Orange color, 15.5% alc, sweet entry hiding slight oxidation, hot, tons of faded oak. Didn't like it then, don't like it now. At the height of the power super-oak craze
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I continue the Quarantine tour of old Chardonnays. This one was harvested fifteen years ago - 2005! The world was a different place. The housing market was booming, and this wine still has that excitement—what a beautiful surprise. Fruity and now with the added complexity of age. It's as old as my daughter and without dissonant raging. The symphony of this wine is much more relaxing than the cacophony of hers.
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golden colour. Nice match of butter, oak, tangerin, honey and vanilla. Still in good shape if optimal stored. But in some years any way the fruit components will be gone. Drink it up!
I wonder on the tasting notes here. If you drink bad stored bottles of a wine that is not meant for last for decades, what do you expect? It is rather unfair to give this less than an outstanding at least excellent rating.
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Deep golden, pears, honey, vanilla, butterscotch, citrus, caramel, fullbodied and intense with nice and enough acidity providing freshness and focus. Still a joy to drink, of course fully mature without any reason to wait and slowly on the way down the hill. The 96 points by the WA were well-deserved.
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This bottle was stored since release in a wine fridge at 12°C. And it was better than the bottle in december 2015 which was cellared at up to 16°C in summer, because it showed more fruit concentration and power. Nevertheless even bottles that are cellared under optimal circumstances should be consumed in the next few years though newton chardonnay unfiltered is only declining very slowly. If one reads the tasting notes on this wine, it is a pity that so many bottles are bad obviously due to bad storing conditions.
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Stored since release in a cellar reaching 16-17° C in summer. Golden yellow, nose of vanillin, minerals, hints of citrus, honeysuckle, brioche and hints of pear. Not a hint of oxidation. Yes, in comparison to french top notch Chardonnay, Monrachet of a top producer or something like that, this has a little bit more influence of new oak, but fruit is still there to balance it. Nice new world Chardonnay! But of course, this can only loose with further cellaring. Drink it up, but without panic. Not well stored examples, may be far over its peak.
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Renee's: Stale caramel notes mingled with Cinnamon and old vanilla and a nutty, slightly sour aspect showing poor storage, or the amount of oak on this killed its chances of long term survival. Creamy, walnuts, a touch sour. Where's the fruit?!
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Wow. This is a huge Chardonnay. It has aged well and does have some oxidation. The front palette still displays freshness but the incredibly long finish brings out some of the oxidization and carmel notes. It is close to dessert like in weight. The complexity and range of flavors is amazing - highly suggest drinking over a couple of hours to see how the wine evolves. Clearly this is not for everyone but it is one of the most interesting examples of aged California Chard I've ever had (IMO better than Ridge and Kistler). I would drink now as there is still ample freshness to balance the oxidization.
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brought this to a Central Jersey CT off-line tasting at Ursino Restaurant. the wine was a bit tired but perked up after awhile. not a crowd pleaser although i enjoyed. typical butter, butter scotch and lemon citrus that i enjoy so much from newton. may have kept a bit too long. live and learn.
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Color is a burnt orange, nose shows no fruit with a faint hint of toasted lemon which leads way to nutty caramel flavored palate and a tawny port like finish. So much for a long drinking window as this is well past a pleasant drink making me mad that I did open this up years ago.
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Dark gold color; no fruit; nutty carmel flavor; minimal finish; it is possible that this wine was past its prime but it appears from other reviewers that it had similar characteristics to prior bottles
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USA White Wines (Weygandt Wines - Washington, D.C.): This chardonnay is in an interesting spot right now. Still rich, but gaining some quirky aged characteristics. Aromas of green apple, toasted nuts and a hint of seaweed. The seaweed note isn't off-putting at all, kind of fun actually. Rich and nutty on the palate, with flavors of olive oil and lamp oil. Rich melon fruit, along with nuts and some dusty flavors as well. Needs cheese.
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When I originally tried this wine 3 years ago I recalled it being much lighter and nutty. I would say it got much darker and a little viscous. That said I found it really interesting. Maybe a little apricot. Solid backbone. I was not at all disappointed.
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The 6th bottle of a case from our cellar, held since release. This is a big full blown CA chardonnay that makes no apologies..it is what it is. But, as much as I enjoy a fine white burgundy, sometimes, this is just what I want. It was served a little on the cold side and warmed to a good drinking temperature in the glass. Unctuous ripe tropical fruits, noticeable but not overdone oak, good acidity, and a finish that lasts and lasts. When it got to room temperature, the alcohol did start to stick out a little in the finish. Unlike some of the others who have posted recent notes, I don't think this has lost anything and is just where I like it. It is a little toned down from a few years ago and was a great match with the maple glazed salmon marinated in ginger, garlic, and soy sauce.
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US vs Europe (Chung Home, NoVA): extremely strong oak is a bit overwhelming, but is supported by nice sweet red apple and pear notes. some sweet spice leads into a medium (+) finish that develops some heat after 10s.
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Was expecting super ripe, but I guess the other people posting have never really had CA superripe. Yes, you will not mistake this for a Chablis, but nonetheless it is a good effort from CA. Tropical fruits on the nose, yes some creaminess on the palate, but all in all decent acidity to back it up. I think some posting here have not had these with some age... like Leeuwin, this lose some of their bigness as they age becoming a bit more gentle and more well rounded.
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This still has some flair to it, but seems to be notably fading at a modestly young age. The power and intensity of all that oak and sugar seems be resolving into a mushy, somewhat flabby sweet wine that just escapes being so overripe it seems rotten. Yet another superripe Cali chard that can't age.
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Very disappointed. I bought a case and am now stuck with 11 bottles. Too much. Alchohol is 15.5% and is not supported by the acid. Plus side - Day 2 it had balanced some but I'm not sure it will age any longer well. The 2002 was enjoyable at age 7; this? Parker extolled how an older vintage and this winery in general did well with longevity. We'll see.
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Wine Advocate - 96 rating - One of California’s most glorious Chardonnays, and still somewhat under the radar, is the Newton 2005 Chardonnay Unfiltered. This is another wine that has the capacity in certain vintages to evolve for 8-10 years. A bottle of the 1991 I had recently was stunning (I rated it 92), and of course it was 16 years of age. There are 10,700 cases of this wine, which is put through full malolactic and bottle unfiltered with minimal manipulation. The 2005 is fabulous, and one of the best examples of this cuvee made at Newton. Notes of honeysuckle, poached pear, brioche, and white currants are present in this wine, which also exhibits some citrus oil and a subtle influence of new oak. Full-bodied, fleshy, and rich, with super purity and stature, this is a gorgeous Chardonnay that should drink nicely for 7-10 years.
