Maureen astutely selected this bottle off the wine list at Dino’s Grotto. Superb. In excellent condition. And a perfect companion to the funky marks brothers duck dishes Dino cooked up for his final meal at his restaurant. Tim
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I concur with Lightfoot, right down to this being my last bottle, sigh. Bristling and awesome. For this wine to be this great, and 17 1/2 years old, is quite impressive. To rank it among California chards brings its score closer to perfect.
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Sadly, my last bottle of this vintage. Clearly the best bottle of this vintage I have had, from 750ml or magnum, this one from 750. I opened and decanted it at 4pm, allowed it to breathe in the decanter through 6:30 in the refrigerator then poured it back into the bottle for transport to the Ryland Inn in NJ for my wife and I to have for our 16th anniversary this evening. We drank it from 7:15 through about 8:45 and it was best as we (and the staff at the surprisingly quite restaurant) finished the last drops. The color was astoundingly fresh and young looking with bright, deep yellow, tinged with gold that shimmered in the light. Some previous 750's had not survived so well. I had paid $30 for this bottle around 2005 (courtesy of the price tag still stuck to the bottle) but tonight it drank like a $300+ GRAND CRU BURGUNDY! Initially the nose was mostly smoke, cream and lemon but with air it put on weight and layers of scent and flavor. The mouth feel was luxurious and rich, yet still surprisingly bright with acidity (in Magnum this has many years left). The Palate kept changing with each different food element we had...Huge lemon with the raw oysters sprinkled with lemon...Herbal and floral tones with the Lobster knuckles and house grown tomato salad... White peach and honeysuckle with a spicy shrimp cocktail and green apple and butterscotch with seared foie gras. The finish was so incredibly long and laced with a thread of crème brûlée. Before opening this I had just hoped it would be drinkable and not oxidized, but this was without a doubt right up there with the best Chardonnay based wines I have ever had! Superb!
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Lovely golden yellow color, rich and inviting. Great viscosity visible. Nose of hazelnuts, vanilla and lemon. on the palate there is lots of the hazelnut nuttiness and some lemony citrus along with a little stone fruit. Long rich finish. This was absolutely fantastic with a crabmeat crepe with wild mushrooms and truffle oil. It just exploded with flavor. Just fantastic!
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2001 Chardonnay Magnum Tasting (New Jersey): From Magnum. Notes were taken with wines blinded. Bright golden yellow, looks a little older than most of the others yet by no means is it looking old. Nose has limestone citrus, pineapple and cream. Very nice, full rounded complex bouquet. Rich texture though still bright and young tasting with limestone, lemon curd, and pineapple. Nice, long finish. Tied for my second favorite of the 6 Chards.
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I had high hopes after an oxidized 2000... This bottle not oxidized but also not a great example of this wine. Very restrained, needing lots of breathing but even after several hours it's not opening up. The nose is very faint, a little lemon and some funky honey...unusual for Mount Eden. Color is beautiful medium golden yellow. Flavor profile is not too thin but not the usual richness either. It has some honey, lemon and a bit of grassiness. Not sure what to think of this? No where close to the previous bottle which was glorious.
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From magnum. A somewhat subdued nose, with lemon oil, and a hint of smoky butterscotch. Really explosive palate of smoky vanilla, minerals, pears and peaches, all held in check with nice acidity. Drinking very well, but no signs of decline and should go for quite a few more years in this format.
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Medium-bright gold color. Aromas of honeyed butterscotch, lemon, vanilla, toast, and a hint of hazelnut. Palate shows lemon, butterscotch, flowers, and some toasty/nutty notes that carry into a medium-long finish. This is showing very similar profile to the 1999 at this point and this bottle was a good one. Drink.
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Gorgeous lemon, mineral and light buttery aromas. Palate is medium-full bodied with juicy acidity. For me this is the best of California with great balance and elegance. Shows it's age and development (in a good way) with more mature and slightly oxidized fruit. Long mineral finish.
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A hint of mustiness and oxidation on first opening and a little disjointed on first taste. Settled down and within a half hour was drinking beautifully. Intense flavors of yellow fruits and a little citrus. Lively and well balanced acidity. Long aftertaste. Very pure at the end. Seems not much has changed since a bottle about 3 years ago.
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This is a very special wine. Beautiful golden color. Nose of citrus and white peach. Still very vibrant with nice acidity. Flavors explode with the peach and some tropical elements along with the mixed citrus. It has great mouthfeel and long lasting flavors. Remarkable aftertaste that lasts for a minute. Perfectly balanced. Given blind this would pass for the best of white Burgundy. And it still has plenty of life left if stored properly.
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I was hoping for more with this bottle and was a bit disappointed. My last bottle was all citrus fruit, acid and integrated oak. The bottle tonight seemed to go through three phases. EFlat, viscus and creamy at first with big oak, vanilla and creamy yellow fruits. With a bit of air time in the glass the acid and structure started to peek out a bit. Racing acidity in the middle, super fresh lemon zest, citrus infused oak with perfect balance. After even more air time in the glass it just seemed to fall apart. The nose is full of sweet banana peel, buttered popcorn, smells like your typical CA chard. On the palate is somewhat of a refreshing complex with medium body, zipping acid, starfruit, zesty citrus and lemon extract. I am not sure what to make of this wine at at his point. I have been drinking through my stash over the last few years and the last bottle was summer 2010 which was gorgeous, this one seems a bit out of whack. I only have one left and will probably let it hang for a bit more.
