Been a long time since I've had one of these. Pear, apricot, Meyer lemon and a touch of mineral on the nose. While I pick up some steel across the palate there's a nicely balanced buttery coating as well. Easy to drink and certainly not overoaked, I enjoyed its complexity but there's are other wines delivering more for the same or less $$.
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This was a pleasant surprise for me. I had not tasted anything from Far Niente in about 20 years and back then their chards had become overly oaked and buttery. In contrast this was bright with acidity and nicely mineral driven. The palate had a fruit profile that was more white peach and tropical fruit than citrus. Very pleasant finish. Much more enjoyable than expected. Very well done.
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A little worried that my case hasn’t been stored well because two bottles that I opened both tasted a bit oxidised with very little acidity left. I hope it’s just less than ideal bottle condition?
This is how California Chardonnay is supposed to taste. Light on its feet, tropical fruit, pear, flowers, with just the right amount of oak and a touch of minerality. New world in style but showing its Burgundy roots. In a word, elegant. I had a glass of Rombauer immediately following and the stark contrast between the two was evident. The Far Niente compliments the meal. The Rombauer is the meal requiring a fork and knife to drink.
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This is a really good chardonnay. Very well balanced and well constructed. However, I feel like it lacks a little soul. Maybe it needs a little more complexity or a touch of funkiness.
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Enjoyable Napa Chardonnay - buttery, rich, opulent, ams oaky but in a balanced way thanks to the good acidity that keeps everything in check. Yellow apples and dried apricots lend an elegant tone to this wine, which is surely good but falls somewhat short of comparable Burgundy (or even Sonoma) counterparts for the price. It was delicious with baked salmon and quinoa salad.
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Perfect match to barbecued Tiger Prawns. Great density, lots of citrus and great balance between acidity and full body. In a great drinking window at the moment.
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Truly exceptional. This is that rare wine that mixes richness with subtlety and freshness.
Extravagant and delicate on the nose. Fresh water stone and mineral notes meld nicely with this wine’s lemon, melon and apple core and its brioche and butter cream.
Round, textural mouthfeel. Medium acidity. Exceptional length.
This is a beautiful wine. Highly recommended.
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The nose brings you in with fun floral stonefuit expressions, while the palate brings the classic richness of Far Niente. Toasted oak with a mineral base line.
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Young and not as good a year ago. Light straw color, notes of vanilla and mild oak. Some Meyer lemon on the mid palate. I have a few more and hopefully another year will add some complexity.
White floral nose. Tastes of ripe apricot, caramelized apples. Medium bodied, a bit creamy. Medium length finish that leaves lingering warm spice notes. A good balance of fruit and spice. Great complement to a plate of mild cheese, toasted almonds and pistachios.
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Decanted for an hour. Medium oak, smooth and woody in a cedar way but it's faint rather than dominant. Floral notes of honeysuckle and a secondary tropical note of guava show up after I paired this wine with some Laura Chenel goat brie. That was a nice pairing! Not as much acidity as I'd expect for a younger Napa Chardonnay, will try without decanting next time and see if I missed something up front.
Prefer Gary Farrell or Daryl Rex Groom (DRG) Chardonnays compared to this one but it is well-made and tasty. Seems light buttery/oaky at first then mellows and provides more complexity.
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Typical California Chardonnay. Not super oaky on the scents but definitely showcases lots of yellow apple. Texture is pretty rich with just enough acid to keep things from being out of hand. Not much of a finish. Not getting much, if any minerality or anything else that stands out. It’s like a Chardonnay that wants to be Meursault, but didn’t quite have the balance. It does the job (rather awkwardly) with roast chicken. At 40€, I think there’s better values out there.
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paired with cod this is a superb chardonnay with a superb pedigree. we enjoyed its elegance, depth and medium body very little of the oak and buttery taste that some prefer - we thoroughly enjoyed the wine!!!!
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This was the best of the night fr whites. Very strong structure with balance. the color is the more golden in color after the Frank Family Chard and the Landmark Overlook Chard. On the nose it is limestone and white flowers. On the palette it is a classic malolactic fermentation which reveals wood and vanilla.