One of the most spectacularly beautiful vineyards, high on the lower slopes of Spring Mountain, is Newton Vineyards. Organically farmed and impeccably manicured, this was one of the first outposts to which famed Bordeaux consultant Michel Rolland came, and an entire generation of winemakers formed by his brilliance have emerged from Newton. The overall style of the wine is one built on European elegance and longevity. The vintages from the early 1990s are still doing well, especially the 1990 and 1991.
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I would agree with other tasters that it's become way too much... Too much oak, too much butter, too much California Chardonnay. The balance might have been better a year ago but now it's fading. If ya got it, drink it now.
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This wine, while never a wallflower, was more high-toned and focused 6-12 months ago. The fruit, always intense, was sharp, penetrating and piercing. Tonight, it is a bit sweeter and more cloying than I remember, bringing the entire package out-of-balance. The zest that holds the tidal wave of sweet fruit in check is crumbling. This is still a tasty drink if you like the style, but it's moving in the wrong direction, suggesting to me that its time is nigh. My last several bottles (and I drank 6 before even bothering with CT) were all in the 90-93 range for my tastes - big, intense chards in every respect, but relying much more upon fruit than toast and butter. That ship has sailed, I think.
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South FL WS Forum Offline (Hollywood, FL): I got a fair amount of oak and some butter notes along with fairly big, lush fruit, but not enough acidity to balance it out, and so it came across as flabby. To me, this was a stereotypical big CA chard (which is not my style), but my score is more reflective of the fact it doesn't distinguish itself from much lower priced wines of the same style rather than penalizing it for its style.
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Extremely impressive at the beginning: nose of big Condrieu, quite exotic, impressive mouth and incredible length... but: No! I don't want to have another sip of this wine, it's just too powerful, too rich, too alcoholic. A wine to taste, not to drink.
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Much more oak than fruit this in this bottle. It lacked the citrus-honey-vanilla smoothness I enjoyed in previous bottles. Even so, it was still quite enjoyable. Will be interested to try the '06 I have.
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This has improved immensely since a year ago. Oak has faded to the background; well-integrated smoothness is the main story now, with lemon custard backed by vanilla and a hint of ginger candy.
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Wonderful wine for the price. I believe it stands up to the Cakebreads, yet at a 1/3 the price. Pleasent nose of Oak and fruit. Well put together with suttle hints of vanilla and light citrus.
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My faith in aged Bordeaux...restored! (and a beautiful 11 year old Napa Cab) (Monterrey, Mexico): This was very well received by all but me. For me, it was a rather lackluster start of the dinner tasting. I served it a bit cold, so it showed a muted nose. This 2005 has never shown as well as the flamboyantly ripe 2003. This is surely a very well made wine. Delicious, oily and all, but a bit simple for the price tag. My wife and our guests liked it a lot more than I did.
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what an improvement to the 03, this is a much more balanced wine with much less oak. Nice thick and oily texture and gold colourwith notes of pear and toast.
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This wine smells and tastes like it has 500% new oak. Behind the wood is some pear and caramel. Decent acidity. Medium to full bodied. Undrinkable for me but I can see the allure for others. 15.5% alcohol.
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In a blind Chardonnay tasting where all major regions were sampled and prices ranged from $12 to $80, this finished in the 3-4 range. Our group of 6 was not as enamored with this wine as say Mr. Parker, but it scored well. Considered the traditional California Chardonnay, it had a delightful thick and creamy mouthfeel and was almost viscous. There was a good amount of sweetness to this wine, with some brown sugar, tropical fruits, jellybean, pineapple, etc. While one glass may be nice, the consensus was that it probably would be a "little much" after more than 1 to 1 1/2 glasses. Nice value at the price.
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Consistent with prior notes of toasty oak, honeyed vanilla and citrus on the nose. In the mouth a large scaled full bodied chardonnay. Lush tropical flavors framed with subtle oak. This was a great wine by itself, but paled in comparison to the 2004 Aubert Lauren - which was prolific.
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** Color: Golden Yellow Nose:Peaches, pear very tropical Taste: Pear with coconut and lemon - very rich and creamy almost buttery with very mellow oak. Just superb chard without an astringent finish. I do hope these get even better as WA suggested - I have a few more and would love to enjoy a bottle in 10 years is I can keep my hands off one until then. This is our "go to" chardonnay.
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I have to say that after reading all of the effusive reviews, I was dissapointed. I found the oakiness to be way too far forward in the wine. Very deep in color and body, it was reminiscent of a dark chocolate cake with too much frosting. I have a few more bottles so I'll let this one go a while longer in hopes that it comes together.
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A bit darker than most chardonnays and subtle fruit on the nose. The taste is extremely complex, including some chalk minerality, but it is subte and adds justa d ash to the finish. The fruits are very pronounced, but deep and complex -- especially a grapenut custard. Lovely wine. This is a unique taste.
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Superb, much better than the 2006. Heavily extracted coconut cream, pineapple, bubble gum, and pear, with intense--slightly bitter--acidity/minerality. The heavy oak in this golden chardonnay is an afterthought (how often can that be said for a California chardonnay?). Still, this wine feels somewhat closed. This is one of the very best wines I've had under $50/750 ml. (Purchased from, of all places, an Asian supermarket for $42.) This is the best chardonnay I've ever had.
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Tasted against one of our favorite Chardonnays costing 3x as much. This one was the crowd pleaser though the other one was described as more powerful. Apparently "powerful" is not what this crowd wanted in their Chardonnay. Oh, i should add, this was drunk with pan seared scallops. Which means this probably went better with the scallops while a "powerful" Chardonnay is better alone or with a another dish.
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Toasty oak, honeyed vanilla and citrus on the nose. In the mouth a large scaled full bodied chardonnay. Lush tropical flavors framed with subtle oak. Absolutely delicious. Consistently one of the great qprs year in year out.
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Definitely in your face with the oak, but rich lemon and cream emerge from underneath. A lot better with food than without. Improved with an hour or two of breathing.
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Bold and Oaky but actually lively and ... refreshing! The balance lasts all the way through the tail, which is where most oaky cali chards turn over ripe / rotten to my taste.