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Not nearly as (dark) gold as the '03 I had not too long ago. Notwithstanding its lighter color, the fruit does not seem to be aging all too gracefully. Aromas of pear juice, apples, matchstick and baking spice. Aromas follow to the palate that prefers a warmer vs. colder serving temperature. Nothing hedonistic about it; nothing too complex, either. From a case purchased on release, this bottling has shown a fair amount of bottle variation over the past 18 months (7 bottles so far), so I won't rate tonight's performance, but my overall score would be: A-
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Medium gold color. Aromas of hazelnut, peach, and a hint of orange. Palate shows some oxidation with orange peel and ripe peach notes overlaying a hazelnut and spiced pear fruit core. Finish is medium with some lemon notes. Drink up.
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Opened fairly buttery and full, but with some air it settled into itself and some nutty and lemon curdy aromas came to the fore. The palate is rich and full, but balanced out wonderfully with a core of acidity that everything else builds on. Drinking great now, great later too. Sorry I don't have more.
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Sadly my last bottle. This is one of my all-time favorite Cali Chards and it diod not dissapoint in it's finale. Oak has totally intergrated with mineral and wet stone notes. For those fortunate to still have any left I'd hang on to a bottle for another 2-3 years and then throw into a white Burg tasting as a ringer.
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Not the best bottle of this wine I've ever had, but still nice. Needs breathing, better as it warms up. Very buttery and soft on the palate. Pear, and a hint of citrus maybe even some Meyer Lemon. Golden Honey color. No more than a hint of oxidation. Some nectarine came out in the aftetaste. Nice Acidity...went well with smoked salmon and chive sour cream.
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Rich, golden color. Tropical fruit, hazelnut, vanilla nose. Palate is crisp, ocean aire and brisk lemon flavor. Finishes with sweet butter notes. Walks a nice line. Clearly Cali, but shows white Burg tendencies. In a good space now. Very solid Cali Chardonnay. Wish I had more.
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This bottle was starting to show its age. While showing great tropical fruit and maintaing great texture, in the backend of the palate it didn't show the length as in the past. One bottle left and will probaly finish off within the year.
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Medium yellow color. Aromas of pineapple, butterscotch, lemon, and a hint of sea breeze. On the palate, this has a slightly briny character that borders on mineral with a pineapple and lemon core that shows some quince-like flavors on a medium-long finish. A slight nutty note starts to appear with time in the glass, but this is holding nicely and has much more cut than the 2002 and 2003 right now. Ready and not getting any better. Drink.
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Mature translucent gold color. Fresh mineral and spice nose. Elegant for its body. Very Meursault like. This is drinking at its peak IMO. This comes off as very focused with a nice nutty citrus minerality. A nice long finish. Very easy to love this one. My last blt and no regrets, its ready. Don't hold for more than a couple years IMO.
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Medium lemon yellow color. Reticent nose of lemon oil, toasted nuts, and a bit of furniture polish. On the palate, this doesn't show as richly as the last bottle, with a briny, lemon-lime, floral, mineral core that shows a bit of underripe mango and a hint of vanilla-hazelnut cream. Not a great showing and a bit off from past notes. Drink.
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Popped for dinner, the cork was in great shape and extracted in one piece. The nose if full of fragrant vanilla like flowers, bright lemon peels, starfruit and creamy lemon meringue. Nice scents of light spice, toasty oak, hints of mineral like river rock and creme de fraiche. Palate is stacked with structure, fruit and body. Extremely full bodied displaying characteristics of a young white burgundy. Oak, alcohol and minor sweetness are all in balance. Nice lemon zest with a oak starting to integrate but still not quite integrated fully. Inherent creaminess leading to the richness and full body of the wine. Extremely young still but showing tons of promise and stuffing for the future.
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Pale straw yellow color. Aromas of sea breeze, sea shells, lime, butterscotch, and toasted hazelnut. On the palate, this shows honeysuckle, a slightly briny (like oyster juice) note, lime, marshmallow, and toasted nuts. Starts with some pineapple that fades as the nuttiness starts to dominate later in the bottle. Just past its best drinking for my palate, but still very good. Consistent with past notes. Drink.
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Medium yellow color. Aromas of honeysuckle, pineapple, and a hint of lime. On the palate, this shows a bit more austerity than past bottles, with a white truffle and hazelnut core framed by light pineapple and melon notes. The finish is long with a floral/mineral impression left on the palate. The youthful fruit is gone from this one and it is maturing into a middle-aged Chardonnay now. Past it if you wanted that tropical/butterscotch profile. Just entering the "mature" phase. Drink.
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Wow, this is a powerhouse of a chard with tons of life left. Nose gives off loads of minerals, fresh cream, citrus fruit and smooth oak. Great deal of structure on the palate with a great creamy mouthfeel. Almost burgundian in nature and really fresh. Acid keeps the wine fresh and provides a nice backbone. I was really impressed with this and have no doubt that this will age another 10 years easy.
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This is among my favorite all time Cali chards. I was fortunate enough to score a six bottles on closeout, oh my lucky day. I couldn't wait to crack one open. Ahhhh, the same lechee and lemon oil fragrance. I just like to let this linger on the palate as the flavors unfold. This is one of the top Cali chards at a very reasonable price in comparison to others this easily beats.
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This exemplifies well-made, hedonistic Chardonnay -- rich, full, defined fruit (lychee, pineapple, ripe apple), rounded but enough acid to work with food, balanced mouth feel. On my 20th bottle (out of 2 cases); this wine is at its apex at 8 years old.
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A little toast on the nose. Good fruit with hints of citrus and nuts. Great mouth feel that builds at the end, becoming quite substantial. Great balancing acidity. Still a long ways to go.
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Do NOT let this go to waste by drinking it fast...with air (our bottle opened up after an hour) it is a creamy mix of pineapple, lanolin, beeswax, ripe apple and citrus flavors that blow the pants off of 99 percent of CA Chard of this age. Must get more....
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I wish I had more of this. Very litlle evidense of oak with great acidiy. Leechee nuts and lemon oil. I need to start buying this again and look for older vintages.
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This is starting to shed some of its youthful fruit and flesh out with its minerals and lemon curd. Crisp acidity on the finish makes this still youthful wine refreshing.
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Bright yellow color. Aromas of honeysuckle, stones, and a hint of tropical fruit. On the palate, lemon and hazelnut mix with honeysuckle and minerals. The finish is moderate to long. Drinking pretty well now and should improve. Another good one from Mount Eden.
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As close as you'll get to white burgundy in California. The nose here reminded me exactly of a 1996 Duval Leroy BdB, with its creamy/nutty profile. Very expressive and in a great place right now, went well with Chilean sea bass.
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Good, but not as smooth as the 2000 we had last Saturday. This is a little more Oaky. It isn't as seamless. But, had I not had that 2000 just days ago, I would be raving. This is good wine. Dollar for dollar this is a great high end Chard. No complaints at all!
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My last bottle, which is a SHAME! It is great, still going strong, and will be for some time I suspect. My favorite Cali chard, not overdone, a lot of class, like a good white burgundy. I love it.
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Wonderful. These have proven to be my favorite California Chardonnays. The nose was wonderful. The nose and the palate used to be more acidic, were more defined by a lemon character, but this has settled down to flavors of yeast and bread and wheat with plenty of acidity left. Some butteriness but only in a plump way, not fat. Drinking well with the feeling of reached a peak. I will save the last for a while but probably not more than a year, though I suspect they will drink well for quite some time, and this wine has a reputation for going much farther than we are now. Highly Recommended.
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Better than my last bottle. This has a nice gold color, nose of lemon peel, mineral, vanilla and salty sea air. Lovely restraint and acidity. Great mouthfeel, long finish. Still holding together very well, and ought to last several more years.
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More closed on the nose than last go round. But the wet stone, floral, mineral, citrus, lime and honey just coat the palate. Oak is again non-detectable. Delicious.
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Flock - 70s Cal Cab Tasting (My Place): Full flavored, well balanced and complex. Lots of mineral, citrus and white fruit notes. Oak is judicious. No signs of fading.
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colour: golden straw yellow. on the nose: hint of lemon rind, lots of toasted almonds, and some rustic aromas - barnyardy kind of stuff that really has me intrigued. this is a very interesting nose. some honey here if I dig really deep, and some tertiary floral notes. in the mouth: it starts with a rich creamy texture. heavy velvet that flows across you palate. toasted almonds come first, followed by some baguette crust for a second. then comes an explosion of honey candied lemon rind, dried apricot, some other citrus notes, almost tangerine-like - beautiful, honeyed and great. Definite minerality here - I'm thinking the tail end of water fresh from a creek. There's a creamy-ness here that is almost over the top, but the acidity cuts this richness just at the right point. The finish is great, I still have lemon rind and lime zest with some honey, tangerines and toast coasting on my palate. Really great. Bottle says under 14% alcohol, there's just enough heat here to notice. this is a great chardonnay.
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Golden in color with aromas of lemon-lime, slate and minerals. Palate is medium bodied with a full fruit profile of limes and baked apples with an undercurrent of minerals and toasty oak. Acidic edge cuts the fruit and provides precision to a modestly creamy texture. Medium-length finish has citrus zest and minerality. Better on day 2 and still shows young.
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This wine is seamless, with no detectable oak, creaminess or butter. You get minerals galore, you get tons of honeysuckle goodness, you get lime, lemon and apricot notes. And the best part is the long, delectable finish with hints of orange and citrus, maybe lime. Just a subtle, gorgeous Cali Chard to sock away and cherish. This is merely a youngster, I'd imagine it has at least 5-8 years of life before maturing.
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Lots of oak, but it works well enough with this bigger than average Chardonnay. Deep yellow color with an inviting nose of oak and minerals. Nice acidity and rich fruit make this quite memorable. 92
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"Strong straw, honeysuckle nose w/ citrus and a hint of earth on the palate. Not over oaked (nose but not palate) - seemingly less oak than the 2002 i had many months prior. Long tangy finish.
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Last drank this 2/14/06; this is still very nice. Pale gold color with a hint of green. The nose is unlike other California Chardonnays, with mineral, talcum, lemon, and hazelnut. Nice definition and acidity in the mouth, with a finish of lemon and honeyed green apple. There is a touch of coarse alcoholic heat there, but this wine should hold a little while longer.
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I didn't find any evidence of excessive oak but more in line with RP's review of a fair amount of minerality. Good nose and initial palate of peach and citrus yet waht holds this back is the backend and finish. Compared to other chards which are rated in the mid-nineties this doesen't have that continuing complexity that lingers on, it just sort of falls apart. It is a pretty good wine for the money yet I just don't see the 93 rating.
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Red Carpet: This was really good; dark gold w/very green tints; buttery, intense nose of balanced oak, minerals, hint swt sensation, pineapple, trop. frts. Really well made and fairly big after the Burgs.
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Initially this had an overwhelmingly oaky nose - which it was only just beginning to shed by the end of the flight. Needs more time or a good decant. Alas, others were ready to move onto reds. (Tasted blind)
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Oaky nose with a touch of butterscotch, lime, and lemon curd. Luscious sweet golden fruit on the palate, just a touch buttery, long finish. Initially a bit too much; retasted later this was more balanced and the buttery note was no longer distracting. (Tasted blind) I took a bit of this home and drank it with my roommate/wine-drinking buddy -- it was really delicious with those few extra hours of air.
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Light gold color, medium body, moderate oak treatment, well balanced, with moderate use of oak, and no overly obvious aciditiy. Clearly New World, but in a restrained style. (tasted blind).
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Very young, tightly wound Chardonnay. There was lemony fruit that seemed overpowered at this stage by the slate, and other minerals. Hugely acidic finsih. Kept getting better and was best the 2nd day. Had to try it young to compare what it will become.
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Recommended as a California Chardonnay done in a Burgundian style, I sought out a bottle. The color was light silver-gold and perfectly clear. The nose showed a touch of oak and ripe fruit. The palate show some minerality, moderate acid and ripe fruit feigning sweetness. The finish is smooth and gratifying. At $26 a bottle, it is worth picking up a few more.
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I had expected something more like the 2000 from this vintage. It is not the ultra lush, buttery chardonnay of their finest vintages, but very nice nonetheless. Good minerality, nice and firm. Clearly still a California chardonnay, so don't be put off, but leaning towards a french style. A very nice wine to have in the repetoir.
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9/2/2019 - Tim2 wrote: 93 Points
Maureen astutely selected this bottle off the wine list at Dino’s Grotto. Superb. In excellent condition. And a perfect companion to the funky marks brothers duck dishes Dino cooked up for his final meal at his restaurant. Tim
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2/12/2019 - P A Montese wrote: 96 Points
I concur with Lightfoot, right down to this being my last bottle, sigh. Bristling and awesome. For this wine to be this great, and 17 1/2 years old, is quite impressive. To rank it among California chards brings its score closer to perfect.
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2/11/2018 - littlefoot wrote: 96 Points
One of the greatest California chardonnays I 've ever tasted, alas my last bottle. Exquisite aromas; nutty, mineral lemon cream, perfect acids.
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8/4/2017 - oldwines Likes this wine: 97 Points
Sadly, my last bottle of this vintage. Clearly the best bottle of this vintage I have had, from 750ml or magnum, this one from 750. I opened and decanted it at 4pm, allowed it to breathe in the decanter through 6:30 in the refrigerator then poured it back into the bottle for transport to the Ryland Inn in NJ for my wife and I to have for our 16th anniversary this evening. We drank it from 7:15 through about 8:45 and it was best as we (and the staff at the surprisingly quite restaurant) finished the last drops. The color was astoundingly fresh and young looking with bright, deep yellow, tinged with gold that shimmered in the light. Some previous 750's had not survived so well. I had paid $30 for this bottle around 2005 (courtesy of the price tag still stuck to the bottle) but tonight it drank like a $300+ GRAND CRU BURGUNDY! Initially the nose was mostly smoke, cream and lemon but with air it put on weight and layers of scent and flavor. The mouth feel was luxurious and rich, yet still surprisingly bright with acidity (in Magnum this has many years left). The Palate kept changing with each different food element we had...Huge lemon with the raw oysters sprinkled with lemon...Herbal and floral tones with the Lobster knuckles and house grown tomato salad... White peach and honeysuckle with a spicy shrimp cocktail and green apple and butterscotch with seared foie gras. The finish was so incredibly long and laced with a thread of crème brûlée. Before opening this I had just hoped it would be drinkable and not oxidized, but this was without a doubt right up there with the best Chardonnay based wines I have ever had! Superb!
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8/4/2016 - oldwines Likes this wine: 95 Points
Lovely golden yellow color, rich and inviting. Great viscosity visible. Nose of hazelnuts, vanilla and lemon. on the palate there is lots of the hazelnut nuttiness and some lemony citrus along with a little stone fruit. Long rich finish. This was absolutely fantastic with a crabmeat crepe with wild mushrooms and truffle oil. It just exploded with flavor. Just fantastic!
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4/16/2016 - oldwines Likes this wine: 94 Points
2001 Chardonnay Magnum Tasting (New Jersey): From Magnum. Notes were taken with wines blinded. Bright golden yellow, looks a little older than most of the others yet by no means is it looking old. Nose has limestone citrus, pineapple and cream. Very nice, full rounded complex bouquet. Rich texture though still bright and young tasting with limestone, lemon curd, and pineapple. Nice, long finish. Tied for my second favorite of the 6 Chards.
