Solid Napa Chardonnay, and great value, as usual. Open and ready immediately, but it improved measurably with air. Well balanced, with buttery notes of lemon, apple blossom, pineapple, and with time, coconut appearing on the nose. Big and expansive in the mouth, and increasingly expressive with 3-4 hours of air. In fact, the last glass at the 6-hour mark was the best, as the finish really took off at this point. Good, though if opening now 3-4 hours minimum is needed to catch it at its best (if anything like this bottle). 93+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Typical okay Californian Chardonnay, oily, buttery and full body with lemon, tangerine and mineral aroma. Quite a long finish. A well made Chardonnay if you like that style.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Aromatically, tropical fruit and cedar wood. In mouth this is all tropical fruit and then quickly followed by the smoothing oak coming from the wood influenced aging. Finish is long and lingering toasted oak. The wine is viscous and rich. As I have stated in the past this wine punchs above its weight.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Retail $48. Big. Ass. Bottle. Under cork. I have had a few vintages of this wine now and while I once thought that the wine was becoming more "modern" with the use of both lighter (marginally) bottles and a lighter influence of oak, this 2020 seems to be a backpedal in both regards. Rich, even unctuous nose, of lemon curd, lemon meringue pie, and a healthy dose of oak. The palate is much the same--this is certainly a throwback to "traditional American Chardonnay" with plenty of oak, loads of creaminess, and oak. Wait, I already mentioned the oak. Look, this is not my style of Chardonnay, but I get it, there is still an audience for this style of Chard. It may be diminishing, but it is still there. And they deserve to have the ability to drink what they like, and this is, frankly, an excellent iteration.
The crisp and bracing nose evokes a cooling pineapple-scented tropical breeze. There is a subtle viscosity here that gives this a pleasing weight in the creamy mouth but cloaks much of the acidity on contact. Then, as if by magic, the acidity reveals itself to be the true backbone of this wine by delivering a thoroughly satisfying and energetic finish. This lively balancing act is an unexpected and welcome surprise. This is a refreshing Napa Chardonnay that is neither ponderous nor pretentious (as the “Private Reserve” language on the label might imply). Instead of seriousness the winemaker has aimed for sincerity and the result is an imminently drinkable wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wow again my love affair with the Berlinger PR chard's continues. Again tropical fruit and cedar wood present themselves in a modern Cali Napa Chard. In mouth this is all tropical fruit and then quickly followed by the smoothing oak coming from the wood influenced aging. Finish is long and lingering toasted oak. The wine is viscous and rich. As I have stated in the past this wine punchs above its weight. Can compete with Napa modern chard's which are 2-3 times the price of these. I paid $40
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
3/24/2024 - Apollo5710 wrote: 93 Points
Solid Napa Chardonnay, and great value, as usual. Open and ready immediately, but it improved measurably with air. Well balanced, with buttery notes of lemon, apple blossom, pineapple, and with time, coconut appearing on the nose. Big and expansive in the mouth, and increasingly expressive with 3-4 hours of air. In fact, the last glass at the 6-hour mark was the best, as the finish really took off at this point. Good, though if opening now 3-4 hours minimum is needed to catch it at its best (if anything like this bottle). 93+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/3/2024 - FredericoWines Likes this wine: 92 Points
Typical okay Californian Chardonnay, oily, buttery and full body with lemon, tangerine and mineral aroma. Quite a long finish. A well made Chardonnay if you like that style.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/6/2024 - Hercules Likes this wine:
Beautiful NAPA VALLEY Chardonnay. Classic!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/1/2023 - libero wrote: 92 Points
Buttery and mellow, to the sweet side. It may improve if you wait two years to drink it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/9/2023 - tomoem Likes this wine: 92 Points
Aromatically, tropical fruit and cedar wood. In mouth this is all tropical fruit and then quickly followed by the smoothing oak coming from the wood influenced aging. Finish is long and lingering toasted oak. The wine is viscous and rich. As I have stated in the past this wine punchs above its weight.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/6/2023 - The Drunken Cyclist Does not like this wine: 91 Points
Retail $48. Big. Ass. Bottle. Under cork. I have had a few vintages of this wine now and while I once thought that the wine was becoming more "modern" with the use of both lighter (marginally) bottles and a lighter influence of oak, this 2020 seems to be a backpedal in both regards. Rich, even unctuous nose, of lemon curd, lemon meringue pie, and a healthy dose of oak. The palate is much the same--this is certainly a throwback to "traditional American Chardonnay" with plenty of oak, loads of creaminess, and oak. Wait, I already mentioned the oak. Look, this is not my style of Chardonnay, but I get it, there is still an audience for this style of Chard. It may be diminishing, but it is still there. And they deserve to have the ability to drink what they like, and this is, frankly, an excellent iteration.
www.thedrunkencyclist.com
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
2/13/2023 - libero wrote: 92 Points
Good price for a great Chardonay wine. It will benefit of couple of years cellaring.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/2/2023 - Spsmatthews Likes this wine: 91 Points
Apple, pineapple, peach, with a citrus backbone. Creamy and rich, but not overdone.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/31/2022 - The Convivial Professor Likes this wine: 93 Points
The crisp and bracing nose evokes a cooling pineapple-scented tropical breeze. There is a subtle viscosity here that gives this a pleasing weight in the creamy mouth but cloaks much of the acidity on contact. Then, as if by magic, the acidity reveals itself to be the true backbone of this wine by delivering a thoroughly satisfying and energetic finish. This lively balancing act is an unexpected and welcome surprise. This is a refreshing Napa Chardonnay that is neither ponderous nor pretentious (as the “Private Reserve” language on the label might imply). Instead of seriousness the winemaker has aimed for sincerity and the result is an imminently drinkable wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/19/2022 - tomoem Likes this wine: 93 Points
Wow again my love affair with the Berlinger PR chard's continues. Again tropical fruit and cedar wood present themselves in a modern Cali Napa Chard. In mouth this is all tropical fruit and then quickly followed by the smoothing oak coming from the wood influenced aging. Finish is long and lingering toasted oak. The wine is viscous and rich. As I have stated in the past this wine punchs above its weight. Can compete with Napa modern chard's which are 2-3 times the price of these. I paid $40
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/6/2022 - Double-A wrote: 88 Points
Ripe, apple, tropical fruit, and oaky spice nose. Weighty palate; big and hot with a hint of spearmint on the finish.
3.5/5
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/6/2022 - AAKMD Likes this wine: 94 Points
Excellent bouquet, well balanced
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment