Seriously aged quality CA chardonnays are delicious. Pop and pour for a quick sip by the pool a Then drank over the course of an hour Opened beautifully with no hint of going over the hill.
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A Night of Aged California Zins (Dino's Grotto - Washington, DC): Alive still. It showed some honey, almond and nuts with apricot and lemon curd. Still lively on the palate, plush but enough acidity to keep me intrigued. No VA or oxidization here, but it’s aged well. Lots of stony, mineral, earthy tones underneath the richer elements. Fun stuff.
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Similar to recent reviews. I wouldn't hold any longer. Crazy how the acid kicks in from mid to finish. Lovely. Drink 'em if you got 'em while it's in this spot.
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Wow. Mt Eden Chardonnays are stunning. This is in a perfect spot right now. There is a lot of oak here and it really works in this wine. Acid is on the lower side but it is far from flabby. Lemon, pears and a bit of honeysuckle. Nice flinty elements on the nose. Color shows it's age but the palate just shows pure balance. Delicious with and without food.
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Not what I was expecting. A typical California chardonnay. Charred oak dominating. Pears and tropical fruits added a fruit accent. Somewhat flabby, fat. This perhaps should have been drunk earlier.
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this was an interesting wine to follow alongside its younger sibling. The acid seemed low and the fruit took its time coming out with swirling aeration and yellow apple and some light citrus provided decent acidity but it was the oak integration that made us interested. SH noted some anise in the nose. With more swirling and smelling she was correct. Though I got a mix of buttered fennel seed perhaps from cooking in a pan. Of course it was the oak but with creamy Bourgogne cheese and double cream Brie it was enjoyable for what it was. CA Chardonnay as opposed to a Chablis or an oak influenced White Burg. If anything more subtle and fun like some decent examples from Jura offer. It followed pretty young champagne and one older 1989 brut millesime. The older champagne took much coaxing as well but the acids in the sparklers was never in doubt.
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Yellow color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of hazelnut, creme, vanilla and soaked pears. Flavors of cream, vanilla, lemon and hazelnut. Medium acidity, full bodied. Drink or hold.
I gave this a WIML92 but it could easily be a 93. Waffling a little here over a single point for goodness sake.
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This is very ripe and lush for what I expect from Mt Eden. Very good, and nothing to complain about, but more Cali Chardonnay than usual - but that will please many crowds. Should hold for a bit. B+/A-
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This is a very complex wine with lots going on in the nose and a deep golden color that scared me a bit at first. It needs air and a little warming to blossom though. It reminds me of Premier Cru Puligny Montrachet The nose has just a hint of toast, lemon and tropical fruit and a touch of butterscotch. The flavors explode in your mouth in a very balanced way with lemon curd and papaya screaming out to me along with a little nuttiness. This has a very thick, rich mouthfeel with a honied nature to it that is hard to describe. There is some minerality and brightness though too and plenty of life left in it as is always true of Mount Eden Chards in my view.
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Mt. Eden again proves to be California's most consistently balanced, food-friendly, simply delicious chardonnay. Citrus flavors abound (especially lemon and lemon curd, but also some pineabble and orange peel), and the frit flavors are in balance with the acidity and the medium weight of the wine. Old Faithful.
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Not bad for a style that is not my favorite. Lots of oak and butter, but pretty good acidity balancing it out, along with some citrus and pie crust that kept it interesting. Years left.
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Pop and pour and tasted with food. This has anose of shellfish - lobster shells and seaweed. In the mouth, a full, rich style with vanilla and lemon curd. I get a hint of oak but not overpowering. Nicely balanced wine. Like finding a quarter on the sidewalk near the parking meter to gove you an extra 15 minutes. Nice.
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Gold color. Nice nose of lemon,peach and toast. Tastes of the same fruit - very well balanced and intense. No hint at all of being at peak but has everything it needs to be outstanding when that time comes.
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Wonderful smooth Chardonnay that blends silky buttery flavors with lemon and vanilla. This Chardonnay needs to be a room temperature to fully appreciate that complexity that Mount Eden delivers.