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10/11/2014 - oldwines wrote: 90 Points
I had high hopes after an oxidized 2000... This bottle not oxidized but also not a great example of this wine. Very restrained, needing lots of breathing but even after several hours it's not opening up. The nose is very faint, a little lemon and some funky honey...unusual for Mount Eden. Color is beautiful medium golden yellow. Flavor profile is not too thin but not the usual richness either. It has some honey, lemon and a bit of grassiness. Not sure what to think of this? No where close to the previous bottle which was glorious.
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7/12/2014 - Jason Likes this wine: 95 Points
Just fantastic. Why we cellar wine. Loads of fruit. Loads of acid. All integrated. Oily mouthfeel.
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5/4/2013 - jreis Likes this wine:
From magnum. A somewhat subdued nose, with lemon oil, and a hint of smoky butterscotch. Really explosive palate of smoky vanilla, minerals, pears and peaches, all held in check with nice acidity. Drinking very well, but no signs of decline and should go for quite a few more years in this format.
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3/6/2013 - fredb Likes this wine:
Medium-bright gold color. Aromas of honeyed butterscotch, lemon, vanilla, toast, and a hint of hazelnut. Palate shows lemon, butterscotch, flowers, and some toasty/nutty notes that carry into a medium-long finish. This is showing very similar profile to the 1999 at this point and this bottle was a good one. Drink.
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3/3/2013 - europat55 wrote: 93 Points
Euro-Themed Lunch - In Pursuit of Balance with US Domestic Wines (Donato Enoteca, Redwood City, CA): Nice golden yellow color. Nose reminiscent of a 10+ years old Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay. Outstanding palate with nuts, citrus, smoke, honey and some pineapple. Gorgeous wine and still drinking very well!!
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9/3/2012 - Nanda wrote: 93 Points
Gorgeous lemon, mineral and light buttery aromas. Palate is medium-full bodied with juicy acidity. For me this is the best of California with great balance and elegance. Shows it's age and development (in a good way) with more mature and slightly oxidized fruit. Long mineral finish.
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8/2/2012 - pismo45 wrote: 93 Points
A hint of mustiness and oxidation on first opening and a little disjointed on first taste. Settled down and within a half hour was drinking beautifully. Intense flavors of yellow fruits and a little citrus. Lively and well balanced acidity. Long aftertaste. Very pure at the end. Seems not much has changed since a bottle about 3 years ago.
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8/2/2012 - oldwines wrote: 95 Points
This is a very special wine. Beautiful golden color. Nose of citrus and white peach. Still very vibrant with nice acidity. Flavors explode with the peach and some tropical elements along with the mixed citrus. It has great mouthfeel and long lasting flavors. Remarkable aftertaste that lasts for a minute. Perfectly balanced. Given blind this would pass for the best of white Burgundy. And it still has plenty of life left if stored properly.
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1/29/2012 - tyvoodoo wrote:
I was hoping for more with this bottle and was a bit disappointed. My last bottle was all citrus fruit, acid and integrated oak. The bottle tonight seemed to go through three phases. EFlat, viscus and creamy at first with big oak, vanilla and creamy yellow fruits. With a bit of air time in the glass the acid and structure started to peek out a bit. Racing acidity in the middle, super fresh lemon zest, citrus infused oak with perfect balance. After even more air time in the glass it just seemed to fall apart. The nose is full of sweet banana peel, buttered popcorn, smells like your typical CA chard. On the palate is somewhat of a refreshing complex with medium body, zipping acid, starfruit, zesty citrus and lemon extract. I am not sure what to make of this wine at at his point. I have been drinking through my stash over the last few years and the last bottle was summer 2010 which was gorgeous, this one seems a bit out of whack. I only have one left and will probably let it hang for a bit more.
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12/25/2011 - ersmith Likes this wine: 94 Points
Perfectly aged
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12/10/2011 - Tim Heaton wrote:
Not nearly as (dark) gold as the '03 I had not too long ago. Notwithstanding its lighter color, the fruit does not seem to be aging all too gracefully. Aromas of pear juice, apples, matchstick and baking spice. Aromas follow to the palate that prefers a warmer vs. colder serving temperature. Nothing hedonistic about it; nothing too complex, either. From a case purchased on release, this bottling has shown a fair amount of bottle variation over the past 18 months (7 bottles so far), so I won't rate tonight's performance, but my overall score would be: A-
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11/28/2011 - fredb wrote:
Medium gold color. Aromas of hazelnut, peach, and a hint of orange. Palate shows some oxidation with orange peel and ripe peach notes overlaying a hazelnut and spiced pear fruit core. Finish is medium with some lemon notes. Drink up.
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10/8/2011 - jlm wrote:
Opened fairly buttery and full, but with some air it settled into itself and some nutty and lemon curdy aromas came to the fore. The palate is rich and full, but balanced out wonderfully with a core of acidity that everything else builds on. Drinking great now, great later too. Sorry I don't have more.
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9/20/2011 - g-man wrote: 94 Points
Sadly my last bottle. This is one of my all-time favorite Cali Chards and it diod not dissapoint in it's finale. Oak has totally intergrated with mineral and wet stone notes. For those fortunate to still have any left I'd hang on to a bottle for another 2-3 years and then throw into a white Burg tasting as a ringer.
