcorn. Finish shows a little more age vs. the nose. Drinking very well at the moment, but I don't think that it has a long life ahead of it. Maybe another couple of years.
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4/16/2014 - fdub wrote:
Over the hill IMO. Very advanced aged characters.
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9/6/2013 - RobertB321 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Nice taste of tart fruit with some butter. Some honey suckle on the nose. Probably at the end of its life but still good.
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8/24/2013 - rpenn77 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Good but not worth the price!
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8/9/2013 - cephomer Likes this wine: 94 Points
Lovely deep golden color, as usual. Big nose of ripe melon & pineapple. Drank immediately after an 02 Boillot Puligny 1er cru, which was excellent in its own right, and glad I had this after as its a much bigger, bolder expression of chardonnay, though also possessing Burgundian elements. Notes of honey, a very pleasant roundness, though not overly so for this winemaker, and nicely ripened, sweet fruit, but not overdone as with some other vintages of K (see 2007). This is a great example of what the right winemaker can do with California chardonnay in the right year. This wine has ripe fruit, some oakiness, tropical fruit nuances, etc BUT it's not over the top. Rather, all elements are blended tightly into a very elegant, fairly bold expression of chardonnay. Delicious bottle of wine
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6/9/2013 - oldwines wrote: 90 Points
Rich and oaky on the nose. Honey and caramel along with white peach on the palate. A little too much oak for my taste. But consistent for the style.
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6/2/2013 - mrmedoes wrote: 93 Points
As always, drank at 55 or so degrees, as cold is not its friend and doesn't give the nuances that lies on the finish. Consistent with other bottles we've had.
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2/13/2013 - wdb001 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Last bottle. Fading a bit but still very nice.
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12/25/2012 - tederf wrote: 94 Points
Still one of the best Cali chards out there. Just beautiful. Honey, fig, tropical fruit. Long, long finish.
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9/26/2012 - Sizeola wrote: 94 Points
Everything that I thought it would be.
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9/17/2012 - sayward wrote: 92 Points
Fall 2012 Blind Tasting Dinner at Hawley's: a fair amount of wood on the nose, a little rum raisin ice cream. Honey notes on the nose and a little tangy on the finish/citrus. Showing well at this point.
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9/2/2012 - jshufelt wrote: 93 Points
Pop and pour with friends. Largely consistent with previous tasting note, but the oak has receded slightly, and a new secondary note of lime is present on the palate. Very pleasant pairing with lobster.
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8/21/2012 - Machiavelli wrote:
Intense white fig, honeydew, smoke and tropical fruits leap out of the glass. The palate is crammed with fruit, a replay of the nose with buttery white peaches. Mouthwatering acidity, carry through to the balanced finish, with some minerality on the very long finish. This was truly special, and was drinking fantastic!
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8/11/2012 - cephomer wrote: 95 Points
This wine always has a rich, golden, sauternes-like color in the glass, regardless of the vintage. (I made a comment about this recently re the 2004 that I also loved). The wine was very rich, not quite as viscous as I expected, and had wonderful scents of tropical fruit and honey. The overriding tastes that I always get from K is gobs and gobs of ripe pineapple. The balance of this wine is always extraordinary, and I still would have a hard time not believing it to be a Burgundy if I dank it blind. A truly wonderful wine and a great great winemaker--the best chardonnay in California as far as I'm concerned.
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7/23/2012 - sumshark wrote: 94 Points
Last bottle and didn't disappoint.
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7/6/2012 - Brian1970 wrote: 95 Points
Amazing, deep and precise fruit. A little bit tropical, with some floral notes and perfectly balanced acidity. Lengthy finish. Wish I could make a habit of drinking $75 Chardonnay - this one was tremendous.
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7/2/2012 - Bob & Sue Atlanta wrote: 89 Points
Not all that impressive...
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6/12/2012 - sumshark wrote: 91 Points
Drinking great at this point in time, outstanding Cali Chard.
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5/13/2012 - wdb001 wrote: 93 Points
Beautiful.
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4/1/2012 - JDRFoster wrote: 96 Points
Outstanding. Near perfect balance, with layer upon layer of flavor and aromatics. Didn't get to cerebral, just enjoyed the hedonism. 95-97.
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3/11/2012 - Knicksfan wrote: 93 Points
Still plenty of fruit and acid to make this a winner. Lots of complexity with tropical and citrus predominating. Lovely finish.