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Nicely balanced creamy pear and citrus fruit with some minerality and moderate oak. Acidity is medium. Enjoyed with Lisa at Nouveau with French onion soup, lobster nachos and scallops.
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Pretty aromas of sweet peach, pear and apple with a healthy whiff of toasty buttery oak. More notable for the plush soft creamy texture then the density of the fruit, but quite pleasant and fresh overall. A touch too peachy for me, but a nice summer quaffer. Don’t see this improving or lasting as lower acid, but good now.
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Creamy lemon curd, pineapple and plumeria. Gobs of oak right now - it was better on the chilled side to hold that back. A surprising bit of gun flint reminding me of Chablis but not quite enough acidic zing to back that up.
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Lots of oak on nose and palette, but I happen to be in the mood for the oak. A bit flabby, but it was enjoyable. Butter, hints of toffee, and vanilla. Heavy weight. Nothing mind bending, but I got a very good deal on this bottle so I was fairly happy with it.
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Not sure this wine is what it used to be.....or am I just getting old? Like so many of the big names in Napa, this seems to be just living off its rep anymore. There's overbearing oak, a nice bead of acidity, but both relegate the fruit to the basement with this one.
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Sourced from multiple vineyards in the cool Coombsville region of the Napa Valley, Far Niente's 2018 Chardonnay offers a nice balance of fruit and structure. Eighty-five percent of the wine was barrel-fermented and all wine was subsequently aged for 10 months in French oak (50% new). Medium golden in color, it has a nose that flaunts intense aromas of citrus, stone fruits, white flowers and vanilla. Medium bodied, seamlessly alcoholic (14.3%) and judiciously oaked, it retains a nice degree of freshness by virtue of the fact that it was precluded from undergoing malolactic fermentation. The flavors largely mirror the nose, adding notes of spice and honey. Solid in the middle and lengthy on the back end, this delicious Chardonnay should be at its best over the next five years. Drink now-2025.
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Pear dominates the nose and palate. This is a crisp, mineral driven chardonnay that is more Burgundian in nature than the buttery, over-oaked New World style that some gravitate towards. While I much prefer this style, the mid-palate is only moderately concentrated. Enjoyable now.
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This was a solid Chardonnay from Far Niente - notes of apple and crisp pear, the oak is here but certainly in harmony with the fruit; I was left with the feeling that I really enjoyed it, but didn't feel that it was anything particularly special or nuanced.
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N: An attractive melding of pineapple & toast (which strikes me as almost butterish)
P: MF body; RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish oak & frt (approaching threshold R.S.?) counterbalanced by an acidity which leads into a LONG, BALANCED finish with an elegant TANGY/swtness (60:40) & OCCASIONAL *hints* of a very, VERY slight bitterness that would DEFINITELY not be a problem now with food. LOTS of class, is likely still improving, & should be good to go through '22, poss longer. My EXC; Silver from ’20 Rodeo Uncorked! Int’l @ $55. [Check with this vendor if interested in their competitive pricing.]
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In line with other years and always remarkably consistent. Creamy lemon, vanilla bean, syrupy tropical fruit, banana, and orange blossom. The fruit seems more precise than past years with the oak present but dialed back. Needs about 2 hours open in the bottle to opened up. Very easy to like.
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12/18/2023 - ggr001 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Excellent wine, citrus notes, with a distinctive taste.. May be the best Chardonnay we have tasted.
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9/24/2023 - davidandrose Likes this wine:
Been a long time since I've had one of these. Pear, apricot, Meyer lemon and a touch of mineral on the nose. While I pick up some steel across the palate there's a nicely balanced buttery coating as well. Easy to drink and certainly not overoaked, I enjoyed its complexity but there's are other wines delivering more for the same or less $$.
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8/21/2023 - Cabonzin wrote:
Either corked or had a bad funk. Not good
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7/4/2023 - Pirate Dog wrote: 90 Points
Nicely balanced. Good but not remarkable.
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4/4/2023 - MickHally Likes this wine: 89 Points
Not as complex as some other vintages, but still a very good wine
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1/13/2023 - oldwines Likes this wine: 92 Points
This was a pleasant surprise for me. I had not tasted anything from Far Niente in about 20 years and back then their chards had become overly oaked and buttery. In contrast this was bright with acidity and nicely mineral driven. The palate had a fruit profile that was more white peach and tropical fruit than citrus. Very pleasant finish. Much more enjoyable than expected. Very well done.