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Beautiful golden color. Nose of honeysuckle, hazelnuts, lemon peel, and pear. Extraordinarily smooth and well balanced on the palate. Great stuff that is drinking beautifully now.
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Beautiful color of yellow gold. Elegant body. Great mouth feel. Nose was a let down--soft pineapple at best. Acidity that I was looking for at this level was not there. Neither was the balance. I was generally not pleased and could easily buy a better chard for 10 bucks less. Other comments from 2009 that it needs a year show that perhaps it peaked last year. Drink it now---it's not going any further. I have a case of the 2006 and will try one tonight.
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My second go around with this wine. This time there seems to be a bit more acid and fruit to balance out the oak. From the get go this was drinking very well and even better on night 2.
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With skate / lemon / butter / capers. I'm convinced now that this wine is showing signs of pmox, but these were my last two bottles. Right now, continues to mimic a high-end white burgundy, with a pure, clean nose showing citrus, white flowers, peaches and stone dust. But a bit of butter here and a little round; I would drink up or hold this for five years.... in between it may sag. Great finish with modest acidity, intense fruit flavors. Chassagne Montrachet, done in California.
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Chardonnay slide (Waterford Wines Milwaukee): yeah, major ashy component. smells like lava rock. pumice. shows quite a deal of oak in the nose, relative to the Ridge SCM Chard. shows a bit lactic.
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open 24hrs. richer oak expression in the nose that the ridge SCM chard. not over the top, but it displays much more in the realm of the dark cereal grain. texturally rich fruit is shown on the palate, but at this point the oak is still really getting in the way of the fruit.
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Beautiful color. Floral nose with some minerals. Floral, pear and peach flavors. Huge oak. Very nice finish for a white. Should age well for another few years.
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Big Cabs With The Boys (Houston's): Tight nose with an odd sulfury soapy smell. Lot's of dense fruit and well balanced. Some butterscotch notes later on add some interest but this really seems to be screaming for age and the concentrated fruit should pay off some bottle time in spades.
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Overpriced Cabs (Houston's): I had this open for most of the day but that was no substitute for age. Very expressive. Somewhat toasty and a little bit of funk. Rich palate with white fruits and minerals. A fairly big chard but not sweet or buttery. Showing nice structure. I won't be touching my other bottles for at least 4 years.
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This is superb. Medium yellow... nose is pure and clean, with citrus, white flowers, peaches, and some stone dust. Long, rich, and yet balanced by the acidity to frame it and give it structure. Might even be worth aging for a while, but a fantastic wine in a Chassagne-Montrachet look-alike style.
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double blind. i said this smelled like it had been fermented in a pedicure foot tub...while the feet of the recent octuplets mother were still soaking, and then filtered thru her toes. somebody call the hazmat team.
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Blind Night (Scott): Dark golden color. Stinky, oaky nose. Tastes of apple with lots of vanilla oak. Quite green. Medium to full bodied. Nail polish finish. Heat damaged?
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Color, nose, palate and finish: mostly butterscotch. Also some caramel and toasty oak on the palette. A dry, full-bodied wine. Not a "lively" Chardonnay by any means. 92-93 points.
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Wonderful, intense wine. Interesting color: kind on greenish-straw (Alaina thought it looked like Mountain Dew). Somewhat restrained nose showed smoky, nutty aspects... but the palate took no prisoners with it's bracing lime-butter rubbed barbequed corn on the cob. Also a long, delicious floral finish.
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A luminous golden straw color to this beautiful wine. A bit smoky with aromas of apricot and sweet bake shop. Maybe wild flowers on a spring day. Medium - full on the palette with crisp acidity. Displaying peach and strawberry with a hint of minerals. Fresh finish that leaves you wanting more.
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Nose - "cool", lychee, restrained lemon and a good degree of that hard to explain SCM character. Brown oak frame, lemon, zest, lychee, good acid, good intensity, but tight and shy. Long zesty finish. Needs cellaring - this will be spectacular in 15+ years. (94+ pts)
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7/23/2020 - jlgnml Likes this wine: 94 Points
Seriously aged quality CA chardonnays are delicious. Pop and pour for a quick sip by the pool a Then drank over the course of an hour Opened beautifully with no hint of going over the hill.
