taste: Full bodied with medium acidity that is on the noticeable side. Has a nice spine with tones of green apples, pears, marmalade and white fruits. It is really good on the attack, but there is a drop-off on the mid and finish.
overall: If this had more depth on the nose and palate it would be really good. Still, it's a very good chard that tastes like california without overdoing it.
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Gold/yellow. Musty, mustard, rocky pebble with ripe lemon as nose comes out of glass. Steely, mineral, with lemon curd. What great acidity. Some herbs? Good stuff.
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The most Burgundian California chard I've had to date. Dark gold in color, with ample oak funk on the nose along with melon and lemon. Medium body, good freshness and some minerals on the palate. There was a certain dullness to the entire presentation, however. But I still like it.
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Pretty good, but not an eye-opener. Nice fruit on the nose and in the mouth with added structure from the oak, which, though it is prevalent, is able to refrain from being obnoxious. Some nice minerality and a refreshing, cleansing acidity that helps the wine end on a high note when cold. As the wine warmed in the glass the alcohol level became noticeable as heat on the nose and at the finish. I expected a little more for the price, even though it's young I don't see it blossoming into much more than it already it. Won't buy it again. 87-89
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Deep golden color; floral notes with melon, peach and pear; enough acidity to keep its chardonnay flavors; very burgundian style chard with not much oak; great depth on the finish; lighter style, but still a great wine
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Unmistakenly Chardonnay, but not your typical overdone overoaked Chardonnay. Rich fruit. Some tropical fruit but also green apples and lemon with faint buttery aromas. Sharp almost Riesling like acid. No apparent oak. Beautiful but a little expensive. Paid 48 USD, but what the hell i enjoyed it!
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Golden yellow color. Tropical fruit nose with notes of popcorn. Full bodied. Tastes of apple. lemon, pear and melon. Rich finish with an spicy citrus component. A big wine.
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Recently I decided to straighten up the book shelves, which is the equivalent of a geological exploration of the bibliophilic eras of my life. If you love books and if you handle books then you are going to browse books, which means any attempt at order on the book shelves is a nostalgic and sometimes revelatory look in the past. As I flipped the pages of a book on Rene Descartes I came across this margin note that I had made a long time ago, “Fashion is an enemy of reason”. I don’t know if there is reason in wine, but I certainly know that there is fashion. I do know that wine fashions change over time and I hope that someday California winemakers choose not to over oak Chardonnay.
This was my first BC wine and what I say about it has to be taken with the knowledge that I find too much oak an anathema to good Chardonnay. Darker yellow in color. Nose with strong lime, citrus fruit, and vanilla aromas. Lime, citrus, and some apple flavors. Medium bodied. Enough acid to be zesty. No butter. As I was drinking the wine I kept thinking how much better it would be if either the time in the oak barrels had been cut down or a more neutral oak barrel had been used. The wine spent enough time in oak that it muted the fruit flavors and made them less distinct than I suspect they would have been. Oh yeah, and I hate those "plastic wax" closures.
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Nice straw to golden yellow in color. Melon, yelow peach and guava on the nose. Broad pit and tropical fruit flavors. Nice gentle acidity. Some tangerine and green apple notes. Long, juicy finish with lemon, herb and lime flavors emerging.
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My 1st experience with Brewer-Clifton and a very pleasant one. I was a little afraid of drinking a big, buttery and oaky chard and this one was really well made. Nose was a little shy at the beginning but when it opened up showed some nice green apple, citrus, a little bit of exotic fruits, light vanilla with a touch of smoke. Med to full body, fresh acidity (I pleasantly surprised here), round, a little less wood on the palate than on nose and a little more austere, in a good way. Mineral notes. Still young but I'd drink this wine over the next 2-3 years.
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Drinking very nicely. Balanced citrus, melon and oak toast. Loving it! Hether very much likes. This fits her style of Chardonnay. A little on the dry side, not so buttery. Thanks Steve and Greg!
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Tasted with asian style dinner with friends (another couple.) Everyone very impressed with the freshness and the acidity. No butter but plenty of oak, I suspect no malolactic fermentation but unable to confirm. Very bright and vibrant with some mineratilty. Light stone fruits and citrus, this is a very dry style for BC but still quite enjoyable. I'm sensing more Greg and less Steve influence on this but who am I to know???Perfect with the asian food...Everyone liked...
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7/24/2017 - wynlvr Likes this wine: 92 Points
The toast of the barrel brings out the caramel flavors in the chardonnay. Loads of fruit, with minerality and perfect acid.
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5/4/2014 - rmcnees wrote: 88 Points
Crisp, restrained with lively acidity and lemon and lime citrus tones with a layer of set stone, flint, hints of melon and peach.
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12/3/2012 - CADomer wrote: 89 Points
Seemed a little disjointed to me right now. Showed buttery oaky notes early and bright acidity later. Didn't sing the same tune and it confused me.
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8/24/2012 - KeithAkers wrote: 89 Points
Some Friday Afternoon Wines (Phil's place, Chicago IL): nose: fragrant with tones of green apples, minerals, pears, marmalade, and some white fruits. Nice balance, but lacking some depth to it.
taste: Full bodied with medium acidity that is on the noticeable side. Has a nice spine with tones of green apples, pears, marmalade and white fruits. It is really good on the attack, but there is a drop-off on the mid and finish.
overall: If this had more depth on the nose and palate it would be really good. Still, it's a very good chard that tastes like california without overdoing it.
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7/29/2011 - pcarpe41 wrote:
Gold/yellow. Musty, mustard, rocky pebble with ripe lemon as nose comes out of glass. Steely, mineral, with lemon curd. What great acidity. Some herbs? Good stuff.
