Wow what a beautifully aged wine from the ‘07 vintage! I was skeptical at first, but the bouquet of this wine is popping with caramel and butterscotch!..not to mention the beautiful deep gold color. Diminishing fruit at this point in 2019, but overall what a wonderful experience! Just disappointed there’s not any more left...
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Drinking near or at peak. Intensely buttery, the result of ponderous lumber treatment, though mostly integrated. Concentrated, good acid. Finishes with an oak tannin bite.
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Got on a great little blowout sale for ten bucks...an worth it! I was a little afraid that this might be a little over the hill at 8 years and counting, but it was still pretty lively. Showed California character, well oaked, very much new world. Great for ten bucks, but at this point in its lifecycle, I wouldn't pay a whole lot more.
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Loved this bottling- Cali style chard- quality oaking but not overdone rich with some butter- nice round mouthfeel, acidity is subtle, not sharp- good finish. down to 1 bottle sadly
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What a delightful Chardonnay. This is the last of 9 bottles and I find myself wishing that I still had a few more. Costco in Alaska had this wine for about $21 per which makes this a great QPR. Made in the oaky, buttery style of many California Chards; this wine would not appeal to everybody but Barb and I sure have enjoyed it over the past three years. The CT drinking window is ’09-’12 but this wine is still going strong. Bright, fresh with butter, butterscotch and lots of fruit. Good balance and plenty of acidity make it food friendly. I sure have had some good wines from Beringer over the years and most are fairly priced for the level of quality. This is certainly one of my top three Chardonnay QPR's ever.
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Medium gold color. PNP, drank 2+ glasses over the evening. Wow, this was quite impressive. Complex nose of creme brule, floral, cream, toasted, butterscotch, oak, caramel, lemon, floral. The palate is creamy and lush on the palate, elegant but with intensity, bright, lemon, citrus, butterscotch, creme brule, spice, oak, cinnamon. Long rich finish. Really delicious. 93+pts.
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Fabulous Napa Chard, huge and intense as one would expect, but not to 'over the top', a bit of heat would be the only downside, but otherwise, sold and spectacular - Deep gold, full bodied with a nose of peach, pear, butterscotch, caramel and creme brulee, intense, very well structured, integrated with a touch of heat, silky smooth on the palate with a very long finish, outstanding! (93 Points).
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Had with Crab Mornay and asparagus. Very nice mature Napa Chardonnay. Slight darkening of the wine due to age. Pronounced tree fruit aromas on the nose. Some ripe citrus and good acidic backbone on the palate. Medium to long finish.
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One of our favorite chardonnays. Bought several cases of this wine in 2010 for under $20 at Costco. Great QPR! It has improved over time and mellowed into a beautiful balance of light oak, creamy butter with the perfect amount of fruit - pear, apple and citrus. I suspect this beauty has only a year left.
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This is an insanely nice wine. If you enjoy rich, creamy, luscious Chardonnay, this is a winner. Some light citrus, apple and pear flavors. Crisp acidity holds it all together. This has improved over the past year, with the forward fruit flavors settling down. This wine should be drunk within the next six months or so, or I suspect it will begin fading. Enjoy!
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It was fine. Not good, not bad, just fine. With all the options available at $30, I'm sure you can find a better bottle. Read all the reviews from fellow members...I struggle to find the same kind words they share.
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Wonderful chardonnay. Has mellowed a little since the last bottle that was a little hot and astringent. Another 2 or 3 years and this should be drinking very well.
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Very light yellow color. Big ripe nose, with tropical fruits, pineapple, honeydew melon, vanilla creme brulee & butter-scotch. A very big, ripe and lush mouthfeel with vanilla cream puff, grilled pineapple on a strong butter-scotch and creme-brulee like finish. This needs a touch more acidity to bring all the ripe fruit and oak together.
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Pop and pour after chilling for 60 minutes. Although this is of the full bodied, oaky chardonnay style, the balance is great. There's oak but not too much. There's ripeness but enough acid too. The nose has pineapple, flowers, lemon, lime, red apple, honey, caramel. Tropical fruit, vanilla, citrus on the palate. Very nice finish. Could use a bit more acid. A very well made wine, even if it's not my favorite style. 90-91
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Big but unbalanced w/too much oak that obscures the honeydew,pineapple and apple pie flavors. There are better balanced chards, from CA, WA or Oregon that will blow this away for the money. Mark Ryan and even Columbia Crest/Ch.Ste Michelle vineyard designates are better. That said, the Mark Ryan may not be easily found on any retail wine shelf.
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Last year, out of the bottle, the fruit was forward to mid then giving way to harsh acidity on the end, which started to abate in 15-20 mins when the butter crept in - it was okay for 'casual house white'. Today, the fruit, acidity and oak have all integrated to become nicely balanced rendering it an elegant, enjoyble glass. We added this to our this to our cellar as our " house white" for the next 2-3 years, and it has pleased many guests since.
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Nose is apricot, honeydew, vanilla, pineapple, and something buttery. Flavors are similar, with an added touch of peach, green apple, and light mineral. Rich and creamy, there is some oak, but nowhere near overpowering in our opinion. Nice mouth feel. Very enjoyable.
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Ce n'est pas très "in" d'aimer Beringer mais je trouve que cette bouteille est un excellent rapport q/p, un chardonnay dans le style classique de Napa mais sans excès de bois. Riche, exotique, bel équilibre, savoureux et typé. 91 pts
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Typical California Chard. A bit heavy on the oak for my current taste, but with some acidity to counter act that. Somewhat viscous and heavy. Nice tropical flavors on the palette.
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Maybe my tastes have changed, but I remember when this stuff was the best. No more. Way too much oak. Fruit badly hidden. Not a lot of fun. And while I got a bargain on it (less than $25) there is much better stuff for the price out there..
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Big toasty vanillin, pear, baked apple with caramel, creme brulee, butter brickle. Decent acid. Nice density in the mouth. Some folks may not like this style, but I appreciated this wine. Not really a food wine though. Probably best to consume this by itself and appreciate the day!!
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Pale yellow. Lots of rich baked apple and pear up front with honey, vanilla and cream. It shows a bit of acidity and a mineral underlying the fruit. Lots of oak. Long finish.