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12/4/2011 - peternelson wrote: 93 Points
Flamboyant nose with hints of heady reduction, melon, nutty, something I call "straw basket", fairly rich and oily with white flower notes and white fruit in the mouth. This is not typically my style, but I loved this. It was very well-balanced with alcohol in check, good citrusy acidity, and lots of flavor and complexity.
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9/17/2011 - oldwines wrote: 93 Points
Oakier than I expected. Very buttery with tropical fruit like pineapple and not like butterscotch. Lots of fruit. Well balanced but not high enough to age a long time. some pear visible, but no citrus notes. Pleasant and unique but not as powerful as I had the last time I had it.
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9/16/2011 - galewskj wrote: 90 Points
The nose is rich and surprisingly complex initially, and then turns oaky & marshmallowy like so many other California chards. An acrid taste builds in your mouth as you drink it. Oak is subdued and soft. Even at 40F, a noticeable alcohol burn. Tropical, slightly oaky and alcoholic. At this price I don't think it performs well enough but it is a tasty wine.
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9/10/2011 - ews3 wrote: 91 Points
very oaky -- it was a sweet oak palate, but integrated enough to not be a drawback. finish is lovely and has sweet apple and vanilla flavors. it will be interesting to see where this goes -- at the price i can no longer justify it, but this is a nice drink.
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6/25/2011 - rdsboca wrote: 94 Points
Brought to Bourbon Steak. Creamy, lemon curd, great acidity. Lighter in style than I remember. No noticeable oak.
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6/18/2011 - wdb001 wrote: 94 Points
Thought this was wonderful. Expressive nose, beautiful texture, lingering finish. Notes of honeysuckle, marmalade, orange blossom. Very nice.
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5/20/2011 - herberto wrote: 84 Points
This is a bit of a mess now. Sliding into old overripeness. Super sweet w smoky notes.
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5/7/2011 - Knicksfan wrote: 94 Points
Fresh, complex and delicious.
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4/29/2011 - Mike V wrote: 94 Points
Amazing
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1/17/2011 - jtcseventysix wrote: 90 Points
Deep, clear golden color; a nose of honeysuckle, oily lemon and lime, flint, and a touch of green olive; plenty of oak, but settles in to tart citrus fruit, with a lingering finish of vanilla and spice; chewy, oily and dense--very rich.
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12/25/2010 - jdlee1232 wrote: 95 Points
Complex, dense to the point of chewy, without being overbearing. An expressive nose; great mouth feel. A delightful wine.
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9/10/2010 - herberto wrote: 88 Points
Am finding this sliding down the slope from ripe and flabby toward sour and old. Still a great intensity of fruit, but a bit off. May not have been a great bottle.
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8/14/2010 - E wrote: 94 Points
of course, 2 years later ( I had predicted a year and it would be background noise) the oak is still prominent. I admit it, I was wrong. However, this has more minerality than a lot of American chards...had this at that amazing restaurant in Chilhowie called Townhouse.
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7/31/2010 - jeff nowak wrote: 91 Points
you just have to flipping love CT! reading my past notes...i had no recollection of this wine, or how many times i'd had it previously. it still displays too much oak, but even though it's a richly textured chard, i enjoyed the explosive marmalade/lemon zing in the finish of it tonight. our last bottle.
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7/2/2010 - Amerique wrote: 95 Points
Huge, buttery, toasty oak flavors which softened after about an hour of openning into a beautifully integrated, delicious chardonnay, previously drunk bottle seems to have been much lighter, the inconsistentency is noteworthy
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7/1/2010 - ews3 wrote: flawed
oxidized beyond belief
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6/13/2010 - Brent wrote: 91 Points
big, rich wine. we love dumol chards and this is in the same class.
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5/11/2010 - pakabear wrote: 94 Points
Drinking pretty well right now, much creamier then I remember it previously, some of the muscle has died down, but still a big American Chard.
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5/8/2010 - Anonymous wrote: 92 Points
Smokey pineapple, honey, flowers, almond paste, and orange oil. It has depth, and complexity but I have trouble finding significant minerality. There is acidity but it's clearly new world.
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4/9/2010 - Dr. Pato wrote: 90 Points
Not bad, not great.
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3/25/2010 - LeatherPalate wrote: 93 Points
Another sexy Chardonnay from Cali-(is it wrong). Deep nose of oak,lemon oil,white florals,fresh mango,and minerals.