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8/7/2019 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 89 Points
A Night of Aged California Zins (Dino's Grotto - Washington, DC): Alive still. It showed some honey, almond and nuts with apricot and lemon curd. Still lively on the palate, plush but enough acidity to keep me intrigued. No VA or oxidization here, but it’s aged well. Lots of stony, mineral, earthy tones underneath the richer elements. Fun stuff.
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10/19/2017 - champ12oh Likes this wine: 93 Points
Similar to recent reviews. I wouldn't hold any longer. Crazy how the acid kicks in from mid to finish. Lovely. Drink 'em if you got 'em while it's in this spot.
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3/29/2017 - NMpsydoc Likes this wine: 95 Points
Deep, deep golden color. Heavy fruit for a Chard, but wonderfully enjoyable. Rich with oak and tropical fruit.
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2/9/2017 - jasonh Likes this wine: 95 Points
Wow. Mt Eden Chardonnays are stunning. This is in a perfect spot right now. There is a lot of oak here and it really works in this wine. Acid is on the lower side but it is far from flabby. Lemon, pears and a bit of honeysuckle. Nice flinty elements on the nose. Color shows it's age but the palate just shows pure balance. Delicious with and without food.
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9/23/2016 - ChrisR wrote: 82 Points
Not what I was expecting. A typical California chardonnay. Charred oak dominating. Pears and tropical fruits added a fruit accent. Somewhat flabby, fat. This perhaps should have been drunk earlier.
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5/18/2015 - jlgnml Likes this wine: 95 Points
Incredible bright honey color, floral nose, lovely, sweet spot and 10 years old.
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4/24/2015 - Champagneinhand Likes this wine: 92 Points
this was an interesting wine to follow alongside its younger sibling. The acid seemed low and the fruit took its time coming out with swirling aeration and yellow apple and some light citrus provided decent acidity but it was the oak integration that made us interested. SH noted some anise in the nose. With more swirling and smelling she was correct. Though I got a mix of buttered fennel seed perhaps from cooking in a pan. Of course it was the oak but with creamy Bourgogne cheese and double cream Brie it was enjoyable for what it was. CA Chardonnay as opposed to a Chablis or an oak influenced White Burg. If anything more subtle and fun like some decent examples from Jura offer. It followed pretty young champagne and one older 1989 brut millesime. The older champagne took much coaxing as well but the acids in the sparklers was never in doubt.
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2/1/2015 - wineismylife wrote: 92 Points
WIML92
Tasted non blind.
Yellow color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of hazelnut, creme, vanilla and soaked pears. Flavors of cream, vanilla, lemon and hazelnut. Medium acidity, full bodied. Drink or hold.
I gave this a WIML92 but it could easily be a 93. Waffling a little here over a single point for goodness sake.
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4/20/2014 - MC wrote:
This is very ripe and lush for what I expect from Mt Eden. Very good, and nothing to complain about, but more Cali Chardonnay than usual - but that will please many crowds. Should hold for a bit. B+/A-
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12/31/2013 - Oakjeff wrote: 92 Points
Not as good as it was a few years back. Let this breathe for at least 90 minutes. Drink by end of 2014.
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12/25/2013 - jsebiri wrote:
really nice white , Cali all the way , nothing secondary at this point but nice apple nose , well put together
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3/28/2012 - oldwines wrote: 94 Points
This is a very complex wine with lots going on in the nose and a deep golden color that scared me a bit at first. It needs air and a little warming to blossom though. It reminds me of Premier Cru Puligny Montrachet The nose has just a hint of toast, lemon and tropical fruit and a touch of butterscotch. The flavors explode in your mouth in a very balanced way with lemon curd and papaya screaming out to me along with a little nuttiness. This has a very thick, rich mouthfeel with a honied nature to it that is hard to describe. There is some minerality and brightness though too and plenty of life left in it as is always true of Mount Eden Chards in my view.