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Slightly burnt caramel and nuts, some butter, very rich, full and round. Seemed kind of rousanne-ish to me. Went very nicely with a hearty farro and kale dish. Very easy to bottle to finish.
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Hennepin Lake Tasting; 10/20/2010-11/12/2010: Typical Private Reserve. Never bad and never outstanding. Oak, vanilla, lemon and pear. Medium finish and of course the oak shines through a bit much.
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A bit creamier and richer than the last bottle six months ago. Slight acidity though brings a good balance. Light golden color. More oak comes through than six months ago but still well balanced. Citrus, peach, apple flavors. Doris 91
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Yellow hued. Big, classic California Chardonnay. Plenty of french oak, but not out of balance. Full bodied, with flavors of pear, peach and buterscotch. Not the most nuanced, but a big, solid Cali Chard.
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Nice carmel, green apple and oak flavors but all are in balance at this point. More acidity than I expected for 100% malo fermentation wine. Probably an okay value at reduced pricing available these days.
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The rich butterscotch, vanilla, creme brulee, macadamia nut thing is a bit much. But this Chardonnay has some other things going for it, including a solid backbone and refreshing fruit flavors of pineapple, pear, and lemon custard. Not a versatile food wine, but it went quite well with a lobster Ceasar salad.
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The combination of the malolactic fermintation with the overwheming amount of what seems to be new oak is too much. It was hard to taste the juice behind the special effects. I should point out that my wife likes a buttery, oakey style chardonnay, and she likes the Beringer Private Reserve Chardonnay. Luckily, this was our last 07 Ber. Priv. Res. Chard.
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Like a Quizno's sandwich: mmmmmm...toasty. Is there wine behind the pineapple and lumber? Obviously expensive pedigree but the end result (at this price point) is nut my cup of Pina Colada.
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Buttered toast and more buttered toast. I like oak in my reds, but not so much in my wines and this is oak oak oak. Shame, because there are some nice fruits in there as well.
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Had real trouble liking this wine due to the alcoholic finish that it had. Out of balance due to that. Couldn't buy another at 14.5% alcohol. Maybe another vintage?
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Oh boy, like many bad things in life, TCA seems to run in threes and this is my second wine TCA laden this week, the first being Le Conseillier 2003. The contamination was mild, but still a problem. 70 with the TCA, maybe mid to uppper 80's without it. The wine seems to be integrating, especially the oak.
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Light clear yellow. Not too expressive but definitely showing some of its lees-stirred-in-oak upbringing. Actually grows in aromatic intensity over a couple of days, showing more coconut and slightly overripe fruit.
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Full bodied and rich new world style Chardonnay. Lush tropical fruit, with pineapple, vanillla, and macadamia nut prevailing. Some peach, too, ripe apricot, butter and creme brulee. A lively backbone of acidity helps keep all this richness manageable. I'll take a stony citrusy Chablis over this almost any day. But if you're looking for a richer, creamier stlye of new world Chard, this is a pretty good example and quite enjoyable as a once-in-a-while guilty pleasure.
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Big, oaky, vanilla, a lot of what California Chards have come to be. Somewhere in there might have been some fruit - hard to tell. I think the hand of Sbragia is missed in making these wines - and the Private Reserve label is not necessarily worth what it used to be.
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Call it my stylistic preference, but this is just terrible. Toasty oak, creme brulee, macadamia nuts, tropical fruit, more nuts, including coconut(s), pineapple, more oak.... I guess that's fine, especially if you're drinking a pina colada, but it's not what I look for in Chardonnay. Not fresh. No minerals. No depth. No Charm. This is ripe and even has a reasonably intense nose--but shallow richness is probably the best way to put it. This note is probably unfair, given that I suspected going in that I wouldn't like this wine, but I don't think I'm being overly harsh either.
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Tropical fruits, pineapple on the palate. Good acidity and balance, but comes across as your typical California Chardonnay. A good wine, but not to my style.
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14.5% ABV. Bright golden yellow in the glass. Strong smoky oak and some cereal on the nose. Medium full bodied with dominating, slightly bitter oak and cereal over powering the pear fruit. I didn't enjoy this nearly as much as I did at the winery last year. Left it in the fridge to see if it changes with some time. This just seems to be oaky and out of balance, and I like the Sbragia bottling, so it's not that I'm an oakaphobe. Maybe an off bottle. After spending the night in the fridge, the fruit seemed to be more expressive and the oak less dry. Much improved.
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Very nice chardonnay with racy spicy oak including cinnamon, nutmeg, cedar, white pepper, etc. Despite the punchy spice, it was still smooth and enjoyable with a nice sockeye salmon with a dijon dill sauce.
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Medium gold in color. A bit of citrus on the nose but the taste is much fuller with a definite rich baked apple and pear in a buttery surround with good acidity and a medium finish.
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Medium gold. Of course oak and vanilla on the nose along with apple, lemons and spice. A big wine and on the finish it picks up the butter quality. Needs some seafood but this wine is solid again.
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Two weeks removed from a 2000 mile ship via UPS, this may not have been a fairtest. This definitely needed air to open. After air and some warming, this was okay (not oaky). Green olive, hint of smoke and buttered popcorn on the nose. Green apple, molasses, heat, hints of bitterness. Not great, finishes quite hot. Probably okay value at around $20 with shipping. Hopefully will improve with some time to settle in the cellar.
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you have to be in the mood to enjoy this type of oaked CA Chard, and I was:) to generalize, it's like Australian Shiraz: sometimes, I'm in the mood for one.
bought this from The Great Enabler, and at $17.99, it is a great QPR.
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Though technically true to its intended style and what not, I just hard a hard time enjoying this wine from a stylistic preference. That being said, I could see how the rich tropical flavors and butter rich texture could find its admirers.
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Beringer Wine Seminar with Winemaker Laurie Hook (Binny's Highland Park): Sourced primarily from the Gamble Ranch in Oakville. Similar in color to the Napa Chard - maybe a hint darker and richer. Overall more toasty qualities than the regular Chard. Toffee, light roasted caramel. Expressive tropical, creamy, rich palate. Pineapple, yellow apples. The palate shows better than the nose as a whole. Nice butterscotch on the back end. Excellent PR Chard from Beringer.