Huge mouth feel that is very balanced in a new world way. Pure mango,butter,viscous oily goodness,chalky,with nice length..
I'm a fan.
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3/23/2010 - KeithAkers wrote: 93 Points
California Chards to kick off the spring (Bonsoiree, Chicago IL): nose: much more up to speed with deep and sexy tones of white fruits, lemon drops, bits of tropical citrus', navel oranges, butter and a touch of oak. This has a real classy quality to it while still being very cali
taste: full bodied with smooth and polished tones of white fruits, roasted nuts, tropical citrus, lemons, and bits of navel oranges. Has a real cool quality to it and good medium acidity
overall: a great chardonnay. There is some power behind it, but there is a sense of polish as well. Big and pungent, this was firing on all cylinders and showing itself off well
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3/23/2010 - TimF wrote:
Delicious. Better than previous bottle.
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3/13/2010 - el borracho wrote: 93 Points
Cali-Modern Burgandy blend. More butter and popcorn than matchstick, but no grainy-oak like a Ramey. Well integrated with a touch of minerality.
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2/28/2010 - shaferguy91 wrote: 94 Points
Wonderful Chard.
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2/15/2010 - jim_crane wrote: 91 Points
Clear, pale golden yellow. Fragrant nose with floral elements, vanilla and oak. The nose had a weightiness to it, foreshadowing the body. Full, almost viscous body. The wine was nicely nuanced on the acidity front. Shows a tremendous amout of oak, vanilla and creaminess. It's not showing a lot of fruit. A good food wine.
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1/23/2010 - jreis wrote:
Pineapple, mango and buttery oak on the nose. The oak has mellowed significantly from the last one of these I had, but it is still very prominent. Sweet buttery oak, orange jam and nice minerals on the plate. Thickly textured with a long finish.
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1/17/2010 - rdsboca wrote: 96 Points
what a great chard. Lots of tropical fruit, lemon zest and orange marmalade. Intermixed with a great mouthfeel and long finish. Almost an oil of flavors that slid down your palate. Fantastic.
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12/31/2009 - Mpoob wrote: 94 Points
What a superb bottle! Seamlessly constructed with flavors of green apple and lemongrass. Verve is a good word here.
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12/13/2009 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Poured blind. Fennel/anise, green apple, lime and lemon but alongside is a nice structure with some minerally tannin. The WOTF.
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11/19/2009 - dbkitc wrote: 94 Points
Surprisingly focused and balanced. Good verve to go along with its rich, lush side. A great bottle. (94)
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11/6/2009 - rdsboca wrote: 94 Points
Light straw color. Nose filled wtih citrus fruit and a bit of lemon zest. Mouthfeel filled with explosive fruit and perfect balance and acidity. Finish lasted a full minute. May revisit this wine in another 6 months to see how it evolves. Still very young but absolutely deicious.
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11/2/2009 - WineArchitect wrote: 91 Points
Clear golden color. This bottle actually needed decantation. Upon opening, the nose was slightly closed from what I was expecting. The floral and pineapple flavors were a bit subdued. After twenty minutes of breathing, all the scents and flavors returned. EG
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10/10/2009 - herberto wrote: 90 Points
Pretty good. Ripe and intense. Suffered from being tasted right after a dynamite Auslese, and in comparison this seemed flabby and unfocused.
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9/28/2009 - galewskj wrote: 90 Points
Nice, oaky full-bodied slightly over the top chardonnay. Good at $20 (maybe) but not $90.
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9/27/2009 - jshufelt wrote: 92 Points
In the glass, pale, clear gold. On the nose, a nice mixture of floral and fruity elements. On the palate, white fruits, minerals, and oak, with secondary notes of bourbon/vanilla, and a moderately long finish. There is noticeable oak here, but it is well-balanced with substantial fruit and good acidity. Quite nice now, but I think there is more upside over the next 3-4 years.
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9/11/2009 - tbabes wrote: 91 Points
Aromas of exotic and over-ripe white fruits, with notes of vanilla, spice, and tropcal fruit. Full-bodied on the palate, with bold flavors, lush texture and sweet finish.