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12/22/2022 - WaiCellar wrote: 86 Points
A little worried that my case hasn’t been stored well because two bottles that I opened both tasted a bit oxidised with very little acidity left. I hope it’s just less than ideal bottle condition?
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8/13/2022 - Joe boatman Likes this wine: 91 Points
Crisp, semi dry with nice fruit and well balanced.
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7/23/2022 - wino_rhino Likes this wine: 89 Points
Soft, touch buttery
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7/5/2022 - Seneg Likes this wine: 92 Points
great balance, just perfect maturity...but my last one.
drank with Mike
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7/1/2022 - Francophile1 Likes this wine: 91 Points
This is how California Chardonnay is supposed to taste. Light on its feet, tropical fruit, pear, flowers, with just the right amount of oak and a touch of minerality. New world in style but showing its Burgundy roots. In a word, elegant. I had a glass of Rombauer immediately following and the stark contrast between the two was evident. The Far Niente compliments the meal. The Rombauer is the meal requiring a fork and knife to drink.
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6/20/2022 - Dark Horse Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nose of honeysuckle, melons, and spring flowers. Not overoaked, the palate is balanced with just the right amount of butter and nuts.
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6/2/2022 - DanielJ Likes this wine: 91 Points
This is a really good chardonnay. Very well balanced and well constructed. However, I feel like it lacks a little soul. Maybe it needs a little more complexity or a touch of funkiness.
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4/24/2022 - Komo 8 wrote:
CAC
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4/10/2022 - Condrieu82 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Enjoyable Napa Chardonnay - buttery, rich, opulent, ams oaky but in a balanced way thanks to the good acidity that keeps everything in check. Yellow apples and dried apricots lend an elegant tone to this wine, which is surely good but falls somewhat short of comparable Burgundy (or even Sonoma) counterparts for the price. It was delicious with baked salmon and quinoa salad.
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3/26/2022 - achim_berg@icloud.com Likes this wine: 93 Points
Perfect match to barbecued Tiger Prawns. Great density, lots of citrus and great balance between acidity and full body. In a great drinking window at the moment.
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3/5/2022 - StaceyK Likes this wine: 95 Points
Amazing. Smooth , delicious. Not too fruity. I would say more of a dry wine. Loved it.
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12/12/2021 - Seneg Likes this wine: 91 Points
light color. more "milky" than "buttery". nice finish
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12/10/2021 - johnmfedorko wrote: 89 Points
I am not the world's biggest white wine drinker, but I could drink this Chardonnay. Not a lot of oak or butter.
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11/7/2021 - MS86 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Truly exceptional. This is that rare wine that mixes richness with subtlety and freshness.
Extravagant and delicate on the nose. Fresh water stone and mineral notes meld nicely with this wine’s lemon, melon and apple core and its brioche and butter cream.
Round, textural mouthfeel. Medium acidity. Exceptional length.
This is a beautiful wine. Highly recommended.
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11/4/2021 - MaisonBistro wrote:
The nose brings you in with fun floral stonefuit expressions, while the palate brings the classic richness of Far Niente. Toasted oak with a mineral base line.
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9/10/2021 - Nelman wrote:
Drank at Lakeside in Marblehead with Kenzie :)
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7/21/2021 - ajm2573 wrote: 89 Points
Young and not as good a year ago. Light straw color, notes of vanilla and mild oak. Some Meyer lemon on the mid palate. I have a few more and hopefully another year will add some complexity.
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7/3/2021 - OldHick95 Likes this wine: 93 Points
White floral nose. Tastes of ripe apricot, caramelized apples. Medium bodied, a bit creamy. Medium length finish that leaves lingering warm spice notes. A good balance of fruit and spice. Great complement to a plate of mild cheese, toasted almonds and pistachios.
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6/29/2021 - Palisades57 Likes this wine: 89 Points
A bit oaky with muddled delineation, but tasty overall.
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5/15/2021 - Kellig Likes this wine: 92 Points
Good chard, but overpriced so not the best QPR.