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I guess when you are the size of Beringer not all of your wines with the same label will taste the same as the notes on this wine attest to. In my case I think the higher rated numbers are appropriate.In the glass a nose of citrus,maybe pear & oak - in a good way - In the mouth a fairly rich wine with a palate mirroring the nose - the oak is there but i did not find intrusive. The finish carries those flavors throughout. It is no doubt a Cali chardonnay but much better than most at anywhere near its discounted price point of $23.
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Pale yellow, reluctant tropical fruits ending somewhat smoky and with vanilla, starts rich in the mouth but turns tart and even a bit burnt tasting on finish. Disappointing for the price and not as enjoyable as prior vintages.
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Ripe tropical fruit nose. Creamy texture. Leans toward the rich side of the California Chardonnay spectrum but not by much. It is well balanced. Noticeable oak but not overdone. Good fruit flavors with marmalade and pear most prominent. As California Chardonnay goes these days, way above average.
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Detecting a bit of heat and is somehow unbalanced. Even though some really solid building blocks are present: acidity, fruit, minerality, etc. Although I can't really put my finger on it. At $16 it's OK, but I would not purchase this again. I thought that the first bottle was a one-off, but the alcohol is definitely detracting.
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Had none of the depth and breath of flavor that I have come to expect from Beringer. Almost watery in texture. Simple flavors of vanilla, pineapple, and apple. disappointing
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not too oaky, but buttery and rich throughout. Light yellow color. Nose of light fruit, peach and some citrus juices. In the mouth, terrific fruit that is forward and well balanced. A nice steely backbone of acidity and earth. Long finish. Well done.
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I have no idea where Parker/Tanzer get their 92/91 scores from .. but then again I often wonder about thier scores. This wine has definite potential, but the alcohol on the finish definitely detracts from the experience. This wine has really good minerality and the fruit is well balanced. Overall, this wine is enjoyable, and good value for $17, but not for the advertised $35. However, in fairness, this may just have been an off bottle. Will try another one in a few weeks ...
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14.5% alcohol. Lovely Chardonnay. Light yellow color. Nose of green apple, pear, a touch of oak, and some citrus notes. In the mouth, beautifully pure and delineated, with terrific fruit that is expressive without being rounded or flabby at all. A nice steely backbone of acidity and minerality to this wine. Long finish. Very well done. A-
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I just plain enjoyed this wine. I drank it too fast because it was so good and went down like a nice cocktail. Plus I only paid $16 a bottle. Such a deal.
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A full, rich and intense wine - certainly not for everyone - but a decided success for those who appreciate this oaky, concentrated style. Offering an enjoyable mix of grilled pineapple, lemon cream, coconut, orange and new oak flavors, this manages to balance a plush, generous texture without falling over the top.
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Casaba melon and parquet floor. Clumsy, flabby, and obnoxious. The oenological equivalent of Rosanne Barr's infamous performance of the National Anthem. Admittedly, I wouldn't be so mad if I didn't drink the whole bottle anyway.
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Second wine for Christmas dinner, followed a white burgundy. This was full of flavor, but a bit too much oak for my own preferences. I didn't care for the buttery texture. Not my cup of tea.
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Rich and buttery. Coconut cream mouthfeel. Pina colada flavors. Sweet pineapple,some grapefruit though this wine is not very bright/acidic. A long, slightly bitter finish. This wine is a load, but it didn't do much for me. 87
Dropped a point downward on repeated tastings.
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nose: pineapple, and coffee. unusual, distinctive. Over time, some soap came out as well (not disconcerting, just there) palate: bright acidity, coconut-like tropical fruit, more acidity, and a coffee/oaky finish. Unfortunately, together, these flavors didn't really cohesively mesh. More of a stutter-step than a svelte tango. Thick body initially, med+ body for midpalate, med-long finish. Good. I paid $26 off the shelf, and I think that was fair (the wine has good fruit, pedigree, basic balance, and holds its 14.5% alc well). Wouldn't pay any more, though. As an aside, I actually did pair it with homemade chicken curry. It was very good. I never would have attempted this, but for bingdoodle's note. Thanks!
EDIT: this was divine with snickerdoodles, I have to say.
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Massively oaky, rich and buttery throughout, large weight on the palate, tropical fruits with loads of spice. A good wine, but you need to like the massive California style in order to enjoy this.
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Sampled at a wine tasting. Aromas of oak, citrus, lemon peel, grass and smoke. On the palate you get vanilla (oak) and caramel with a little heat on the back palate. Very nice.
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Medium gold color. Attractive Melon nose. Delicious on the attack with pear flavor. Balanced mid palate with medium- low acidity. Long fiinish is a little discordant with heavy oak and vanilla nuances. An enjoyable wine.
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Ultra-rich but well balanced with gorgeous toasty oak framing bright carmelized apple, brioche, and pear flavors. Medium bodied with good persistence and a round, creamy mouthfeel.
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The nose of this wine was a typical Beringer PRV with restrained citrus. On the palate this is a big chardonnay with plenty of fruit and oak giving a smoky and buttery flavor. The fruit is not as ripe and rich as I am used to in this wine's recent vintages; it's a bit harsher and thinner. Normally I would expect a baked apple and pear richness, which is absent here. The result is that the mouthfeel is not as full and the finish is thinner and shorter.
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Sonoma-Napa Trip Day 4 and 5; 6/29/2009-6/30/2009 (Napa and Sonoma): Cereal nose more apple pear fruit. Good sweet ripe fruit. This is picked about a half degree less brix than the Sbragia according to the tasting room host. about 75% new oak. Pretty solid chard. $35.
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Started out somewhat monolithic and restrained. Oak was well integrated. Plenty of lemon creme flavors and aromas of granny smith apple. Wine improved considerably after several days. More expressive and silky. Give it a few years and you will be happy.
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We had this with crab and lobster in Orlando, it was very good and well suited to the meal. The wine is golden straw colored with a nose ofs melon and citrus with a nice freshness.The taste is layered fruit and a crisp acidic journey. Nice middle and a finish that stays on your tongue. 93 liquid sunshine.
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8/1/2019 - Tylersavell Likes this wine: 94 Points
Wow what a beautifully aged wine from the ‘07 vintage! I was skeptical at first, but the bouquet of this wine is popping with caramel and butterscotch!..not to mention the beautiful deep gold color. Diminishing fruit at this point in 2019, but overall what a wonderful experience! Just disappointed there’s not any more left...