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3/3/2012 - eudora wrote: 94 Points
Mt. Eden again proves to be California's most consistently balanced, food-friendly, simply delicious chardonnay. Citrus flavors abound (especially lemon and lemon curd, but also some pineabble and orange peel), and the frit flavors are in balance with the acidity and the medium weight of the wine. Old Faithful.
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2/18/2012 - Richard M wrote: flawed
corked
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8/4/2011 - cadamson wrote: 90 Points
Not bad for a style that is not my favorite. Lots of oak and butter, but pretty good acidity balancing it out, along with some citrus and pie crust that kept it interesting. Years left.
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6/30/2011 - t_moderne wrote: 90 Points
Pop and pour and tasted with food. This has anose of shellfish - lobster shells and seaweed. In the mouth, a full, rich style with vanilla and lemon curd. I get a hint of oak but not overpowering. Nicely balanced wine. Like finding a quarter on the sidewalk near the parking meter to gove you an extra 15 minutes. Nice.
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6/29/2011 - pismo45 wrote: 92 Points
Gold color. Nice nose of lemon,peach and toast. Tastes of the same fruit - very well balanced and intense. No hint at all of being at peak but has everything it needs to be outstanding when that time comes.
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5/31/2011 - Schiffy wrote: 92 Points
Wonderful smooth Chardonnay that blends silky buttery flavors with lemon and vanilla. This Chardonnay needs to be a room temperature to fully appreciate that complexity that Mount Eden delivers.
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5/21/2011 - DesMarteau wrote: 92 Points
New world oak...toasty vanilla, medium viscousity...nice.
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2/4/2011 - Bob S. wrote:
More classic CA chard than I remembered the 2001 to be. More age?
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1/12/2011 - elamasters wrote: 94 Points
Beautiful golden color. Nose of honeysuckle, hazelnuts, lemon peel, and pear. Extraordinarily smooth and well balanced on the palate. Great stuff that is drinking beautifully now.
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12/31/2010 - KimberlyDo wrote: 95 Points
One of the stars of 2010 new years eve party. Great length, balance and flavors.
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11/25/2010 - DesMarteau wrote: 94 Points
pear, vanilla...needs time.
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11/17/2010 - buckeye76 wrote: 96 Points
GREAT ACIDITY AND COMPLEXITY, PEARS AND APPLES IN THE NOSE AND FLAVOR WITH A TOUCH OF FLORAL. LONG FINISH
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9/14/2010 - Oakjeff wrote: 97 Points
Hands down one of the best wines I have ever had. Positively beautiful.
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4/6/2010 - Grape Stomper wrote: 90 Points
Beautiful color of yellow gold. Elegant body. Great mouth feel. Nose was a let down--soft pineapple at best. Acidity that I was looking for at this level was not there. Neither was the balance. I was generally not pleased and could easily buy a better chard for 10 bucks less. Other comments from 2009 that it needs a year show that perhaps it peaked last year. Drink it now---it's not going any further. I have a case of the 2006 and will try one tonight.
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12/17/2009 - ScottS wrote:
My second go around with this wine. This time there seems to be a bit more acid and fruit to balance out the oak. From the get go this was drinking very well and even better on night 2.
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11/27/2009 - KPB wrote: 92 Points
With skate / lemon / butter / capers. I'm convinced now that this wine is showing signs of pmox, but these were my last two bottles. Right now, continues to mimic a high-end white burgundy, with a pure, clean nose showing citrus, white flowers, peaches and stone dust. But a bit of butter here and a little round; I would drink up or hold this for five years.... in between it may sag. Great finish with modest acidity, intense fruit flavors. Chassagne Montrachet, done in California.
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11/26/2009 - eudora wrote: 94 Points
A complete chardonnay, but still way too young. The oak gets in the way of the citrus and pear flavors. This needs at least one more year.
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9/27/2009 - tripkirby wrote: 93 Points
Very good, full body, big flavor Chard. Nice citrus and pear on the nose. Nice acidity to balance the big flavors.
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9/20/2009 - nzinkgraf wrote:
Chardonnay slide (Waterford Wines Milwaukee): yeah, major ashy component. smells like lava rock. pumice. shows quite a deal of oak in the nose, relative to the Ridge SCM Chard. shows a bit lactic.