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About as elegant as a 747 on a short runway in a rainstorm. Huge wine with massive extraction. High alcohol with a ton of oak. Pure unsalted butter and sloppy oak in the mouth. Parker 96? You've got to be kidding me.
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This was much better than the first bottle I had of this vintage. Beautiful golden color with vibrate fruit that actually stands up to the heavy amount of oak. Solid Chard, but still don’t see 96 from RP.
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Lemon curd and heat on the nose lead into a lush mouthfeel with pears, vanilla bean, and searing acid on the finish. This is very different from the 2002 I had last year, and likely is just too young. The acid, vanilla and fruit notes seem somewhat disjointed at present, although it is still enjoyable.
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Tasted in a blind tasting with a Fevre Chablis (2002), a Corton-Charlemagne, a Beringer reserve and St. Innocent. Scored quite well...was easily defined as CA, but without over oak, butter, etc. Rich yet well-balanced with adequate acid, tannin and minerality to hold up well. Interestingly, it was richer than the anticiapted stone-like chablis, yet actually not as unctuous and "oily" as the Corton. Biggest surprise was the St. Innocent--by far the most european-styled chardonnay from U.S., evidently they use Dijon clones.
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Popped and poured. Gold color and clear hue throughout. Nose of lemon oil, honey and pears. Similar palate with addition of oak and butter. Nice acidity and lengthy finish. One of the best chardonnays I've had.
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this is more like it. this bottle was fully expressive and showed everything that this wine has to offer. starts off somewhat subdued. builds to an exciting crescendo. lots of butter, butterscotch, caramel and a hint of lemon. just enough minerality so that you still know that you are drinking chardonnay. fills the mouth coats the tongue and cheeks. lingering finish. stood up to garlic shrimp.
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Chard Showdown Plus some Aussie Reds (Turnagain Vines): Tasted blind. Absolutely disappointed with this bottling. Tasted in a lineup of great chards, one being 8 years old, and this offered the least. Almost oxidized nose, kind of like brown butter with that nuttiness going on. The palate is rich and oily with no acidity to back it up. The oak is overbearing and shows toast and vanilla. I'd love to say that I think this will get better and integrate with time, but the lack of balance now is frightening. Maybe I'll try another bottle.
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Yeah, I don't know. The clear loser on the Chard Challange. Tasted almost oxidized. Picked up over time, but never even reached the heights of the red label at less then half the price.
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Butter yellow color; light, pleasant smell of chardonnay; very clean wine, but nothing at all distinctive. Lacks concentration and "soul." Decent and well made but doesn't linger on the palate or on the mind very long.
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Great nose of lemon, pineapple with some creme, banana and cream. Vanilla, Asparagus and citrus dominate the well balanced palate. A bit of alcohol on the finish keeps the rating from going much higher.
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Pours a beautiful rich pale golden color with aromatics that please my soul. I smell the soft, womanly scent of vanilla cream, kettle corn, wild apple, and a bit of citrus. Amazing! This wine a beautifully balanced with concentrated fruit and peaceful acidity. A full, soft and viscous mouthfeel reveals flavors like the colors on a rainbow. Vanilla bean, butterscotch, ripe for picking stonefruit, wild apple, creamy pear, and mildly spiced oak. The finish is long and savory. This is as good as it get's in CA. Highly recommended.
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Had at an atlanta restaurant last night...this is even better than the 2004...less oak, though this bottle was chilled a bit more than usual....superb stuff. The Newtons have, along with aubert's, renewed our interest in chardonnay.
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Huge "movie popcorn". Not much fruit(20 mins after opening). Some fig, a touch of pear. Surprised that other tasters found a lot of fruit. Will see where it goes in the next couple of days.....
Day2: Opened up quite a bit! Good fruit on the nose. Taste: loads of fruit on a popcorn background. Very Different . Very good!
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What a fabulous surprise! Pervious notes by others indicate too much oak and the familiar derogatory comments of a young California chardonnay . . . I found pear, bright melon, faint vanilla, something akin to a multi faceted infused citrus oil note, and high levels of glycerin [without being too thick] that lead to a satisfying buttery consistency finish. 95+
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The nose is completely dominated by oak, with a nose of vanilla, buttered toast, and head-on oak. The palate shows a medium level of acidity, and a relatively well balanced mouthfeel, with medium body, but nicely coating the tongue. Initially got a lot of heat on the finish, but it is slowly fading with time and becoming more pleasant. Palate shows butter, pear, and apple flavors, with still a very high level of oak. Finish goes on for 15 seconds and remains there. Not necessarily my style, with too much oak, but a well made wine.
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Paired with a cheese/salami course. Light in color compared to previous vintages, nose was dominated by oak. I get a little pear, melon and pepper on the palate, but again the influence of oak is a bit much for my tastes. I don’t see the 96 from RP at all. This tastes very run of the mil $8 Cali Chard to me. I really enjoyed the 04, finding the fruit far more vibrant and pure. This bottle seems like it’s from a different winery.
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christmas eve dinner with pat, ellen, and grandma and grandpa pomponio. opened with much anticipation, having read a lot about the wine and having been recommended by two afficionados. paired with shrimp francaise, baked scallops, calamari and pasta in a light red sauce, steamed white fish and traditional cod. the wine is a successful example of an upper tier california chard. however, it does not really live up to all the hype. i particularly enjoy a wine that delivers multiple flavor layers and this one does so. butterscotch up front and vanilla are clearly evident. i detect perhaps just a hint of the tropicals described by others. nicely balanced. not too much oak. longer than average but not greatly extended finish. this bottle may have suffered somewhat from variations in temperature, having been transported between houses. will have to try the 2004 which is supposed to have a little more stuffing. until then, i would have to say that beringer/sbragia is better.
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Pineapple, brown sugar (almost pineapple upside down cake) tropical fruits and much softener than the 04 with less weight and oak. Finish is delicate and long. Nice style.
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given the enormous rating and hype i was expecting to taste the best still white of my life. it was not. nonetheless, it was a good chard and a terrible qpr.
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Somewhat hazy yellow in the glass. Unusually fragrant with buterscotch fig and vanilla. The wine follows its nose-a big buttery wine with great balance of acidity and fruit.
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Heavy, complex chard. Lots of glycerine but still enough acid to balance. It took on more weight as it warmed up. A very nice red wine drinker's chardonnay. It passed my "let it warm to room temperature and see if it is still good" test. Reminds me of the Patz & Hall Dutton Ranch chardonnay we drank ealier this summer. Great!