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8/26/2017 - edjBoca Likes this wine: 91 Points
Deep yellow; Butterscotch medium body nice finish..drink up.
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5/14/2017 - Jeffkunins wrote: 91 Points
caramel popcorn (in a good way), butterscotch, and still strong acidity and well balanced
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7/12/2015 - Alfaro wrote: 91 Points
Smooth
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4/25/2015 - Motz wrote: 88 Points
Drinking near or at peak. Intensely buttery, the result of ponderous lumber treatment, though mostly integrated. Concentrated, good acid. Finishes with an oak tannin bite.
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4/19/2015 - Hercules Likes this wine: 94 Points
Aging very well. Better than a few years ago. Golden color with a rich buttery taste. Really good.
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2/20/2015 - Johnfromspokane wrote: 89 Points
Got on a great little blowout sale for ten bucks...an worth it! I was a little afraid that this might be a little over the hill at 8 years and counting, but it was still pretty lively. Showed California character, well oaked, very much new world. Great for ten bucks, but at this point in its lifecycle, I wouldn't pay a whole lot more.
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3/19/2013 - CJChampion Likes this wine: 93 Points
Loved this bottling- Cali style chard- quality oaking but not overdone rich with some butter- nice round mouthfeel, acidity is subtle, not sharp- good finish. down to 1 bottle sadly
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2/11/2013 - cliffkol wrote: 87 Points
Acidic, hot. Not sure if age or provenance bur was not up to the standard I had experienced in the past for this wine
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1/3/2013 - dsimmons Likes this wine: 92 Points
What a delightful Chardonnay. This is the last of 9 bottles and I find myself wishing that I still had a few more. Costco in Alaska had this wine for about $21 per which makes this a great QPR. Made in the oaky, buttery style of many California Chards; this wine would not appeal to everybody but Barb and I sure have enjoyed it over the past three years. The CT drinking window is ’09-’12 but this wine is still going strong. Bright, fresh with butter, butterscotch and lots of fruit. Good balance and plenty of acidity make it food friendly. I sure have had some good wines from Beringer over the years and most are fairly priced for the level of quality. This is certainly one of my top three Chardonnay QPR's ever.
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12/7/2012 - rocknroller wrote: 93 Points
Medium gold color. PNP, drank 2+ glasses over the evening. Wow, this was quite impressive. Complex nose of creme brule, floral, cream, toasted, butterscotch, oak, caramel, lemon, floral. The palate is creamy and lush on the palate, elegant but with intensity, bright, lemon, citrus, butterscotch, creme brule, spice, oak, cinnamon. Long rich finish. Really delicious. 93+pts.
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12/1/2012 - birdman5828 wrote: 90 Points
Nice example of a Cali chardonnay. Buttery with caramel, honeydew melon and vanilla.
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10/20/2012 - Tarrant wrote: 93 Points
Fabulous Napa Chard, huge and intense as one would expect, but not to 'over the top', a bit of heat would be the only downside, but otherwise, sold and spectacular - Deep gold, full bodied with a nose of peach, pear, butterscotch, caramel and creme brulee, intense, very well structured, integrated with a touch of heat, silky smooth on the palate with a very long finish, outstanding! (93 Points).
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9/21/2012 - JPPeterson wrote: 89 Points
Had with Crab Mornay and asparagus. Very nice mature Napa Chardonnay. Slight darkening of the wine due to age. Pronounced tree fruit aromas on the nose. Some ripe citrus and good acidic backbone on the palate. Medium to long finish.
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9/14/2012 - Vinobruin wrote: 89 Points
Nice - drank with bottle of the 2009 - 2009 was much better.
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8/23/2012 - dsimmons Likes this wine: 91 Points
Lovely bottle of chard, especially at $21per.
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8/20/2012 - WineJunkieWest wrote: 90 Points
One of our favorite chardonnays. Bought several cases of this wine in 2010 for under $20 at Costco. Great QPR! It has improved over time and mellowed into a beautiful balance of light oak, creamy butter with the perfect amount of fruit - pear, apple and citrus. I suspect this beauty has only a year left.
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7/16/2012 - Patches wrote: 91 Points
This is exactly what you hope for from a Napa Valley Chardonnay.
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5/3/2012 - cliffkol wrote: 92 Points
This is an insanely nice wine. If you enjoy rich, creamy, luscious Chardonnay, this is a winner. Some light citrus, apple and pear flavors. Crisp acidity holds it all together. This has improved over the past year, with the forward fruit flavors settling down. This wine should be drunk within the next six months or so, or I suspect it will begin fading. Enjoy!
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4/6/2012 - Zed57 wrote:
Still lovely but losing its luster. Hurry and drink.
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2/22/2012 - Crystal wrote: 92 Points
A-MAZ-ING.
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1/23/2012 - ilovesacha wrote: 90 Points
Very nice, a bit of oak, but not too much. not full on buttery taste - was great with fish/shellfish.
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1/12/2012 - gkrummel wrote:
With sea bass, good not great. However, better than expected.
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1/12/2012 - Zed57 wrote: 90 Points
It still has that classic California chard taste but it is on the way out. Dont wait. Drink up!
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1/2/2012 - Mind Bottling wrote: 87 Points
It was fine. Not good, not bad, just fine. With all the options available at $30, I'm sure you can find a better bottle. Read all the reviews from fellow members...I struggle to find the same kind words they share.
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12/25/2011 - cstir wrote: 89 Points
Oaky with vanilla and pear; denser flavor and structure; more main course than apertif chardonnay; pleasant finish.
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11/25/2011 - tmoritz1 wrote: 86 Points
Somewhat flat-Nose of apple and pear but the wine has a flabby taste-Way too much oak -For a Reserve the winery can do better
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11/20/2011 - bzukaitis wrote: 89 Points
Wine pairing dinner (Brian and Julie Z's): Like a good CA chardonnay should be. Oak, vanilla, buttery. Golden color.
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11/20/2011 - mmoss wrote: 88 Points
A bzukaitis offering. Tasted against a 2007 Patz & Hall Carneros Chard. Creamy, full bodied with a little oak in the finish. Very well done!