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9/5/2009 - ews3 wrote: 91 Points
City Line Church Thailand Team Wine Tasting II - Down the Shore (Spring Lake NJ): light golden color with some green hues. loads of oak notes on this -- butterscotch, vanilla, creamed butter. fruit notes of green apple / crabapple / grassiness. medium (+) finish is pleasant, but this is very oaky
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8/21/2009 - cookie7 wrote: 93 Points
Nose of marshmallow. Oak upfront, fleshing out into a nice smooth finish.
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8/5/2009 - caboychuck wrote:
Butter, yellow apple on nose. Apple and some pear on the palate, butter, caramel. Very nice, but it needs to be cooler. I enjoyed, but I don't think I'd buy it again for the price.
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8/4/2009 - Amerique wrote: 92 Points
Very soft, medium-bodied citrus fruit with honey and melony flavors, creamy texture but somewhat disappointing fullness of fruit and linger, seemed to lack expected complexity
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7/18/2009 - Charlie Carnes wrote: flawed
Totally spoiled. This has happened to a couple of my Kongsgaards.
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7/8/2009 - WineArchitect wrote: 92 Points
This wine is going through some evolution. Upon opening there was a bouquet of licorice. The taste was a bit different leaning towards a pineapple flavor with a bit of straw. The color was a muted golden color. It went great with the fish served for dinner.
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6/22/2009 - jonnyoro wrote:
i have had rotten luck with my '04 kongsgaard chards- the last 3 bottles have been oxidized and undrinkable but this 2005 was the real deal- a big chard that was overpowering right from the bottle but once it got some air in the glass it settled down a bit and became a balanced big chard- with great acidity,tangerine citrus, and minerality complemented by a nice toasty oak component but without the over powering malo butter- loved this wine and its got a long life ahead of it- no oxidation at all.
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5/8/2009 - chiliman96 wrote: 98 Points
shimmering light golden color; fragrant nose of tree fruits; balanced with bright acidity; delicious fruit and complex mineral finish; very very nice; some vanilla too;
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5/4/2009 - ews3 wrote: 90 Points
very oaky -- vanilla, smoke, butter, ripe pear, peach. long, pleasant finish. very nice.
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5/2/2009 - idrinkvino wrote: 92 Points
Honey and melon combine for a wonderful and unique experience.
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4/25/2009 - cos82 wrote: 94 Points
Not burgundian, but CA all the way. I like both styles, and Broadbent notwithstanding, there should be room for both. Medium yellow with a nice clean nose of pineapple and crushed stones. Intense palate of pear, green apple, flint and crushed stones. Some oak on both, but so what. A big wine, but with great balance and a forever finish. I loved it and can't wait to drink the next one.
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4/25/2009 - christyler wrote: 92 Points
Has a lot of elements of a typical Cali chardonnay, but also had nice acidity and balance that made it much more drinkable and food friendly. Had some Burgundy-like characteristics, but definitely maintained its own style. What really set it apart was the finish. Went on for almost a minute...purely delicious!
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4/24/2009 - jeff nowak wrote: 88 Points
lots of orange peel/citrus notes. lacks complexity, and displays too much oak. consistent with my sense that this wine can't keep it together.
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4/15/2009 - Dale B. wrote: 92 Points
At first I thought this bottle might be slightly off or very mildly corked (I'm not very sensitive to TCA) as there wasn't much on the nose right out of the bottle and there was an odd, slightly "stale" aroma. However, after about 30 minutes, it was gone and wonderful notes of citrus, white fruits, and some toasty oak (just enough) showed. Nice mix of minerality and acidity. Well balanced and a very nice compliment to the crab cakes.
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4/5/2009 - Bacchusboy wrote: 94 Points
As a longterm fan of Kongsgaard, I was really looking forward to drinking the '05. We poured immediately after opening, and found the nose very closed. As the wine opened up, it began to reveal the wine I anticipated. Straw color, with a tint of green apple, the typical chard fruit of pear, green apple, white flowers , and flinty minerality began to reveal. Totally balanced, with crisp acidity,oak perfectly integrated with the fruit and acid. We paired the wine with Grilled scallop toped with fios gras. Upon offering the chef a glass, he thought it was a Batard Montrachet......This is a great American Chardonnay, matched only by Aubert and Marcassin.....Drink it if you have it, if not, find it.....Cheers
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3/24/2009 - David S wrote: 92 Points
very nice balanced chard
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3/24/2009 - WineArchitect wrote: 91 Points
Wow, not as nice as the last bottle. The same flavor profiles exist, but they are lighter and not as fat. The finish is not as long on flavor but rather on alcahol heat.