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This was opened a month after the first bottle. A very nice wine. The color is strikingly dark and the mouthfeel is thick almost oily. This bottle seemed a bit "hot" but still well balanced. Figs and vanilla predominate.
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12/19/2020 - peternelson wrote: flawed
Orange color, 15.5% alc, sweet entry hiding slight oxidation, hot, tons of faded oak. Didn't like it then, don't like it now. At the height of the power super-oak craze
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8/11/2020 - MObiker wrote:
Down the drain.
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4/13/2020 - Thralow Likes this wine: 96 Points
I continue the Quarantine tour of old Chardonnays. This one was harvested fifteen years ago - 2005! The world was a different place. The housing market was booming, and this wine still has that excitement—what a beautiful surprise. Fruity and now with the added complexity of age. It's as old as my daughter and without dissonant raging. The symphony of this wine is much more relaxing than the cacophony of hers.
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11/15/2017 - Wine Boy wrote: flawed
Waited WAY TOOO long.
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4/2/2017 - Caruso Likes this wine: 95 Points
golden colour. Nice match of butter, oak, tangerin, honey and vanilla. Still in good shape if optimal stored. But in some years any way the fruit components will be gone. Drink it up!
I wonder on the tasting notes here. If you drink bad stored bottles of a wine that is not meant for last for decades, what do you expect? It is rather unfair to give this less than an outstanding at least excellent rating.
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12/29/2016 - Caruso Likes this wine: 95 Points
Deep golden, pears, honey, vanilla, butterscotch, citrus, caramel, fullbodied and intense with nice and enough acidity providing freshness and focus. Still a joy to drink, of course fully mature without any reason to wait and slowly on the way down the hill. The 96 points by the WA were well-deserved.
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4/15/2016 - Caruso Likes this wine: 96 Points
This bottle was stored since release in a wine fridge at 12°C. And it was better than the bottle in december 2015 which was cellared at up to 16°C in summer, because it showed more fruit concentration and power. Nevertheless even bottles that are cellared under optimal circumstances should be consumed in the next few years though newton chardonnay unfiltered is only declining very slowly. If one reads the tasting notes on this wine, it is a pity that so many bottles are bad obviously due to bad storing conditions.
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12/30/2015 - Caruso Likes this wine: 94 Points
Stored since release in a cellar reaching 16-17° C in summer. Golden yellow, nose of vanillin, minerals, hints of citrus, honeysuckle, brioche and hints of pear. Not a hint of oxidation. Yes, in comparison to french top notch Chardonnay, Monrachet of a top producer or something like that, this has a little bit more influence of new oak, but fruit is still there to balance it. Nice new world Chardonnay! But of course, this can only loose with further cellaring. Drink it up, but without panic. Not well stored examples, may be far over its peak.
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10/19/2015 - thejaffer wrote: 94 Points
Excellent
Balanced and fulll if citrus
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9/7/2015 - peternelson wrote: 85 Points
Renee's: Stale caramel notes mingled with Cinnamon and old vanilla and a nutty, slightly sour aspect showing poor storage, or the amount of oak on this killed its chances of long term survival. Creamy, walnuts, a touch sour. Where's the fruit?!
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7/15/2015 - Pearls_b4Swine wrote: 96 Points
just getting better and better w time; but I think it needs to be drunk right now or it will be too late.
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6/29/2015 - aaronwine Likes this wine: 93 Points
Wow. This is a huge Chardonnay. It has aged well and does have some oxidation. The front palette still displays freshness but the incredibly long finish brings out some of the oxidization and carmel notes. It is close to dessert like in weight. The complexity and range of flavors is amazing - highly suggest drinking over a couple of hours to see how the wine evolves. Clearly this is not for everyone but it is one of the most interesting examples of aged California Chard I've ever had (IMO better than Ridge and Kistler). I would drink now as there is still ample freshness to balance the oxidization.
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4/2/2015 - Pearls_b4Swine wrote: 94 Points
disagree w recent trend of reviews; this has aged beautifully in my opinion.
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1/7/2015 - bacchus wrote: 89 Points
brought this to a Central Jersey CT off-line tasting at Ursino Restaurant. the wine was a bit tired but perked up after awhile. not a crowd pleaser although i enjoyed. typical butter, butter scotch and lemon citrus that i enjoy so much from newton. may have kept a bit too long. live and learn.
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10/28/2014 - Donjcorleone Does not like this wine: 78 Points
Color is a burnt orange, nose shows no fruit with a faint hint of toasted lemon which leads way to nutty caramel flavored palate and a tawny port like finish. So much for a long drinking window as this is well past a pleasant drink making me mad that I did open this up years ago.
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4/18/2014 - cstir Does not like this wine: 84 Points
Dark gold color; no fruit; nutty carmel flavor; minimal finish; it is possible that this wine was past its prime but it appears from other reviewers that it had similar characteristics to prior bottles
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12/30/2013 - Scott519 wrote:
- Yellow gold color.
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2/3/2013 - closdupapes wrote: 79 Points
On its way out. I am disappointed with the longevity, or lack there of, of this wine. It had such great potential.
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11/25/2012 - closdupapes wrote: 85 Points
Starting to go down hill. Had almost a tawny port-like finish. Drink now.
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11/17/2012 - closdupapes wrote: 61 Points
Bottle had turned.
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9/11/2012 - manonthemoon wrote: 79 Points
N vanilla, oak
P vanilla, lemon, spice
F full bodied, hot, little acid
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9/11/2012 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 85 Points
USA White Wines (Weygandt Wines - Washington, D.C.): This chardonnay is in an interesting spot right now. Still rich, but gaining some quirky aged characteristics. Aromas of green apple, toasted nuts and a hint of seaweed. The seaweed note isn't off-putting at all, kind of fun actually. Rich and nutty on the palate, with flavors of olive oil and lamp oil. Rich melon fruit, along with nuts and some dusty flavors as well. Needs cheese.
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8/10/2012 - Ecoenophile wrote: 88 Points
Tasted a little oxidized. Still full and smooth. Beautiful clear, straw yellow color.
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8/3/2012 - plitton wrote: flawed
Oxidized! ugh.