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10/26/2011 - dasper wrote: 91 Points
- Yellow color.
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8/29/2011 - Vinobruin wrote: 91 Points
Wonderful chardonnay. Has mellowed a little since the last bottle that was a little hot and astringent. Another 2 or 3 years and this should be drinking very well.
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8/26/2011 - devraj wrote: 89 Points
Very light yellow color. Big ripe nose, with tropical fruits, pineapple, honeydew melon, vanilla creme brulee & butter-scotch. A very big, ripe and lush mouthfeel with vanilla cream puff, grilled pineapple on a strong butter-scotch and creme-brulee like finish. This needs a touch more acidity to bring all the ripe fruit and oak together.
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8/13/2011 - stocksandbondage wrote: 90 Points
Surprisingly balanced. Creamy flavors of pear and white peach. Decent acidity and well integrated oak.
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8/8/2011 - Kingvino wrote: 94 Points
A very impressive wine, creamy and rich not OVERDONE with oak. Good acidity, truly a well made Chardonnay. Will look round for more, very impressed
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8/6/2011 - rmh66 wrote: 91 Points
Pop and pour after chilling for 60 minutes. Although this is of the full bodied, oaky chardonnay style, the balance is great. There's oak but not too much. There's ripeness but enough acid too. The nose has pineapple, flowers, lemon, lime, red apple, honey, caramel. Tropical fruit, vanilla, citrus on the palate. Very nice finish. Could use a bit more acid. A very well made wine, even if it's not my favorite style. 90-91
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7/3/2011 - spo wrote: 80 Points
Sort of fat and rich, buttery with good acidity but middle of the road boring.
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6/27/2011 - cliffkol wrote:
Doris 90. Really enjoyed
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6/25/2011 - MoreWinePlease wrote: 87 Points
Big but unbalanced w/too much oak that obscures the honeydew,pineapple and apple pie flavors. There are better balanced chards, from CA, WA or Oregon that will blow this away for the money. Mark Ryan and even Columbia Crest/Ch.Ste Michelle vineyard designates are better. That said, the Mark Ryan may not be easily found on any retail wine shelf.
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5/20/2011 - punter wrote: 89 Points
Last year, out of the bottle, the fruit was forward to mid then giving way to harsh acidity on the end, which started to abate in 15-20 mins when the butter crept in - it was okay for 'casual house white'. Today, the fruit, acidity and oak have all integrated to become nicely balanced rendering it an elegant, enjoyble glass. We added this to our this to our cellar as our " house white" for the next 2-3 years, and it has pleased many guests since.
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5/15/2011 - rocknroller wrote: 90 Points
Wordwide Pinots Blind plus a few more (Levain (Mpls)): No specific notes, but this was nice, did not strike me as overly oaked.
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4/23/2011 - The13thGryphon wrote: 89 Points
Nose is apricot, honeydew, vanilla, pineapple, and something buttery. Flavors are similar, with an added touch of peach, green apple, and light mineral. Rich and creamy, there is some oak, but nowhere near overpowering in our opinion. Nice mouth feel. Very enjoyable.
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4/12/2011 - dsimmons Likes this wine: 92 Points
A delicious chardonnay and at quite a nice price point.
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4/8/2011 - d'Artagnan wrote: 91 Points
Ce n'est pas très "in" d'aimer Beringer mais je trouve que cette bouteille est un excellent rapport q/p, un chardonnay dans le style classique de Napa mais sans excès de bois. Riche, exotique, bel équilibre, savoureux et typé. 91 pts
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3/25/2011 - djdaqm wrote: 90 Points
Typical California Chard. A bit heavy on the oak for my current taste, but with some acidity to counter act that. Somewhat viscous and heavy. Nice tropical flavors on the palette.
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2/19/2011 - rpenn77 wrote: 91 Points
Very pleasant oaky chardonnay
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2/17/2011 - Mallards wrote: 85 Points
Maybe my tastes have changed, but I remember when this stuff was the best. No more. Way too much oak. Fruit badly hidden. Not a lot of fun. And while I got a bargain on it (less than $25) there is much better stuff for the price out there..
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2/11/2011 - Chainthroer wrote: 92 Points
Big toasty vanillin, pear, baked apple with caramel, creme brulee, butter brickle. Decent acid. Nice density in the mouth. Some folks may not like this style, but I appreciated this wine. Not really a food wine though. Probably best to consume this by itself and appreciate the day!!
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2/6/2011 - pek wrote: 85 Points
Far too oaked. Disappointing.
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1/2/2011 - vine20 wrote: 90 Points
Pale yellow. Lots of rich baked apple and pear up front with honey, vanilla and cream. It shows a bit of acidity and a mineral underlying the fruit. Lots of oak. Long finish.
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12/30/2010 - dkhale4 wrote: 90 Points
Excellent as always. Very rich, burgunian in style. If you like it, you alway love what they do.
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12/25/2010 - jayw wrote: 93 Points
Vibrant, juicy, fruity Chardonnay. Pineapple, pear and apricot, with buttery croissant and fresh split oak.
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11/24/2010 - dougsmith wrote: 90 Points
Light lemon color. Nose of almond, hazelnut and butter. Full bodied and mouthcoating on the palate, a touch of caramel. Nice Cali-type Chard.
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11/13/2010 - junglejuice wrote: 84 Points
Average, oaky cali shard. For the money I guess it is a decent QPR in the grand scheme of Cali chards. Not my style, I don't like to drink liquid oak.
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11/7/2010 - benlisch wrote: 91 Points
Slightly burnt caramel and nuts, some butter, very rich, full and round. Seemed kind of rousanne-ish to me. Went very nicely with a hearty farro and kale dish. Very easy to bottle to finish.
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11/7/2010 - rpenn77 wrote: 90 Points
Classic CA Chardonnay! Rich mouthfeel. Slight apricot aromas
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10/27/2010 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 89 Points
Hennepin Lake Tasting; 10/20/2010-11/12/2010: Typical Private Reserve. Never bad and never outstanding. Oak, vanilla, lemon and pear. Medium finish and of course the oak shines through a bit much.