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3/15/2009 - WineArchitect wrote: 93 Points
Bam! Light golden color. This wine finally weighted up! A lovely nose of terroir, oak and stems. The flavors are intense oak with a tangerine finish. The finish lasts a full 45 seconds
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3/14/2009 - WetRock wrote:
The Generosity of Steve Nordhoff Blind (Antonello Ristorante): Rich oaky nose of popcorn. This seemed balanced at first but also seemed to lack some acidity. Oak was in check on the palate. Well done for a Cali styled Chard but not for my palate.
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3/14/2009 - Paul Lin wrote: 88 Points
Steve's Blind Tasting (Antonello Ristorante - Costa Mesa, CA): The initial rush of oak is a turn-off, but beyond that lies fragrant notes of orange blossoms, nectarines, and crushed sea shells. Nice acidity and a mineral-laced alcohol-tinged finish.
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3/14/2009 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Hanging With Stevie N and The OC Gang, Doing It Blind (Antanello's In Costa Mesa (Orange County)): Toasty with mashmallow. Lemon curd, kiwi and a long zingy finish.
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3/6/2009 - bubbachumps wrote: 93 Points
Similiar notes to last bottle, except this time the wine seemed to have come together in a tighter package. Went great with Cowgirl Creamery Mt. Tam
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3/3/2009 - jeff nowak wrote: 89 Points
clunky oak and sharp acidity. quality calichards should be coming into their own by this age, and this one is sliding the wrong way. to me it's a high end, second level wine.
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2/14/2009 - cookie7 wrote: 94 Points
Just a wonderful nose of apricot and butterscotch. Bis bold fruit on the palate. 30+ second finish. Great bottle of wine!!
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2/1/2009 - Siggy wrote: 90 Points
Three bottles tasted with consistent notes. Medium gold color. A very ripe, lush, honeyed, tropical style of CA Chardonnay. The palate is impressively concentrated, intense, and long, and displays a healthy amount of new oak. While the alcohol level here is not shy, the fruit and acidity balance out nicely. Based on my experience with oxidation in prior vintages of this wine (see TNs), this should be drunk up within the next year or two, IMO.
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12/8/2008 - Ki Punwar wrote: 95 Points
Light gold color...nice aromas of pineapple, tropical fruit and butterscotch on a long finish. Everyone that tasted it was wowed.
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12/7/2008 - bigdogflow wrote: 91 Points
Light, golden color. Nose of wet grass and carmel. Very even taste. I enjoyed this wine!
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12/1/2008 - jeff nowak wrote: 90 Points
opened to compare to the judge from the same vintage. i've always thought this was a good, but not great wine that has too much oak. tonight it seemed particularly ponderous.
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12/1/2008 - kstoddard wrote:
G7 (Jeff): Golden yellow color. Oaky nose. Tastes of apple and pear. It appears to be beaten to within an inch of it's life with way too much new oak. I'm surprised my tongue didn't have splinters in it after my first sip. Rich and overly alcoholic. A total contrast to the Judge of the same vintage. Over blown, over manipulated and over done. Over and out.
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11/29/2008 - shudave wrote:
this is really starting to sing. it's the perfect combination of oak, mineral, and bright fruit. Love it.
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11/28/2008 - orcharddude22 wrote: 94 Points
Served as the first wine with the bird. Excellent tatses of pear, apple, wet stones and marshmallows. Nice nose.
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11/22/2008 - jreis wrote:
Wow this starts off with a lot of oak, even more than previous vintages. Butter cinammon and oak on the nose at first and lots of oak on the finish as well. As it opens up, starts to show some nice lemon oil and limestone - the oak starts to recede somewhat. I decided to do a vigorous decant of what was left and that seemed to help tremendously - started to get even more complexity - rose petals and incense on the nose, peaces and pears started to show up on the palate - much more ripe fruti and less oak. Will this ever fully integrate? I think many more years will be required to see. In the menatime, if you like traditioonal oaky chards with some more complexity thrown in , this is the wine for you.
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10/9/2008 - jeff nowak wrote: 92 Points
i'm comfortable with this being a good, but second tier chard behind peter michael, kistler, and aubert. i need to burn a 'the judge' to see what it's level is.