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11/3/2011 - BSZach1 wrote: 90 Points
When I originally tried this wine 3 years ago I recalled it being much lighter and nutty. I would say it got much darker and a little viscous. That said I found it really interesting. Maybe a little apricot. Solid backbone. I was not at all disappointed.
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10/18/2011 - VTCellarDweller Likes this wine: 91 Points
The 6th bottle of a case from our cellar, held since release.
This is a big full blown CA chardonnay that makes no apologies..it is what it is. But, as much as I enjoy a fine white burgundy, sometimes, this is just what I want.
It was served a little on the cold side and warmed to a good drinking temperature in the glass. Unctuous ripe tropical fruits, noticeable but not overdone oak, good acidity, and a finish that lasts and lasts. When it got to room temperature, the alcohol did start to stick out a little in the finish.
Unlike some of the others who have posted recent notes, I don't think this has lost anything and is just where I like it. It is a little toned down from a few years ago and was a great match with the maple glazed salmon marinated in ginger, garlic, and soy sauce.
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10/16/2011 - wineshaman wrote: 90 Points
Funky nose of burnt carmel and old wood, lemon, vanilla, zest and toasty new wood. Drink soon!
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10/1/2011 - patwjr wrote: 94 Points
Drinking really beautiful right now. All comes together perfectly. Everyone's favorite Chard of the night.
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4/4/2011 - curtr wrote: 92 Points
Age has helped bring the components together in this wine. In a good spot right now
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2/19/2011 - ews3 wrote: 90 Points
US vs Europe (Chung Home, NoVA): extremely strong oak is a bit overwhelming, but is supported by nice sweet red apple and pear notes. some sweet spice leads into a medium (+) finish that develops some heat after 10s.
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12/30/2010 - jlgnml wrote: 90 Points
A bit fat on the palate. Good color, fruit in the glass. Pronounce nose. Overall good.
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12/15/2010 - Canuck wrote: 89 Points
WWG (The National): Great fruit notes on this wine. Would not want to keep it much longer, but seemed to be firing on all cylinders today.
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10/2/2010 - BYOB wrote: 90 Points
Nice Chard not heavy on the oak.
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8/29/2010 - cadamson wrote: 92 Points
Was expecting super ripe, but I guess the other people posting have never really had CA superripe. Yes, you will not mistake this for a Chablis, but nonetheless it is a good effort from CA. Tropical fruits on the nose, yes some creaminess on the palate, but all in all decent acidity to back it up. I think some posting here have not had these with some age... like Leeuwin, this lose some of their bigness as they age becoming a bit more gentle and more well rounded.
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7/19/2010 - MC wrote:
You know what it is going to be...big, bold, California Chardonnay. Just fine when you are in the mood for it. B+
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4/20/2010 - herberto wrote: 87 Points
This still has some flair to it, but seems to be notably fading at a modestly young age. The power and intensity of all that oak and sugar seems be resolving into a mushy, somewhat flabby sweet wine that just escapes being so overripe it seems rotten. Yet another superripe Cali chard that can't age.
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2/21/2010 - Mark Larson wrote: 87 Points
Very disappointed. I bought a case and am now stuck with 11 bottles. Too much. Alchohol is 15.5% and is not supported by the acid. Plus side - Day 2 it had balanced some but I'm not sure it will age any longer well. The 2002 was enjoyable at age 7; this? Parker extolled how an older vintage and this winery in general did well with longevity. We'll see.
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2/13/2010 - GSW wrote: 91 Points
Very enjoyable, light-on-its feet California Chard.
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1/17/2010 - plitton wrote: 90 Points
Warm, rounded and quite pleasing. It's a bit sloppy on the oak and lacks some structure. QPR is average.
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11/22/2009 - TJK wrote:
Wine Advocate - 96 rating - One of California’s most glorious Chardonnays, and still somewhat under the radar, is the Newton 2005 Chardonnay Unfiltered. This is another wine that has the capacity in certain vintages to evolve for 8-10 years. A bottle of the 1991 I had recently was stunning (I rated it 92), and of course it was 16 years of age. There are 10,700 cases of this wine, which is put through full malolactic and bottle unfiltered with minimal manipulation. The 2005 is fabulous, and one of the best examples of this cuvee made at Newton. Notes of honeysuckle, poached pear, brioche, and white currants are present in this wine, which also exhibits some citrus oil and a subtle influence of new oak. Full-bodied, fleshy, and rich, with super purity and stature, this is a gorgeous Chardonnay that should drink nicely for 7-10 years.
One of the most spectacularly beautiful vineyards, high on the lower slopes of Spring Mountain, is Newton Vineyards. Organically farmed and impeccably manicured, this was one of the first outposts to which famed Bordeaux consultant Michel Rolland came, and an entire generation of winemakers formed by his brilliance have emerged from Newton. The overall style of the wine is one built on European elegance and longevity. The vintages from the early 1990s are still doing well, especially the 1990 and 1991.
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11/16/2009 - frenchlm wrote: 89 Points
Well made wine but adversely affected by low acidity throwing the whole picture off balance. Drink up!
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10/29/2009 - BRSAustinTex wrote: 87 Points
I would agree with other tasters that it's become way too much... Too much oak, too much butter, too much California Chardonnay. The balance might have been better a year ago but now it's fading. If ya got it, drink it now.
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10/24/2009 - brich wrote: 87 Points
It's a nice chard, but frankly not worth the money. Detected a strange finish -- strange as in not enjoyable! - but otherwise well integrated.
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10/20/2009 - Moorese wrote: 88 Points
This wine, while never a wallflower, was more high-toned and focused 6-12 months ago. The fruit, always intense, was sharp, penetrating and piercing. Tonight, it is a bit sweeter and more cloying than I remember, bringing the entire package out-of-balance. The zest that holds the tidal wave of sweet fruit in check is crumbling. This is still a tasty drink if you like the style, but it's moving in the wrong direction, suggesting to me that its time is nigh. My last several bottles (and I drank 6 before even bothering with CT) were all in the 90-93 range for my tastes - big, intense chards in every respect, but relying much more upon fruit than toast and butter. That ship has sailed, I think.
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10/8/2009 - Thralow wrote: 89 Points
Excellent but the worst bottle of the case so far.
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9/13/2009 - redknife wrote: 84 Points
Quite disappointing.
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9/12/2009 - vinole wrote: 87 Points
South FL WS Forum Offline (Hollywood, FL): I got a fair amount of oak and some butter notes along with fairly big, lush fruit, but not enough acidity to balance it out, and so it came across as flabby. To me, this was a stereotypical big CA chard (which is not my style), but my score is more reflective of the fact it doesn't distinguish itself from much lower priced wines of the same style rather than penalizing it for its style.