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10/26/2010 - cliffkol wrote: 90 Points
A bit creamier and richer than the last bottle six months ago. Slight acidity though brings a good balance. Light golden color. More oak comes through than six months ago but still well balanced. Citrus, peach, apple flavors. Doris 91
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10/25/2010 - stocksandbondage wrote: 90 Points
Yellow hued. Big, classic California Chardonnay. Plenty of french oak, but not out of balance. Full bodied, with flavors of pear, peach and buterscotch. Not the most nuanced, but a big, solid Cali Chard.
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10/24/2010 - juneau bob wrote: 88 Points
Balanced, not heavy oaken, crisp, spicy in the back of the throat, served with shrimp tetra, pear flavors, soft.
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10/14/2010 - iceaxe wrote: 93 Points
Excellent Chardonnay.
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10/12/2010 - guitarguy wrote: 89 Points
Nice carmel, green apple and oak flavors but all are in balance at this point. More acidity than I expected for 100% malo fermentation wine. Probably an okay value at reduced pricing available these days.
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10/5/2010 - jayw wrote: 90 Points
The rich butterscotch, vanilla, creme brulee, macadamia nut thing is a bit much. But this Chardonnay has some other things going for it, including a solid backbone and refreshing fruit flavors of pineapple, pear, and lemon custard. Not a versatile food wine, but it went quite well with a lobster Ceasar salad.
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10/5/2010 - Vinobruin Likes this wine: 90 Points
nice chardonnay purchased under $20 - this should not be served too cold - drink between 64 - 70 degrees.
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9/20/2010 - ajaffee wrote: 85 Points
The combination of the malolactic fermintation with the overwheming amount of what seems to be new oak is too much. It was hard to taste the juice behind the special effects. I should point out that my wife likes a buttery, oakey style chardonnay, and she likes the Beringer Private Reserve Chardonnay. Luckily, this was our last 07 Ber. Priv. Res. Chard.
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9/19/2010 - danielbleier wrote: 90 Points
Very dry. Flavors of lemon tart, pear and honeysuckle. Vivid and bright, this works well at just below room temp.
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9/18/2010 - guribh wrote: 87 Points
Like a Quizno's sandwich: mmmmmm...toasty. Is there wine behind the pineapple and lumber? Obviously expensive pedigree but the end result (at this price point) is nut my cup of Pina Colada.
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8/21/2010 - Uglypinga wrote:
Buttered toast and more buttered toast. I like oak in my reds, but not so much in my wines and this is oak oak oak. Shame, because there are some nice fruits in there as well.
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8/7/2010 - vinoceros wrote: 90 Points
Fruit, butter, toasty oak. I could dip crab in this wine. Good for that style, but I wouldn't buy again.
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8/7/2010 - Mallards wrote: 86 Points
See previous note. No change.
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8/6/2010 - Mr T wrote:
Sue enjoyed this wine. I did not taste.
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7/31/2010 - Larry Brooks wrote: 86 Points
Had real trouble liking this wine due to the alcoholic finish that it had. Out of balance due to that. Couldn't buy another at 14.5% alcohol. Maybe another vintage?
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7/30/2010 - GOL wrote:
Exactly what you'd expect from a Napa chard. Some fruit, some oak, some butter. Fairly priced
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7/18/2010 - guitarguy wrote: flawed
Oh boy, like many bad things in life, TCA seems to run in threes and this is my second wine TCA laden this week, the first being Le Conseillier 2003. The contamination was mild, but still a problem. 70 with the TCA, maybe mid to uppper 80's without it. The wine seems to be integrating, especially the oak.
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7/18/2010 - Mr T wrote:
Wine was enjoyed by most and I got just a toast: this crowd likes buttery Cali chards and that is what this is
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7/15/2010 - tcfishler wrote:
Light clear yellow. Not too expressive but definitely showing some of its lees-stirred-in-oak upbringing. Actually grows in aromatic intensity over a couple of days, showing more coconut and slightly overripe fruit.
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7/10/2010 - jayw wrote: 91 Points
Full bodied and rich new world style Chardonnay. Lush tropical fruit, with pineapple, vanillla, and macadamia nut prevailing. Some peach, too, ripe apricot, butter and creme brulee. A lively backbone of acidity helps keep all this richness manageable. I'll take a stony citrusy Chablis over this almost any day. But if you're looking for a richer, creamier stlye of new world Chard, this is a pretty good example and quite enjoyable as a once-in-a-while guilty pleasure.
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7/9/2010 - Mallards wrote: 86 Points
Big, oaky, vanilla, a lot of what California Chards have come to be. Somewhere in there might have been some fruit - hard to tell. I think the hand of Sbragia is missed in making these wines - and the Private Reserve label is not necessarily worth what it used to be.
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6/13/2010 - tantotinto wrote: 89 Points
Consistent with previous note. If you like big, this one's for you.
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6/11/2010 - rc@ughey Does not like this wine: 65 Points
Call it my stylistic preference, but this is just terrible. Toasty oak, creme brulee, macadamia nuts, tropical fruit, more nuts, including coconut(s), pineapple, more oak.... I guess that's fine, especially if you're drinking a pina colada, but it's not what I look for in Chardonnay. Not fresh. No minerals. No depth. No Charm. This is ripe and even has a reasonably intense nose--but shallow richness is probably the best way to put it. This note is probably unfair, given that I suspected going in that I wouldn't like this wine, but I don't think I'm being overly harsh either.
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6/1/2010 - vine20 wrote: 91 Points
Notes consistent with 5/4/2010.
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5/29/2010 - jbouchy wrote: 85 Points
Tropical fruits, pineapple on the palate. Good acidity and balance, but comes across as your typical California Chardonnay. A good wine, but not to my style.
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5/24/2010 - hemanwine Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very good value. Spicey and rich.
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5/23/2010 - OneLastSyrah wrote: 89 Points
14.5% ABV. Bright golden yellow in the glass. Strong smoky oak and some cereal on the nose. Medium full bodied with dominating, slightly bitter oak and cereal over powering the pear fruit. I didn't enjoy this nearly as much as I did at the winery last year. Left it in the fridge to see if it changes with some time. This just seems to be oaky and out of balance, and I like the Sbragia bottling, so it's not that I'm an oakaphobe. Maybe an off bottle. After spending the night in the fridge, the fruit seemed to be more expressive and the oak less dry. Much improved.