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9/17/2011 - oldwines wrote: 90 Points
Not the best bottle of this wine I've ever had, but still nice. Needs breathing, better as it warms up. Very buttery and soft on the palate. Pear, and a hint of citrus maybe even some Meyer Lemon. Golden Honey color. No more than a hint of oxidation. Some nectarine came out in the aftetaste. Nice Acidity...went well with smoked salmon and chive sour cream.
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8/14/2011 - decaturwinedude wrote: 91 Points
Rich, golden color. Tropical fruit, hazelnut, vanilla nose. Palate is crisp, ocean aire and brisk lemon flavor. Finishes with sweet butter notes. Walks a nice line. Clearly Cali, but shows white Burg tendencies. In a good space now. Very solid Cali Chardonnay. Wish I had more.
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4/2/2011 - g-man wrote: 90 Points
This bottle was starting to show its age. While showing great tropical fruit and maintaing great texture, in the backend of the palate it didn't show the length as in the past. One bottle left and will probaly finish off within the year.
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12/26/2010 - jdbooth wrote: 89 Points
Gorgeous gold color. The closest thing to butterscotch that I've ever tasted in a wine. Nice floral nose. Very good, not great.
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12/18/2010 - FoodMuse Likes this wine: 90 Points
Notes of citrus and crisp tart green apple with lots of mineral character. A hint of butter with a wonderful slightly floral nose.
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11/15/2010 - fredb wrote:
Medium yellow color. Aromas of pineapple, butterscotch, lemon, and a hint of sea breeze. On the palate, this has a slightly briny character that borders on mineral with a pineapple and lemon core that shows some quince-like flavors on a medium-long finish. A slight nutty note starts to appear with time in the glass, but this is holding nicely and has much more cut than the 2002 and 2003 right now. Ready and not getting any better. Drink.
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8/9/2010 - toesonoz wrote: 96 Points
Amazing! Buttery, but still dry. Not too sweet - almost butterscotchy. Hints of citris on the finish
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7/26/2010 - chablis28 wrote: 93 Points
Mature translucent gold color. Fresh mineral and spice nose. Elegant for its body. Very Meursault like. This is drinking at its peak IMO. This comes off as very focused with a nice nutty citrus minerality. A nice long finish. Very easy to love this one. My last blt and no regrets, its ready. Don't hold for more than a couple years IMO.
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6/1/2010 - fredb wrote:
Medium lemon yellow color. Reticent nose of lemon oil, toasted nuts, and a bit of furniture polish. On the palate, this doesn't show as richly as the last bottle, with a briny, lemon-lime, floral, mineral core that shows a bit of underripe mango and a hint of vanilla-hazelnut cream. Not a great showing and a bit off from past notes. Drink.
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5/9/2010 - tyvoodoo wrote: 91 Points
Popped for dinner, the cork was in great shape and extracted in one piece. The nose if full of fragrant vanilla like flowers, bright lemon peels, starfruit and creamy lemon meringue. Nice scents of light spice, toasty oak, hints of mineral like river rock and creme de fraiche. Palate is stacked with structure, fruit and body. Extremely full bodied displaying characteristics of a young white burgundy. Oak, alcohol and minor sweetness are all in balance. Nice lemon zest with a oak starting to integrate but still not quite integrated fully. Inherent creaminess leading to the richness and full body of the wine. Extremely young still but showing tons of promise and stuffing for the future.
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4/7/2010 - fredb wrote:
Pale straw yellow color. Aromas of sea breeze, sea shells, lime, butterscotch, and toasted hazelnut. On the palate, this shows honeysuckle, a slightly briny (like oyster juice) note, lime, marshmallow, and toasted nuts. Starts with some pineapple that fades as the nuttiness starts to dominate later in the bottle. Just past its best drinking for my palate, but still very good. Consistent with past notes. Drink.
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3/30/2010 - vcarroll wrote: 84 Points
Still good. Not great
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2/20/2010 - fredb wrote:
Medium yellow color. Aromas of honeysuckle, pineapple, and a hint of lime. On the palate, this shows a bit more austerity than past bottles, with a white truffle and hazelnut core framed by light pineapple and melon notes. The finish is long with a floral/mineral impression left on the palate. The youthful fruit is gone from this one and it is maturing into a middle-aged Chardonnay now. Past it if you wanted that tropical/butterscotch profile. Just entering the "mature" phase. Drink.
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2/4/2010 - elamasters wrote: 93 Points
Drinking beautifully right now. Impeccably balanced. Very long finish.
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1/9/2010 - tyvoodoo wrote: 93 Points
Wow, this is a powerhouse of a chard with tons of life left. Nose gives off loads of minerals, fresh cream, citrus fruit and smooth oak. Great deal of structure on the palate with a great creamy mouthfeel. Almost burgundian in nature and really fresh. Acid keeps the wine fresh and provides a nice backbone. I was really impressed with this and have no doubt that this will age another 10 years easy.
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11/29/2009 - g-man wrote: 93 Points
This is among my favorite all time Cali chards. I was fortunate enough to score a six bottles on closeout, oh my lucky day. I couldn't wait to crack one open. Ahhhh, the same lechee and lemon oil fragrance. I just like to let this linger on the palate as the flavors unfold. This is one of the top Cali chards at a very reasonable price in comparison to others this easily beats.