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8/12/2009 - KimberlyDo wrote: 93 Points
The color is gold. The boquet is complex with hints of citrus fruits. On the palate the wine is long and complex with a buttery finish.
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8/6/2009 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Now this is a god damn chardonnay. What a wine.
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7/5/2009 - nzinkgraf wrote:
open 24hrs. richer oak expression in the nose that the ridge SCM chard. not over the top, but it displays much more in the realm of the dark cereal grain. texturally rich fruit is shown on the palate, but at this point the oak is still really getting in the way of the fruit.
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7/2/2009 - acordo9 wrote: 95 Points
full rich texture, much like a full bodied white burgundy; toast with balance fruity
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5/22/2009 - mwhitmoe wrote: 92 Points
Beautiful color. Floral nose with some minerals. Floral, pear and peach flavors. Huge oak. Very nice finish for a white. Should age well for another few years.
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5/19/2009 - skifree wrote:
Good acidity with citrus, almond, pear apple, bit of mineral. Medium yellow color. Enjoyable.
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5/13/2009 - WetRock wrote:
Big Cabs With The Boys (Houston's): Tight nose with an odd sulfury soapy smell. Lot's of dense fruit and well balanced. Some butterscotch notes later on add some interest but this really seems to be screaming for age and the concentrated fruit should pay off some bottle time in spades.
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5/13/2009 - jasonh wrote: 92 Points
Overpriced Cabs (Houston's): I had this open for most of the day but that was no substitute for age. Very expressive. Somewhat toasty and a little bit of funk. Rich palate with white fruits and minerals. A fairly big chard but not sweet or buttery. Showing nice structure. I won't be touching my other bottles for at least 4 years.
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4/18/2009 - KPB wrote: 94 Points
This is superb. Medium yellow... nose is pure and clean, with citrus, white flowers, peaches, and some stone dust. Long, rich, and yet balanced by the acidity to frame it and give it structure. Might even be worth aging for a while, but a fantastic wine in a Chassagne-Montrachet look-alike style.
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3/2/2009 - ews3 wrote: 90 Points
Lots of oak on this -- lemon notes, butterscotch and almonds. medium(+) finish is quite pleasant.
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2/10/2009 - jeff nowak wrote:
double blind. i said this smelled like it had been fermented in a pedicure foot tub...while the feet of the recent octuplets mother were still soaking, and then filtered thru her toes. somebody call the hazmat team.
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2/10/2009 - kstoddard wrote:
Blind Night (Scott): Dark golden color. Stinky, oaky nose. Tastes of apple with lots of vanilla oak. Quite green. Medium to full bodied. Nail polish finish. Heat damaged?
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2/10/2009 - mattiasjansson wrote:
Yuck. Oak monster. Off bottle?
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2/10/2009 - jivey wrote:
Possibley an off bottle need to try again.
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2/8/2009 - joraesque wrote: 92 Points
Color, nose, palate and finish: mostly butterscotch. Also some caramel and toasty oak on the palette. A dry, full-bodied wine. Not a "lively" Chardonnay by any means. 92-93 points.
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1/31/2009 - AdamWallstein wrote: 94 Points
Wonderful, intense wine. Interesting color: kind on greenish-straw (Alaina thought it looked like Mountain Dew).
Somewhat restrained nose showed smoky, nutty aspects... but the palate took no prisoners with it's bracing lime-butter rubbed barbequed corn on the cob. Also a long, delicious floral finish.
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12/1/2008 - Eric Guido wrote: 92 Points
A luminous golden straw color to this beautiful wine. A bit smoky with aromas of apricot and sweet bake shop. Maybe wild flowers on a spring day. Medium - full on the palette with crisp acidity. Displaying peach and strawberry with a hint of minerals. Fresh finish that leaves you wanting more.
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11/15/2008 - yhn wrote: 94 Points
Nose - "cool", lychee, restrained lemon and a good degree of that hard to explain SCM character.
Brown oak frame, lemon, zest, lychee, good acid, good intensity, but tight and shy. Long zesty finish. Needs cellaring - this will be spectacular in 15+ years. (94+ pts)
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