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5/22/2010 - parsetdx wrote: 90 Points
Very nice chardonnay with racy spicy oak including cinnamon, nutmeg, cedar, white pepper, etc. Despite the punchy spice, it was still smooth and enjoyable with a nice sockeye salmon with a dijon dill sauce.
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5/7/2010 - DaddyNeedsPow wrote: 91 Points
Was expecting an oaky, buttery monster, but it was so well-balanced and delicious. Creamy pineapple predominates.
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5/4/2010 - vine20 wrote: 91 Points
Medium gold in color. A bit of citrus on the nose but the taste is much fuller with a definite rich baked apple and pear in a buttery surround with good acidity and a medium finish.
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4/30/2010 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 90 Points
Medium gold. Of course oak and vanilla on the nose along with apple, lemons and spice. A big wine and on the finish it picks up the butter quality. Needs some seafood but this wine is solid again.
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4/28/2010 - golfhawk wrote: 90 Points
Not too oaky but we like the more buttery chards.
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4/3/2010 - Wiltse wrote: 88 Points
Too much oak at this point for my tastes. Softened a bit overnight.
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4/2/2010 - dsimmons wrote: 93 Points
This wine is an insane qpr. Delicious. Wish I had bought more.
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4/1/2010 - guitarguy wrote: 86 Points
Two weeks removed from a 2000 mile ship via UPS, this may not have been a fairtest. This definitely needed air to open. After air and some warming, this was okay (not oaky). Green olive, hint of smoke and buttered popcorn on the nose. Green apple, molasses, heat, hints of bitterness. Not great, finishes quite hot. Probably okay value at around $20 with shipping. Hopefully will improve with some time to settle in the cellar.
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3/28/2010 - LikeABC wrote:
you have to be in the mood to enjoy this type of oaked CA Chard, and I was:) to generalize, it's like Australian Shiraz: sometimes, I'm in the mood for one.
bought this from The Great Enabler, and at $17.99, it is a great QPR.
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3/26/2010 - Dale M wrote:
Though technically true to its intended style and what not, I just hard a hard time enjoying this wine from a stylistic preference. That being said, I could see how the rich tropical flavors and butter rich texture could find its admirers.
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3/22/2010 - beezer6 wrote: 90 Points
Beringer Wine Seminar with Winemaker Laurie Hook (Binny's Highland Park): Sourced primarily from the Gamble Ranch in Oakville.
Similar in color to the Napa Chard - maybe a hint darker and richer. Overall more toasty qualities than the regular Chard.
Toffee, light roasted caramel. Expressive tropical, creamy, rich palate. Pineapple, yellow apples. The palate shows better than the nose as a whole.
Nice butterscotch on the back end. Excellent PR Chard from Beringer.
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3/19/2010 - elliotgl wrote: 90 Points
I guess when you are the size of Beringer not all of your wines with the same label will taste the same as the notes on this wine attest to. In my case I think the higher rated numbers are appropriate.In the glass a nose of citrus,maybe pear & oak - in a good way - In the mouth a fairly rich wine with a palate mirroring the nose - the oak is there but i did not find intrusive. The finish carries those flavors throughout. It is no doubt a Cali chardonnay but much better than most at anywhere near its discounted price point of $23.
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3/11/2010 - slada wrote: 86 Points
Pale yellow, reluctant tropical fruits ending somewhat smoky and with vanilla, starts rich in the mouth but turns tart and even a bit burnt tasting on finish. Disappointing for the price and not as enjoyable as prior vintages.
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3/5/2010 - tantotinto wrote: 89 Points
Ripe tropical fruit nose. Creamy texture. Leans toward the rich side of the California Chardonnay spectrum but not by much. It is well balanced. Noticeable oak but not overdone. Good fruit flavors with marmalade and pear most prominent. As California Chardonnay goes these days, way above average.
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3/2/2010 - Tintin wrote: 90 Points
A very rich, full-bodied chardonnay. Great apple and tropical fruit notes.
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2/28/2010 - cns Does not like this wine: 87 Points
Detecting a bit of heat and is somehow unbalanced. Even though some really solid building blocks are present: acidity, fruit, minerality, etc. Although I can't really put my finger on it. At $16 it's OK, but I would not purchase this again. I thought that the first bottle was a one-off, but the alcohol is definitely detracting.
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2/26/2010 - efc wrote: 85 Points
Had none of the depth and breath of flavor that I have come to expect from Beringer. Almost watery in texture. Simple flavors of vanilla, pineapple, and apple. disappointing
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2/22/2010 - cliffkol wrote: 90 Points
not too oaky, but buttery and rich throughout. Light yellow color. Nose of light fruit, peach and some citrus juices. In the mouth, terrific fruit that is forward and well balanced. A nice steely backbone of acidity and earth. Long finish. Well done.
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2/1/2010 - cns wrote: 89 Points
I have no idea where Parker/Tanzer get their 92/91 scores from .. but then again I often wonder about thier scores. This wine has definite potential, but the alcohol on the finish definitely detracts from the experience. This wine has really good minerality and the fruit is well balanced. Overall, this wine is enjoyable, and good value for $17, but not for the advertised $35. However, in fairness, this may just have been an off bottle. Will try another one in a few weeks ...
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1/21/2010 - gutt22 wrote:
14.5% alcohol. Lovely Chardonnay. Light yellow color. Nose of green apple, pear, a touch of oak, and some citrus notes. In the mouth, beautifully pure and delineated, with terrific fruit that is expressive without being rounded or flabby at all. A nice steely backbone of acidity and minerality to this wine. Long finish. Very well done. A-
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1/17/2010 - rben_mvp wrote: 90 Points
I just plain enjoyed this wine. I drank it too fast because it was so good and went down like a nice cocktail. Plus I only paid $16 a bottle. Such a deal.
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1/15/2010 - vinole wrote: 88 Points
Wine Watch Best of 2009 Tasting (Ft. Lauderdale, FL): Creamy (guessing it had a long maloactic ferm), prominant oak, but I found it a little disjointed. Perhaps some bottle age will improve it.
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1/3/2010 - wino_tim wrote: 90 Points
A full, rich and intense wine - certainly not for everyone - but a decided success for those who appreciate this oaky, concentrated style. Offering an enjoyable mix of grilled pineapple, lemon cream, coconut, orange and new oak flavors, this manages to balance a plush, generous texture without falling over the top.