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10/11/2009 - eudora wrote: 95 Points
This exemplifies well-made, hedonistic Chardonnay -- rich, full, defined fruit (lychee, pineapple, ripe apple), rounded but enough acid to work with food, balanced mouth feel. On my 20th bottle (out of 2 cases); this wine is at its apex at 8 years old.
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10/7/2009 - pismo45 wrote: 93 Points
A little toast on the nose. Good fruit with hints of citrus and nuts. Great mouth feel that builds at the end, becoming quite substantial. Great balancing acidity. Still a long ways to go.
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9/1/2009 - ginfizz wrote: 93 Points
Do NOT let this go to waste by drinking it fast...with air (our bottle opened up after an hour) it is a creamy mix of pineapple, lanolin, beeswax, ripe apple and citrus flavors that blow the pants off of 99 percent of CA Chard of this age. Must get more....
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8/16/2009 - g-man wrote: 93 Points
I wish I had more of this. Very litlle evidense of oak with great acidiy. Leechee nuts and lemon oil. I need to start buying this again and look for older vintages.
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6/20/2009 - tbird23 wrote: 92 Points
Beautifully integrated; light acidity with hints of citrus; very round on finish but not at all buttery or over the top.
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3/16/2009 - rmodak wrote: 92 Points
This is starting to shed some of its youthful fruit and flesh out with its minerals and lemon curd. Crisp acidity on the finish makes this still youthful wine refreshing.
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3/15/2009 - fredb wrote:
Bright yellow color. Aromas of honeysuckle, stones, and a hint of tropical fruit. On the palate, lemon and hazelnut mix with honeysuckle and minerals. The finish is moderate to long. Drinking pretty well now and should improve. Another good one from Mount Eden.
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3/13/2009 - spacewrangler wrote: 92 Points
As close as you'll get to white burgundy in California. The nose here reminded me exactly of a 1996 Duval Leroy BdB, with its creamy/nutty profile. Very expressive and in a great place right now, went well with Chilean sea bass.
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3/4/2009 - eudora wrote: 93 Points
beginning stages of oxidation. but deep nutty luscious flavors
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2/19/2009 - KimberlyDo wrote: 92 Points
Golden color. Needs a lot of air.
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2/8/2009 - spacewrangler wrote: 94 Points
Another great bottle, full and layered like Puligny. Creamy and chock full of character and minerals.
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11/10/2008 - DenisLee wrote:
Good, but not as smooth as the 2000 we had last Saturday. This is a little more Oaky. It isn't as seamless. But, had I not had that 2000 just days ago, I would be raving. This is good wine. Dollar for dollar this is a great high end Chard. No complaints at all!
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9/1/2008 - sunalsorises wrote: 93 Points
Nice acidity on the finish. No oak. Excellent value.
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8/17/2008 - A&C wrote:
No review. Consumed by our guests. Ellen commented that she loved the wine, and even remebered the flavor of the wine from earlier bottles.
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8/10/2008 - eudora wrote: 94 Points
Superb bottle -- a complete chardonnay. Enjoyed as an aperitif with cheese and crackers. Drinking at its peak.
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8/3/2008 - sleepyhaus wrote: 92 Points
My last bottle, which is a SHAME! It is great, still going strong, and will be for some time I suspect. My favorite Cali chard, not overdone, a lot of class, like a good white burgundy. I love it.
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6/6/2008 - sleepyhaus wrote: 92 Points
Wonderful. These have proven to be my favorite California Chardonnays. The nose was wonderful. The nose and the palate used to be more acidic, were more defined by a lemon character, but this has settled down to flavors of yeast and bread and wheat with plenty of acidity left. Some butteriness but only in a plump way, not fat. Drinking well with the feeling of reached a peak. I will save the last for a while but probably not more than a year, though I suspect they will drink well for quite some time, and this wine has a reputation for going much farther than we are now. Highly Recommended.
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5/10/2008 - ginfizz wrote: 91 Points
Fully mature, with notes of subtle vanilla and beeswax, with hints of the citrus minerality it had in its youth. Enjoy.
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4/21/2008 - DenisLee wrote:
Still drinking very well.
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2/22/2008 - nectar14 wrote: 92 Points
Better than my last bottle. This has a nice gold color, nose of lemon peel, mineral, vanilla and salty sea air. Lovely restraint and acidity. Great mouthfeel, long finish. Still holding together very well, and ought to last several more years.
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2/18/2008 - spacewrangler wrote: 92 Points
More closed on the nose than last go round. But the wet stone, floral, mineral, citrus, lime and honey just coat the palate. Oak is again non-detectable. Delicious.
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2/15/2008 - Nickel wrote:
Interesting honey/caramel notes on the nose. Butterscotch on the palate. Oak is integrated.
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1/31/2008 - Nanda wrote: 93 Points
Flock - 70s Cal Cab Tasting (My Place): Full flavored, well balanced and complex. Lots of mineral, citrus and white fruit notes. Oak is judicious. No signs of fading.