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5/10/2021 - winecoffee wrote: 91 Points
Smells like sunshine :). Honey and pear on the nose. Palate has charred butter but not too intense. Rounds off with a nice soothing bitterness.
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5/10/2021 - KAT9 wrote: 91 Points
Compare to the 2019, this one is more muted, the minerality is also lower. Some stone fruit, but not much. Not your typical chardonnay.
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4/23/2021 - huevosconvino wrote: 89 Points
Decanted for an hour. Medium oak, smooth and woody in a cedar way but it's faint rather than dominant. Floral notes of honeysuckle and a secondary tropical note of guava show up after I paired this wine with some Laura Chenel goat brie. That was a nice pairing! Not as much acidity as I'd expect for a younger Napa Chardonnay, will try without decanting next time and see if I missed something up front.
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4/19/2021 - maxima wrote: 90 Points
Dense et ample, preque crêmeux.
Poires et citrons confits avec des amandes
et une pointe beurré vers la fin.
Super long et sallivant.
On aime.
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4/18/2021 - Intravino wrote:
Tastes so perfect on a Sunday night with my baby
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4/6/2021 - vpwine wrote:
Nicely balanced creamy pear and citrus fruit with some minerality and moderate oak.
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4/5/2021 - Emmer Likes this wine: 95 Points
Quality, No otter Word for it
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2/27/2021 - Cmellison Likes this wine: 88 Points
Prefer Gary Farrell or Daryl Rex Groom (DRG) Chardonnays compared to this one but it is well-made and tasty. Seems light buttery/oaky at first then mellows and provides more complexity.
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1/9/2021 - akpace wrote: 92 Points
Clean melon peach mineral
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12/12/2020 - Order66 wrote: 83 Points
Typical California Chardonnay. Not super oaky on the scents but definitely showcases lots of yellow apple. Texture is pretty rich with just enough acid to keep things from being out of hand. Not much of a finish. Not getting much, if any minerality or anything else that stands out. It’s like a Chardonnay that wants to be Meursault, but didn’t quite have the balance. It does the job (rather awkwardly) with roast chicken. At 40€, I think there’s better values out there.
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11/26/2020 - Michaels.jimmy Likes this wine: 92 Points
Buttery like a typical Cal chard but more minerality. Very nice wine
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11/4/2020 - alabunka wrote: 93 Points
paired with cod this is a superb chardonnay with a superb pedigree. we enjoyed its elegance, depth and medium body very little of the oak and buttery taste that some prefer - we thoroughly enjoyed the wine!!!!
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10/4/2020 - tomoem wrote: 91 Points
Annual "Croquet" event at Christopher T's house.
This was the best of the night fr whites. Very strong structure with balance. the color is the more golden in color after the Frank Family Chard and the Landmark Overlook Chard. On the nose it is limestone and white flowers. On the palette it is a classic malolactic fermentation which reveals wood and vanilla.
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9/21/2020 - ralaspech wrote: 90 Points
Nicely balanced creamy pear and citrus fruit with some minerality and moderate oak. Acidity is medium. Enjoyed with Lisa at Nouveau with French onion soup, lobster nachos and scallops.
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9/17/2020 - taco lee Likes this wine: 100 Points
수아 : 뜨거운햇살아래 낮술의 최고봉
병선 : 과일가게에 들어간듯한 느낌
고복 : 버터리한 향을 느끼는순간 조리대에서 나는 트러플이 지배 ㅋ
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9/15/2020 - KenK Likes this wine: 89 Points
Pretty aromas of sweet peach, pear and apple with a healthy whiff of toasty buttery oak. More notable for the plush soft creamy texture then the density of the fruit, but quite pleasant and fresh overall. A touch too peachy for me, but a nice summer quaffer. Don’t see this improving or lasting as lower acid, but good now.
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9/13/2020 - farinas Likes this wine: 91 Points
Good balance between Oakiness and Yellow fruits, nice tension and soft palate. Enjoy!
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8/24/2020 - seanucsb wrote: 88 Points
Creamy lemon curd, pineapple and plumeria. Gobs of oak right now - it was better on the chilled side to hold that back. A surprising bit of gun flint reminding me of Chablis but not quite enough acidic zing to back that up.