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1/3/2010 - redderthanred wrote:
We love it, please see prior notes.
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12/26/2009 - DollarMenunaire wrote: 82 Points
Casaba melon and parquet floor. Clumsy, flabby, and obnoxious. The oenological equivalent of Rosanne Barr's infamous performance of the National Anthem. Admittedly, I wouldn't be so mad if I didn't drink the whole bottle anyway.
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12/25/2009 - wallstreet wrote:
Second wine for Christmas dinner, followed a white burgundy. This was full of flavor, but a bit too much oak for my own preferences. I didn't care for the buttery texture. Not my cup of tea.
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12/24/2009 - rmalloy wrote: 86 Points
Rich and buttery. Coconut cream mouthfeel. Pina colada flavors. Sweet pineapple,some grapefruit though this wine is not very bright/acidic. A long, slightly bitter finish. This wine is a load, but it didn't do much for me. 87
Dropped a point downward on repeated tastings.
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12/17/2009 - mdscott wrote: 85 Points
Disappointing - at the start; by the time it began to open up and scallops arrived our single pour was gone .
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12/15/2009 - pakabear wrote: 92 Points
Always consistent.
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12/10/2009 - redderthanred wrote:
Great Chard for the price, just needs a bit of air time in the decanter
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11/26/2009 - kspetersen wrote: 90 Points
Very nice. Just right balance of clean finish vs "butteriness". Good aroma. Great with Thanksgiving dinner.
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11/22/2009 - redderthanred wrote:
We do enjoy this Chard with Indian food for some reason, please see prior notes.
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11/21/2009 - aagrawal wrote: 80 Points
Yellow tint. Nose has lots of oak, smoky and toasted flavors. Full bodied, short finish. Oak overpowers.
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11/19/2009 - geneswine wrote: 87 Points
Kind of thick and mushy. Overoaked. Lacks fruit and is not as balanced as other years I have had. Overall a disappointment compared with prior years.
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11/13/2009 - tarheel17 wrote: 88 Points
nose: pineapple, and coffee. unusual, distinctive. Over time, some soap came out as well (not disconcerting, just there)
palate: bright acidity, coconut-like tropical fruit, more acidity, and a coffee/oaky finish. Unfortunately, together, these flavors didn't really cohesively mesh. More of a stutter-step than a svelte tango. Thick body initially, med+ body for midpalate, med-long finish.
Good. I paid $26 off the shelf, and I think that was fair (the wine has good fruit, pedigree, basic balance, and holds its 14.5% alc well). Wouldn't pay any more, though.
As an aside, I actually did pair it with homemade chicken curry. It was very good. I never would have attempted this, but for bingdoodle's note. Thanks!
EDIT: this was divine with snickerdoodles, I have to say.
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11/11/2009 - redderthanred wrote:
Once again we had this with Indian food and it was amazing...our go-to Chard.
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11/5/2009 - KSWinegeek wrote: 87 Points
Great nose of melon. Melon and vanilla on wonderful attack, but a woody, discordant finish detracts from the experience.
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10/22/2009 - redderthanred wrote:
Very good, we like it a lot...banana, melon, pear and a little oak/butter
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10/14/2009 - gripNsip wrote: 88 Points
Massively oaky, rich and buttery throughout, large weight on the palate, tropical fruits with loads of spice. A good wine, but you need to like the massive California style in order to enjoy this.
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10/13/2009 - vdv115 wrote: 90 Points
Sampled at a wine tasting. Aromas of oak, citrus, lemon peel, grass and smoke. On the palate you get vanilla (oak) and caramel with a little heat on the back palate. Very nice.
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9/27/2009 - KSWinegeek wrote: 89 Points
Medium gold color. Attractive Melon nose. Delicious on the attack with pear flavor. Balanced mid palate with medium- low acidity. Long fiinish is a little discordant with heavy oak and vanilla nuances. An enjoyable wine.
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8/12/2009 - kstoddard wrote: 86 Points
Vanilla oak nose. Tastes of apple with a boat load of oak on the palate. Nice depth but way overdone for my tastes.
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7/30/2009 - wino_tim wrote: 92 Points
Ultra-rich but well balanced with gorgeous toasty oak framing bright carmelized apple, brioche, and pear flavors. Medium bodied with good persistence and a round, creamy mouthfeel.
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7/4/2009 - eldiabloazul wrote: 87 Points
Not as good as expected, but a very solid wine. Better on the nose than the palate. A tad sweeter and thinner than I was expecting...
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7/2/2009 - vine20 wrote: 89 Points
The nose of this wine was a typical Beringer PRV with restrained citrus. On the palate this is a big chardonnay with plenty of fruit and oak giving a smoky and buttery flavor. The fruit is not as ripe and rich as I am used to in this wine's recent vintages; it's a bit harsher and thinner. Normally I would expect a baked apple and pear richness, which is absent here. The result is that the mouthfeel is not as full and the finish is thinner and shorter.
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6/29/2009 - OneLastSyrah wrote:
Sonoma-Napa Trip Day 4 and 5; 6/29/2009-6/30/2009 (Napa and Sonoma): Cereal nose more apple pear fruit. Good sweet ripe fruit. This is picked about a half degree less brix than the Sbragia according to the tasting room host. about 75% new oak. Pretty solid chard. $35.
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4/23/2009 - Ombibulous wrote: 87 Points
Rich, strong, and buttery. Yet vibrant fruit. Golden and a wee bit viscous. Very good to excellent (87.5).
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4/17/2009 - hifiwine wrote: 93 Points
vey consistant over the last few years. this year is better though
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4/14/2009 - stocksandbondage wrote: 92 Points
Started out somewhat monolithic and restrained. Oak was well integrated. Plenty of lemon creme flavors and aromas of granny smith apple. Wine improved considerably after several days. More expressive and silky. Give it a few years and you will be happy.
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2/17/2009 - OregonWineGeeks wrote: 93 Points
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
5:31 PM
We had this with crab and lobster in Orlando, it was very good and well suited to the meal. The wine is golden straw colored with a nose ofs melon and citrus with a nice freshness.The taste is layered fruit and a crisp acidic journey. Nice middle and a finish that stays on your tongue. 93 liquid sunshine.
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