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8/28/2009 - avalance wrote: 88 Points
Extremely impressive at the beginning: nose of big Condrieu, quite exotic, impressive mouth and incredible length... but: No! I don't want to have another sip of this wine, it's just too powerful, too rich, too alcoholic.
A wine to taste, not to drink.
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8/1/2009 - scottmlew wrote: 89 Points
Much more oak than fruit this in this bottle. It lacked the citrus-honey-vanilla smoothness I enjoyed in previous bottles. Even so, it was still quite enjoyable. Will be interested to try the '06 I have.
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5/5/2009 - lean88j wrote: flawed
wine is orange, no nose, and semi-sweet to the taste. must be a bad bottle. this was not chardonnay.
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5/2/2009 - vine20 wrote: 94 Points
Superb wine with great fruit nose and strong, yet-fully balanced citrus fruit and honey tastes. Long finish.
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3/8/2009 - eeeeeradicator wrote: 93 Points
This has improved immensely since a year ago. Oak has faded to the background; well-integrated smoothness is the main story now, with lemon custard backed by vanilla and a hint of ginger candy.
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2/23/2009 - jaxpaj wrote: 91 Points
Wonderful wine for the price. I believe it stands up to the Cakebreads, yet at a 1/3 the price. Pleasent nose of Oak and fruit. Well put together with suttle hints of vanilla and light citrus.
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2/21/2009 - hcampana wrote: 90 Points
My faith in aged Bordeaux...restored! (and a beautiful 11 year old Napa Cab) (Monterrey, Mexico): This was very well received by all but me. For me, it was a rather lackluster start of the dinner tasting. I served it a bit cold, so it showed a muted nose. This 2005 has never shown as well as the flamboyantly ripe 2003. This is surely a very well made wine. Delicious, oily and all, but a bit simple for the price tag. My wife and our guests liked it a lot more than I did.
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1/16/2009 - PatrikO wrote: 92 Points
what an improvement to the 03, this is a much more balanced wine with much less oak. Nice thick and oily texture and gold colourwith notes of pear and toast.
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1/1/2009 - smahk wrote: 92 Points
**
Same as prior bottles, but it did seem as if this lost a little of it's magic. Very good, but now I wonder about aging potential.
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12/27/2008 - scottmlew wrote: 90 Points
Smooth vanilla and light citrus, amazingly long finish.
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12/12/2008 - patwjr wrote: 93 Points
Just delicious. Nice balance of fruit, a little oak and minerals. Ready to drink or over the next few years.
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12/1/2008 - prez wrote: 93 Points
Oaky chard, but good balance and finish. Surprised by the darker color. Drinking very well.
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10/11/2008 - prez wrote: 92 Points
Well balanced with significant oak.
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9/13/2008 - smphelps wrote: 90 Points
Last bottle and still drinking well. Full bodied smooth in the mouth. Prior notes are still accurate, but if anything I thought it better younger.
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9/11/2008 - Thralow wrote: 90 Points
Solid, but not extraordinary.
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9/5/2008 - yotaiwan wrote: 90 Points
very woody and vanilla, a bit harsh and forward.
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8/30/2008 - jivey wrote: 94 Points
Consistant with prior notes. Drinking real nice.
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8/27/2008 - jivey wrote: 93 Points
Wifes party..
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8/23/2008 - kstoddard wrote:
This wine smells and tastes like it has 500% new oak. Behind the wood is some pear and caramel. Decent acidity. Medium to full bodied. Undrinkable for me but I can see the allure for others. 15.5% alcohol.
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8/6/2008 - Deb293 wrote: 92 Points
EWS California Chardonnay vs. White Burgundy (Warwick Hotel, NYC): Tasted blind. Pale lemon yellow with a subtle floral nose. Well integrated, with vanilla flavors and orange rind. Long finish with the oak a bit predominant.
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7/27/2008 - jrobs7777 wrote: 90 Points
In a blind Chardonnay tasting where all major regions were sampled and prices ranged from $12 to $80, this finished in the 3-4 range. Our group of 6 was not as enamored with this wine as say Mr. Parker, but it scored well. Considered the traditional California Chardonnay, it had a delightful thick and creamy mouthfeel and was almost viscous. There was a good amount of sweetness to this wine, with some brown sugar, tropical fruits, jellybean, pineapple, etc. While one glass may be nice, the consensus was that it probably would be a "little much" after more than 1 to 1 1/2 glasses. Nice value at the price.
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7/26/2008 - bubbachumps wrote: 94 Points
Consistent with prior notes of toasty oak, honeyed vanilla and citrus on the nose. In the mouth a large scaled full bodied chardonnay. Lush tropical flavors framed with subtle oak. This was a great wine by itself, but paled in comparison to the 2004 Aubert Lauren - which was prolific.
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7/24/2008 - smahk wrote: 93 Points
**
Color: Golden Yellow
Nose:Peaches, pear very tropical
Taste: Pear with coconut and lemon - very rich and creamy almost buttery with very mellow oak. Just superb chard without an astringent finish. I do hope these get even better as WA suggested - I have a few more and would love to enjoy a bottle in 10 years is I can keep my hands off one until then. This is our "go to" chardonnay.
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7/23/2008 - jivey wrote: 93 Points
Golden color, Nose of heady caramel, pinapple, brown sugar on a nice balance of acidty and fruit. The complex finish goes on for minutes.
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7/17/2008 - brich wrote: 88 Points
I have to say that after reading all of the effusive reviews, I was dissapointed. I found the oakiness to be way too far forward in the wine. Very deep in color and body, it was reminiscent of a dark chocolate cake with too much frosting. I have a few more bottles so I'll let this one go a while longer in hopes that it comes together.
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6/17/2008 - vine20 wrote: 94 Points
A bit darker than most chardonnays and subtle fruit on the nose. The taste is extremely complex, including some chalk minerality, but it is subte and adds justa d ash to the finish. The fruits are very pronounced, but deep and complex -- especially a grapenut custard. Lovely wine. This is a unique taste.
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6/16/2008 - smphelps wrote: 91 Points
figs and ripe pear nose. Gracious full body with depth and character. Lingering smokey toast finish. No longer any touch of heat.