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4/30/2011 - bwaverley wrote: 85 Points
Drink now. This really doesn't possess much aging quality.
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3/20/2011 - chefpete wrote: 91 Points
Wonderful
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10/17/2010 - gblacave wrote: 88 Points
Consistent with previous bottle, but the oak was better integrated in this one. Held up very well over about 4 days.
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2/3/2010 - rhit wrote: 90 Points
The most Burgundian California chard I've had to date. Dark gold in color, with ample oak funk on the nose along with melon and lemon. Medium body, good freshness and some minerals on the palate. There was a certain dullness to the entire presentation, however. But I still like it.
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1/31/2010 - mdodd wrote: 86 Points
too much alcohol
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1/16/2010 - Beck wrote: 88 Points
nice flavors but a little sharp through th eclose.
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12/25/2009 - gblacave wrote: 88 Points
Pretty good, but not an eye-opener. Nice fruit on the nose and in the mouth with added structure from the oak, which, though it is prevalent, is able to refrain from being obnoxious. Some nice minerality and a refreshing, cleansing acidity that helps the wine end on a high note when cold. As the wine warmed in the glass the alcohol level became noticeable as heat on the nose and at the finish. I expected a little more for the price, even though it's young I don't see it blossoming into much more than it already it. Won't buy it again. 87-89
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12/14/2009 - windypinot wrote: 91 Points
Deep golden color; floral notes with melon, peach and pear; enough acidity to keep its chardonnay flavors; very burgundian style chard with not much oak; great depth on the finish; lighter style, but still a great wine
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11/21/2009 - Beck wrote: 87 Points
a little sharp. citrus comes on too strong and hides the abundant fruit that is evident but buried a little too deep for me.
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11/1/2009 - boodra wrote: 90 Points
Unmistakenly Chardonnay, but not your typical overdone overoaked Chardonnay. Rich fruit. Some tropical fruit but also green apples and lemon with faint buttery aromas. Sharp almost Riesling like acid. No apparent oak. Beautiful but a little expensive. Paid 48 USD, but what the hell i enjoyed it!
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9/30/2009 - kstoddard wrote: 89 Points
Golden yellow color. Tropical fruit nose with notes of popcorn. Full bodied. Tastes of apple. lemon, pear and melon. Rich finish with an spicy citrus component. A big wine.
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9/19/2009 - air guitar & pinot noir wrote: 90 Points
Golden yellow in color. Yellow pwach and guava on the nose. Pit fruit flavors with some tropical notes. Restrained fruit. Long citrus finish.
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8/21/2009 - JeffcB wrote:
Brief note, but enjoyable. Decent sized body, with no apparent heat.
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4/13/2009 - NPWolfe wrote: 85 Points
Recently I decided to straighten up the book shelves, which is the equivalent of a geological exploration of the bibliophilic eras of my life. If you love books and if you handle books then you are going to browse books, which means any attempt at order on the book shelves is a nostalgic and sometimes revelatory look in the past. As I flipped the pages of a book on Rene Descartes I came across this margin note that I had made a long time ago, “Fashion is an enemy of reason”. I don’t know if there is reason in wine, but I certainly know that there is fashion. I do know that wine fashions change over time and I hope that someday California winemakers choose not to over oak Chardonnay.
This was my first BC wine and what I say about it has to be taken with the knowledge that I find too much oak an anathema to good Chardonnay. Darker yellow in color. Nose with strong lime, citrus fruit, and vanilla aromas. Lime, citrus, and some apple flavors. Medium bodied. Enough acid to be zesty. No butter. As I was drinking the wine I kept thinking how much better it would be if either the time in the oak barrels had been cut down or a more neutral oak barrel had been used. The wine spent enough time in oak that it muted the fruit flavors and made them less distinct than I suspect they would have been. Oh yeah, and I hate those "plastic wax" closures.
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4/12/2009 - air guitar & pinot noir wrote: 90 Points
Nice straw to golden yellow in color. Melon, yelow peach and guava on the nose. Broad pit and tropical fruit flavors. Nice gentle acidity. Some tangerine and green apple notes. Long, juicy finish with lemon, herb and lime flavors emerging.
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11/28/2008 - MJTed wrote: 89 Points
Devoid of oak and a tad on the lean side. Juicy mouthfeel with zesty fresh citrus fruit and melon.
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11/19/2008 - french16 wrote: 91 Points
My 1st experience with Brewer-Clifton and a very pleasant one. I was a little afraid of drinking a big, buttery and oaky chard and this one was really well made.
Nose was a little shy at the beginning but when it opened up showed some nice green apple, citrus, a little bit of exotic fruits, light vanilla with a touch of smoke. Med to full body, fresh acidity (I pleasantly surprised here), round, a little less wood on the palate than on nose and a little more austere, in a good way. Mineral notes.
Still young but I'd drink this wine over the next 2-3 years.
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7/27/2008 - Briggs720 wrote: 90 Points
Drinking very nicely. Balanced citrus, melon and oak toast. Loving it! Hether very much likes. This fits her style of Chardonnay. A little on the dry side, not so buttery. Thanks Steve and Greg!
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6/29/2008 - Briggs720 wrote: 89 Points
Tasted with asian style dinner with friends (another couple.) Everyone very impressed with the freshness and the acidity. No butter but plenty of oak, I suspect no malolactic fermentation but unable to confirm. Very bright and vibrant with some mineratilty. Light stone fruits and citrus, this is a very dry style for BC but still quite enjoyable. I'm sensing more Greg and less Steve influence on this but who am I to know???Perfect with the asian food...Everyone liked...
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