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9/21/2008 - jeff nowak wrote: 92 Points
good performance by this wine tonight. very focused and displaying nicely composed fruit.
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9/16/2008 - JDRFoster wrote: 95 Points
Outstanding Chardonnay. Beautifully integrated, smooth and complex, with layer after layer of aroma and flavor. Lemon/citrus, tropical fruit, green apple, pear, limestone, light oak, pear and fig, with hints of creme brulee. Amazing finish lingers for at least a minute.
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9/10/2008 - Tejano wrote:
Light gold color that needed some time and a little warmth to open and show some ripe tart pear, light citrus components and a light backing of woodsy oak textures. An assertive grip that was beguiling in nature...especially with a little time as it just got better and better. A delightful wine that was good with food, but would easily stand alone...
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9/10/2008 - scamhi wrote:
wow delicious with whole charcoal grilled bronzino. Ripe pear and perceptible vanilla oak but delicious just the same.
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8/25/2008 - cookie7 wrote: 93 Points
Nose of pear and apple. Full-bodied with nice fruit and acidity. Great wine.
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8/24/2008 - RJ Meyer wrote: 94 Points
One of my two favorite chardonnays. Openned as a preface to and with appetizers at Nells. Was a great accompniment to the onion tart and Selah's calamari. Straw colored. nose of citirus fruits. A little heavier on the oak then the Aubert wines but extremely nice nevertheless. Never seems to disappoint.
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7/27/2008 - Amerique wrote: 95 Points
huge, delicious citrus fruit with oily nose and flavors, finish lasts for hours, terrific bottle of wine
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7/20/2008 - jrobs7777 wrote: 86 Points
Easily the most disappointing wine of the 7 we tasted blind. This was on the high side of the price spectrum, so that factor was taken into account in the rating. Finished consensus near the bottom of the 7. A very oaked nose with notes of wet rags, broccoli, vegetables. A palate of butter, oak, green apple, pear and vanilla. This had a strong "typical" chardonnay taste. The consensus was that it needs food -- with cheese it improved. A good amount of bitterns, though. The finish was long and there was agreement that this would rank higher if re-tasted in 5-7 years. However, in the present, a disappointment.
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7/13/2008 - E wrote: 92 Points
This is a beauty of a chardonnay...light on its feet like a degas ballerina....needs another year to integrate the oak, but nice acidity with lemon notes dancing about the palate...superb finish.
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6/14/2008 - beezer6 wrote: 95 Points
Ordered a bottle from the Admiral's List at the Reel Club in Oak Brook.
The wine was a beautiful color in the glass. A deep rich golden hue.
The aromas were overwhelming, toasted nuts, deep pineapple, pear and other citrus fruits. Oak and more charred wood entered the scene.
The palate is impeccable. Beautifully balanced. Long and rich finish that doesn't let up. So much going on here, yet in perfect harmony.
Lovely creamy feeling on the palate showing more citrus fruit, burnt toffee and yet again, OAK. But the oak isn't out of balanced, it's just right up front.
This was the best white wine I have tried to date. Bought a second bottle at cost for the cellar. Yay!
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6/8/2008 - idrinkvino wrote: 93 Points
Gaining a bit of body since the last time I tried this. Solid minerality, blanced with a citric blend of lemon and orange peel. should continue to improve with some time.
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6/4/2008 - vintage72 wrote: 93 Points
beautiful straw yellow color, pineapple creme brulee. Drank at dads 70th.
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6/3/2008 - Carl Thoma wrote:
Intense, rich.
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5/23/2008 - jeff nowak wrote: 92 Points
14.1% alcohol. lemon/lime/orange/ good acid.
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5/21/2008 - mellison wrote: 93 Points
This is a difficult call. I am trying to decide on the best chardonnay for my cellar. The Kistler is really good so decided to try this as a comparison with king crab and a few veggies. When I first tasted it thought "what is the big deal" as the Kistler seemed so much more upfront. After about an hour the Kongsgaard kind of opened up and showed amazing complexity. MY experience had not prepared me for a CA chardonnay opening up much like a red. This and Kistler are great wines both costing about $75. Would like something a little less expensive for everyday drinking or for my wife to drink with friends. However after tasting this and Kistler anything else pales in comparison. Have to say these two are in a class by themselves and which one is better is a personal choice. Maybe I will just split the difference with equal quantities of each.