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6/14/2008 - navquarter wrote: 92 Points
Still one of the best whites around.
Smokey oak with pears on the nose,
Earthy ectoplasm on the ballet,
And lenthly vanilla and apple tinges on the legs.
Quite nice indeed!
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6/14/2008 - rmalloy wrote: 95 Points
Superb, much better than the 2006. Heavily extracted coconut cream, pineapple, bubble gum, and pear, with intense--slightly bitter--acidity/minerality. The heavy oak in this golden chardonnay is an afterthought (how often can that be said for a California chardonnay?). Still, this wine feels somewhat closed. This is one of the very best wines I've had under $50/750 ml. (Purchased from, of all places, an Asian supermarket for $42.) This is the best chardonnay I've ever had.
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6/9/2008 - E wrote: 95 Points
So consistent...the oak is fading, though it was never problematic...top chardonnay qpr for us 2 years running
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5/31/2008 - now_in_mi wrote: 90 Points
Nice, light and crisp.
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5/19/2008 - rdma wrote: 90 Points
Very tasty Chardonnay
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5/19/2008 - rdma wrote: 90 Points
Along with Cloudy Bay, Newton is our favorite Chard
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5/17/2008 - smphelps wrote: 91 Points
Still a dark but clear gold this time-not hazy like before. Pears and pineapple on a big pleasing nose. Creamy. Nice wine
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5/14/2008 - Thralow wrote: 93 Points
Tasted against one of our favorite Chardonnays costing 3x as much. This one was the crowd pleaser though the other one was described as more powerful. Apparently "powerful" is not what this crowd wanted in their Chardonnay. Oh, i should add, this was drunk with pan seared scallops. Which means this probably went better with the scallops while a "powerful" Chardonnay is better alone or with a another dish.
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5/12/2008 - herberto wrote: 92 Points
Sweet syrupy and rich. Really too sweet, and unsubtle. But fun and powerful.
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5/12/2008 - bubbachumps wrote: 94 Points
Toasty oak, honeyed vanilla and citrus on the nose. In the mouth a large scaled full bodied chardonnay. Lush tropical flavors framed with subtle oak. Absolutely delicious. Consistently one of the great qprs year in year out.
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4/30/2008 - eeeeeradicator wrote: 90 Points
Definitely in your face with the oak, but rich lemon and cream emerge from underneath. A lot better with food than without. Improved with an hour or two of breathing.
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4/26/2008 - jwolf99 wrote:
pear, carmel, hazelnut, oak aromas and flavors; rich, buttery, concentrated; long, long finish
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4/20/2008 - Rollerball wrote: 92 Points
Bold and Oaky but actually lively and ... refreshing! The balance lasts all the way through the tail, which is where most oaky cali chards turn over ripe / rotten to my taste.
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4/11/2008 - BYOB wrote: 91 Points
Classic buttery Napa Chardonnay with a reasonable amount of Oak. Maybe to bold for those with a delicate pallet.
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4/11/2008 - JOsgood wrote: 80 Points
About as elegant as a 747 on a short runway in a rainstorm. Huge wine with massive extraction. High alcohol with a ton of oak. Pure unsalted butter and sloppy oak in the mouth. Parker 96? You've got to be kidding me.
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4/11/2008 - donrad wrote: 94 Points
Pretty much the same as the below note. Unique: Great Cali Chard that will actually age well.
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3/31/2008 - keelegl wrote: 88 Points
This was much better than the first bottle I had of this vintage. Beautiful golden color with vibrate fruit that actually stands up to the heavy amount of oak. Solid Chard, but still don’t see 96 from RP.
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3/22/2008 - chicagobagley wrote: 94 Points
Got to stop drinking these, they are too good. Lots of fruit flavors, not too oaky and just perfect with dinner.
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3/17/2008 - g-man wrote: 90 Points
Not as oaky as some previous vinatges drunk this young. The depth of flavor is lighter ao I wonder if this will be as long lived as some prior years.
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3/9/2008 - jnewlander wrote: 94 Points
This is tasting great, lots of fruit, viscosity, and acid, all in pretty good balance but should improve in a year or two. Buy MORE at Costco!
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3/8/2008 - Thralow wrote: 92 Points
Ever since having a Kongsgaard we have been working much harder to find good chardonnay. This bottle was a success.
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3/5/2008 - rmodak wrote: 87 Points
Lemon curd and heat on the nose lead into a lush mouthfeel with pears, vanilla bean, and searing acid on the finish. This is very different from the 2002 I had last year, and likely is just too young. The acid, vanilla and fruit notes seem somewhat disjointed at present, although it is still enjoyable.
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3/1/2008 - amred wrote: 94 Points
Tasted in a blind tasting with a Fevre Chablis (2002), a Corton-Charlemagne, a Beringer reserve and St. Innocent. Scored quite well...was easily defined as CA, but without over oak, butter, etc. Rich yet well-balanced with adequate acid, tannin and minerality to hold up well. Interestingly, it was richer than the anticiapted stone-like chablis, yet actually not as unctuous and "oily" as the Corton. Biggest surprise was the St. Innocent--by far the most european-styled chardonnay from U.S., evidently they use Dijon clones.
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2/25/2008 - thelostverse wrote: 94 Points
Popped and poured. Gold color and clear hue throughout. Nose of lemon oil, honey and pears. Similar palate with addition of oak and butter. Nice acidity and lengthy finish. One of the best chardonnays I've had.
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2/23/2008 - bacchus wrote: 92 Points
this is more like it. this bottle was fully expressive and showed everything that this wine has to offer. starts off somewhat subdued. builds to an exciting crescendo. lots of butter, butterscotch, caramel and a hint of lemon. just enough minerality so that you still know that you are drinking chardonnay. fills the mouth coats the tongue and cheeks. lingering finish. stood up to garlic shrimp.
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2/19/2008 - peternelson wrote: 88 Points
CSCA: Big round, ripe fruit; apples, caramel, banana, buttery mth w/not much a’s; viscous, almost gooey; no structure, acidity. Hot on tongue.
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2/18/2008 - jjclips2 wrote: 85 Points
Chard Showdown Plus some Aussie Reds (Turnagain Vines): Tasted blind. Absolutely disappointed with this bottling. Tasted in a lineup of great chards, one being 8 years old, and this offered the least. Almost oxidized nose, kind of like brown butter with that nuttiness going on. The palate is rich and oily with no acidity to back it up. The oak is overbearing and shows toast and vanilla. I'd love to say that I think this will get better and integrate with time, but the lack of balance now is frightening. Maybe I'll try another bottle.