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8/15/2020 - Becky515 wrote: 90 Points
Chardonnay is not my preferred white; but this is always a pleasure. Done more in the french style, not overoaked or too big, nice acidity.
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7/12/2020 - HEBRO 10 Likes this wine: 88 Points
Typical napa chard. Nothing special
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7/10/2020 - RickyT12 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Lots of oak on nose and palette, but I happen to be in the mood for the oak. A bit flabby, but it was enjoyable. Butter, hints of toffee, and vanilla. Heavy weight. Nothing mind bending, but I got a very good deal on this bottle so I was fairly happy with it.
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5/23/2020 - Mark1npt Likes this wine: 90 Points
Not sure this wine is what it used to be.....or am I just getting old? Like so many of the big names in Napa, this seems to be just living off its rep anymore. There's overbearing oak, a nice bead of acidity, but both relegate the fruit to the basement with this one.
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5/22/2020 - BlueMooseRun Likes this wine: 91 Points
Well balanced; buttery finish with notes of apple & pear. Decent amount of oak comes through .. but with some level of sweetness.
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5/16/2020 - La Cave d'Argent Likes this wine: 92 Points
Sourced from multiple vineyards in the cool Coombsville region of the Napa Valley, Far Niente's 2018 Chardonnay offers a nice balance of fruit and structure. Eighty-five percent of the wine was barrel-fermented and all wine was subsequently aged for 10 months in French oak (50% new). Medium golden in color, it has a nose that flaunts intense aromas of citrus, stone fruits, white flowers and vanilla. Medium bodied, seamlessly alcoholic (14.3%) and judiciously oaked, it retains a nice degree of freshness by virtue of the fact that it was precluded from undergoing malolactic fermentation. The flavors largely mirror the nose, adding notes of spice and honey. Solid in the middle and lengthy on the back end, this delicious Chardonnay should be at its best over the next five years. Drink now-2025.
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5/3/2020 - rsct2001 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Thoroughly enjoyable Napa Chardonnay. Well worth the price in my opinion.
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5/1/2020 - Shugs_Claret wrote: 90 Points
Pear dominates the nose and palate. This is a crisp, mineral driven chardonnay that is more Burgundian in nature than the buttery, over-oaked New World style that some gravitate towards. While I much prefer this style, the mid-palate is only moderately concentrated. Enjoyable now.
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2/24/2020 - gteran76 wrote: 89 Points
Still undeveloped. Oak over the top right now.
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2/12/2020 - EpochMD Likes this wine: 91 Points
This was a solid Chardonnay from Far Niente - notes of apple and crisp pear, the oak is here but certainly in harmony with the fruit; I was left with the feeling that I really enjoyed it, but didn't feel that it was anything particularly special or nuanced.
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1/25/2020 - srh Likes this wine:
Winebar [1 Rosé, 3 Whites, 8 Reds, & 7 *shared* bottles] from 01/24/20 (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): “A blend of vyds located in Coombsville, grapes harvested 9/6–10/24/18; 85% barrel fermented, 15% tank; No ML; Aged 10 mos sur lie in FR oak (50% new, 50% once-used); Released October 2019;”
N: An attractive melding of pineapple & toast (which strikes me as almost butterish)
P: MF body; RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish oak & frt (approaching threshold R.S.?) counterbalanced by an acidity which leads into a LONG, BALANCED finish with an elegant TANGY/swtness (60:40) & OCCASIONAL *hints* of a very, VERY slight bitterness that would DEFINITELY not be a problem now with food. LOTS of class, is likely still improving, & should be good to go through '22, poss longer. My EXC; Silver from ’20 Rodeo Uncorked! Int’l @ $55. [Check with this vendor if interested in their competitive pricing.]
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1/20/2020 - Amishdesai93 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Really nice California chard. Surprisingly crisp/refreshing
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11/22/2019 - MAXIMUM SATISFACTION wrote: 92 Points
In line with other years and always remarkably consistent. Creamy lemon, vanilla bean, syrupy tropical fruit, banana, and orange blossom. The fruit seems more precise than past years with the oak present but dialed back. Needs about 2 hours open in the bottle to opened up. Very easy to like.
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