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5/14/2008 - Thralow wrote: 92 Points
Drank with pan-seared scallops that did not enhance this wine. It worked but i think the wine is better alone.
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5/13/2008 - Charlie Carnes wrote: 97 Points
Wow! What can I say, another stellar bottle of Kongsgaard. Beautiful hazy, golden straw color. Viscous, almost tactile aromas, of fresh cut buttery wood, sherry, vanilla wood, and licorice. Also some mineral highlights. The wine is so balanced and the finish is so long. In a word, Awesome.
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5/3/2008 - Melli wrote: 93 Points
Burgundian with overlay of heavy oak...one of my favorites
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4/19/2008 - pakabear wrote: 93 Points
A very medicinal nose with hints of turpentine... Later one more of the classic butter popcorn and orange peel develop. Palate has more of the same, butter, popcorn, lemon and other citrus components with good sharp acidity on the finish. There is a bit of oak and alcohol that I can detect on the finish, but I'm resolved to thing this will be taken care of with proper time.
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3/19/2008 - Terkel wrote: 93 Points
Blind tasting (Terkels appartment): Straw yellow color. Exotic nose with some fruit and minerals, but mostly dominated by roasted oak and notes of caramel. On the palate the oak is also dominating, pricking on the tongue and leaving a very dry finish. A full-bodied white with a creamy feel to it. Very good lenght but lacking some fruit acidity. It matches its new world chardonnay profile perfectly. I retasted this after a few hours standing in the open bottle, and it opened up gaining more finesse. Give it more cellaring time and serve with a good meal then this should perform brilliantly.
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3/8/2008 - rpenn77 wrote: 94 Points
Full bodied, complex aromas with a long finish. Nice buttery chardonnay
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1/19/2008 - Thralow wrote: 94 Points
Balanced acid, citrus and grass. Wonderful smell and color.
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1/15/2008 - Thralow wrote: 94 Points
What a privilege to be able to have a few bottles of this.
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1/2/2008 - dbkitc wrote: 93 Points
Straw gold with honeysuckle, pear and iron on the nose. Young chardonnay that is deep and rich with great balancing acid. A great young wine that shows wonderful promise for the future. (93+)
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12/30/2007 - bubbachumps wrote: 93 Points
Atypical, large scaled, high end, Cali chard. Big wine with notes of vanilla, orange rind and bettuerscotch. Medium to full bodied on the palette. The package is complete, big fruit balanced acidity. Like this wine a lot. May improve with some time.
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12/28/2007 - matthen wrote: 94 Points
A very big Cali Chardonnay which has everything you think of when it comes to Kongsgaard. Tropical fruits and aromas that flow with vibrant acidity and finish with well integrated oak into a creamy, mouthcoating finish. Excellent.
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12/27/2007 - cookie7 wrote: 93 Points
Nose of lemon and honeysuckle. Layers and layers of citrus and tropical fruit, very big wine, long lingering finish. I think this will merit a few more points in a year or two.
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12/10/2007 - ews3 wrote: 94 Points
nicest chardonnay i've had in a while (i dont drink much) -- well balanced acid with a hint of sweetness. lime, vanilla, floral, stone fruit palate, finish lasted for 20+ seconds and was the best part of this wine. oak was there, but well integrated with the fruit
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12/9/2007 - idrinkvino wrote: 93 Points
Bright apple, pear and lemon with a slight island spice undertone. Excellent wine.
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11/11/2007 - sumshark wrote: 94 Points
First Kongsgaard Chard and it didn't disappoint. Great complexity and a moderate to long finish. Very similar to '04 Lewis Chard.
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11/7/2007 - rsepulve wrote: 95 Points
Loads of citrus and tropical fruit, flowers, stones and a touch of smoke. Great balance and grip. Long finish.
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11/5/2007 - Thralow wrote: 94 Points
It is nice to find a great Chardonnay.
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10/31/2007 - jeff nowak wrote: 91 Points
lemon, lime, honey, pear, and peach. nice acidity, with most components present and balanced. but, it doesn't have the soul of a really legendary chard, especially when compared to several that i have tasted recently. it's the finish that is lacking. i'm hoping it will flesh out with a year or two of bottle age.
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10/31/2007 - Thralow wrote: 93 Points
even after a night, left opened but corked, in the fridge it was still a 90 the next day.
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10/28/2007 - Thralow wrote: 95 Points
Who would have thought a Chardonnay could have so many flavors.
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