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2/18/2008 - hutch wrote: 85 Points
Yeah, I don't know. The clear loser on the Chard Challange. Tasted almost oxidized. Picked up over time, but never even reached the heights of the red label at less then half the price.
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2/10/2008 - sdr wrote: 86 Points
Butter yellow color; light, pleasant smell of chardonnay; very clean wine, but nothing at all distinctive. Lacks concentration and "soul." Decent and well made but doesn't linger on the palate or on the mind very long.
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2/7/2008 - pakabear wrote: 93 Points
Great nose of lemon, pineapple with some creme, banana and cream. Vanilla, Asparagus and citrus dominate the well balanced palate. A bit of alcohol on the finish keeps the rating from going much higher.
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2/5/2008 - chicagobagley wrote: 93 Points
Very nice mix of flavor and smooth silky presentation. Not a Kistler, but worth the $45 for a really nice wine.
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2/3/2008 - GreatLibations wrote: 95 Points
Pours a beautiful rich pale golden color with aromatics that please my soul. I smell the soft, womanly scent of vanilla cream, kettle corn, wild apple, and a bit of citrus. Amazing! This wine a beautifully balanced with concentrated fruit and peaceful acidity. A full, soft and viscous mouthfeel reveals flavors like the colors on a rainbow. Vanilla bean, butterscotch, ripe for picking stonefruit, wild apple, creamy pear, and mildly spiced oak. The finish is long and savory. This is as good as it get's in CA. Highly recommended.
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2/2/2008 - donrad wrote: 94 Points
Phenomenal. Rich, great structure, tropical fruit, pears, not too much oak, wonderfully balanced. Should cellar nicely for 5-10 years.
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1/26/2008 - E wrote: 95 Points
Had at an atlanta restaurant last night...this is even better than the 2004...less oak, though this bottle was chilled a bit more than usual....superb stuff. The Newtons have, along with aubert's, renewed our interest in chardonnay.
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1/23/2008 - Faddeev wrote: 91 Points
Huge "movie popcorn". Not much fruit(20 mins after opening). Some fig, a touch of pear. Surprised that other tasters found a lot of fruit. Will see where it goes in the next couple of days.....
Day2: Opened up quite a bit! Good fruit on the nose. Taste: loads of fruit on a popcorn background. Very Different . Very good!
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1/13/2008 - RSheldon wrote: 95 Points
What a fabulous surprise! Pervious notes by others indicate too much oak and the familiar derogatory comments of a young California chardonnay . . . I found pear, bright melon, faint vanilla, something akin to a multi faceted infused citrus oil note, and high levels of glycerin [without being too thick] that lead to a satisfying buttery consistency finish. 95+
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1/10/2008 - Cheryl wrote:
The table was excited to try this. Standard chardonnay to me.
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1/3/2008 - ews3 wrote: 92 Points
The nose is completely dominated by oak, with a nose of vanilla, buttered toast, and head-on oak. The palate shows a medium level of acidity, and a relatively well balanced mouthfeel, with medium body, but nicely coating the tongue. Initially got a lot of heat on the finish, but it is slowly fading with time and becoming more pleasant. Palate shows butter, pear, and apple flavors, with still a very high level of oak. Finish goes on for 15 seconds and remains there. Not necessarily my style, with too much oak, but a well made wine.
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12/31/2007 - keelegl wrote: 84 Points
Paired with a cheese/salami course. Light in color compared to previous vintages, nose was dominated by oak. I get a little pear, melon and pepper on the palate, but again the influence of oak is a bit much for my tastes. I don’t see the 96 from RP at all. This tastes very run of the mil $8 Cali Chard to me. I really enjoyed the 04, finding the fruit far more vibrant and pure. This bottle seems like it’s from a different winery.
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12/29/2007 - donStrandini wrote: 92 Points
I found this to be exceptionally good - very fruity (exotic fruits) on the nose with some hints of petroleum, oily but well balanced. Simply beatiful.
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12/24/2007 - bacchus wrote: 90 Points
christmas eve dinner with pat, ellen, and grandma and grandpa pomponio. opened with much anticipation, having read a lot about the wine and having been recommended by two afficionados. paired with shrimp francaise, baked scallops, calamari and pasta in a light red sauce, steamed white fish and traditional cod. the wine is a successful example of an upper tier california chard. however, it does not really live up to all the hype. i particularly enjoy a wine that delivers multiple flavor layers and this one does so. butterscotch up front and vanilla are clearly evident. i detect perhaps just a hint of the tropicals described by others. nicely balanced. not too much oak. longer than average but not greatly extended finish. this bottle may have suffered somewhat from variations in temperature, having been transported between houses. will have to try the 2004 which is supposed to have a little more stuffing. until then, i would have to say that beringer/sbragia is better.
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12/20/2007 - jivey wrote: 91 Points
Pineapple, brown sugar (almost pineapple upside down cake) tropical fruits and much softener than the 04 with less weight and oak. Finish is delicate and long. Nice style.
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12/3/2007 - cormyr wrote: 91 Points
given the enormous rating and hype i was expecting to taste the best still white of my life. it was not. nonetheless, it was a good chard and a terrible qpr.
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11/25/2007 - smphelps wrote: 91 Points
Somewhat hazy yellow in the glass. Unusually fragrant with buterscotch fig and vanilla. The wine follows its nose-a big buttery wine with great balance of acidity and fruit.
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9/26/2007 - cobystilp wrote: 92 Points
Heavy, complex chard. Lots of glycerine but still enough acid to balance. It took on more weight as it warmed up. A very nice red wine drinker's chardonnay. It passed my "let it warm to room temperature and see if it is still good" test. Reminds me of the Patz & Hall Dutton Ranch chardonnay we drank ealier this summer. Great!
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9/9/2007 - DenisLee wrote:
Too big and oaky for my taste. Karen liked it though.
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8/20/2007 - smphelps wrote: 91 Points
This was opened a month after the first bottle. A very nice wine. The color is strikingly dark and the mouthfeel is thick almost oily. This bottle seemed a bit "hot" but still well balanced. Figs and vanilla predominate.
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7/13/2007 - smphelps wrote: 92 Points
Figs and ripe pear on the nose. Dark gold color. The finish goes on and on. Well balanced nuanced wine.
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