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1/26/2008 - Canadian Chris wrote: 90 Points
pop and pour:
colour: golden straw yellow.
on the nose: hint of lemon rind, lots of toasted almonds, and some rustic aromas - barnyardy kind of stuff that really has me intrigued. this is a very interesting nose. some honey here if I dig really deep, and some tertiary floral notes.
in the mouth: it starts with a rich creamy texture. heavy velvet that flows across you palate. toasted almonds come first, followed by some baguette crust for a second. then comes an explosion of honey candied lemon rind, dried apricot, some other citrus notes, almost tangerine-like - beautiful, honeyed and great. Definite minerality here - I'm thinking the tail end of water fresh from a creek. There's a creamy-ness here that is almost over the top, but the acidity cuts this richness just at the right point. The finish is great, I still have lemon rind and lime zest with some honey, tangerines and toast coasting on my palate. Really great. Bottle says under 14% alcohol, there's just enough heat here to notice. this is a great chardonnay.
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11/24/2007 - Nanda wrote: 92 Points
Golden in color with aromas of lemon-lime, slate and minerals. Palate is medium bodied with a full fruit profile of limes and baked apples with an undercurrent of minerals and toasty oak. Acidic edge cuts the fruit and provides precision to a modestly creamy texture. Medium-length finish has citrus zest and minerality. Better on day 2 and still shows young.
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11/10/2007 - DenisLee wrote: 91 Points
Very nice chard. Balanced and not over done.
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5/1/2007 - spacewrangler wrote: 95 Points
This wine is seamless, with no detectable oak, creaminess or butter. You get minerals galore, you get tons of honeysuckle goodness, you get lime, lemon and apricot notes. And the best part is the long, delectable finish with hints of orange and citrus, maybe lime. Just a subtle, gorgeous Cali Chard to sock away and cherish. This is merely a youngster, I'd imagine it has at least 5-8 years of life before maturing.
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3/28/2007 - ths wrote: 92 Points
Lots of oak, but it works well enough with this bigger than average Chardonnay. Deep yellow color with an inviting nose of oak and minerals. Nice acidity and rich fruit make this quite memorable. 92
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3/25/2007 - unrelenting wrote: 92 Points
"Strong straw, honeysuckle nose w/ citrus and a hint of earth on the palate. Not over oaked (nose but not palate) - seemingly less oak than the 2002 i had many months prior. Long tangy finish.
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3/10/2007 - nectar14 wrote: 91 Points
Last drank this 2/14/06; this is still very nice. Pale gold color with a hint of green. The nose is unlike other California Chardonnays, with mineral, talcum, lemon, and hazelnut. Nice definition and acidity in the mouth, with a finish of lemon and honeyed green apple. There is a touch of coarse alcoholic heat there, but this wine should hold a little while longer.
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3/5/2007 - g-man wrote: 90 Points
I didn't find any evidence of excessive oak but more in line with RP's review of a fair amount of minerality. Good nose and initial palate of peach and citrus yet waht holds this back is the backend and finish. Compared to other chards which are rated in the mid-nineties this doesen't have that continuing complexity that lingers on, it just sort of falls apart. It is a pretty good wine for the money yet I just don't see the 93 rating.
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2/23/2007 - paulst wrote: 89 Points
Fully fruited & layered with acidic apricot and lemon and honey.
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2/9/2007 - peternelson wrote: 90 Points
Red Carpet: This was really good; dark gold w/very green tints; buttery, intense nose of balanced oak, minerals, hint swt sensation, pineapple, trop. frts. Really well made and fairly big after the Burgs.
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9/3/2006 - 5laton wrote:
Initially this had an overwhelmingly oaky nose - which it was only just beginning to shed by the end of the flight. Needs more time or a good decant. Alas, others were ready to move onto reds. (Tasted blind)
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8/16/2006 - 5laton wrote:
Oaky nose with a touch of butterscotch, lime, and lemon curd. Luscious sweet golden fruit on the palate, just a touch buttery, long finish. Initially a bit too much; retasted later this was more balanced and the buttery note was no longer distracting. (Tasted blind) I took a bit of this home and drank it with my roommate/wine-drinking buddy -- it was really delicious with those few extra hours of air.
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8/16/2006 - PaulH wrote: 90 Points
Light gold color, medium body, moderate oak treatment, well balanced, with moderate use of oak, and no overly obvious aciditiy. Clearly New World, but in a restrained style. (tasted blind).
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7/21/2006 - rmodak wrote: 92 Points
Very young, tightly wound Chardonnay. There was lemony fruit that seemed overpowered at this stage by the slate, and other minerals. Hugely acidic finsih. Kept getting better and was best the 2nd day. Had to try it young to compare what it will become.
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4/15/2006 - rmpoole1 wrote:
Great bottle, tasted like nice bottle of Montrachet.
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6/13/2005 - PaulH wrote: 90 Points
Recommended as a California Chardonnay done in a Burgundian style, I sought out a bottle. The color was light silver-gold and perfectly clear. The nose showed a touch of oak and ripe fruit. The palate show some minerality, moderate acid and ripe fruit feigning sweetness. The finish is smooth and gratifying. At $26 a bottle, it is worth picking up a few more.
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2/27/2005 - bkburns wrote: 92 Points
I had expected something more like the 2000 from this vintage. It is not the ultra lush, buttery chardonnay of their finest vintages, but very nice nonetheless. Good minerality, nice and firm. Clearly still a California chardonnay, so don't be put off, but leaning towards a french style. A very nice wine to have in the repetoir.
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