Aromas of papaya, mango, pineapple and butterscotch. Nose bigger than I remember. Flavors of butterscotch, tropical fruit, Apple and a touch of mineral. Palate more refrained than the nose. Expected it to be a bit bigger. Ends with a 20-25 second finish. Bit clipped to be honest. Nevertheless it's still nice and not over the top.
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might have been served too cold since i didn't get much on the nose, but quite tropical on the palate. tons of pineapple and medium acidity on the finish.
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Nice aged Chard, balanced. Honeysuckle on the front, I say lemongrass while my wife says band-aid (!) on the back. Some age phenols starting to creep in. Drink now.
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Still exciting and vibrant. Great balance between acid and oak. I think this is peaking now. We didn't find the amber color or nutty notes others mentioned.
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Served cold. The color was a beautiful pale amber appropriate for its age. The experience was surprisingly vibrant, with layers of complex flavors and rich acidity, followed by a spiciness and vegetal characteristics--all of which expanded and intensified as the wine warmed. What a wonderful surprise, as I had no expectations for the wine. I will most likely plan to drink my remaining bottles prior to this Fall, as I can't see how they could get much better.
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Pleasant surprise. Expected its best days to be over. Fine fruity taste; honeysuckle, apricot and peaches. Had two remaining bottles and enjoyed them both. Only sign of age was a deeper yellow coloring.
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Very well balanced chard. Nice lemon fruit profile with soft edges. Not too much oak or vanilla. Just right. Very easy to drink. It is missing the "it" factor to score higher.
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Not one of my favorite Chardonnays and may have been an off bottle. Nose had a yeasty bread smell like a Champagne with a slightly tart apple on the palate.
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Had with a mush caserole (red ssauce) and swordfish kebobs. Nose of apple, minor oak, minerals. Palate was pear with citrus fruit apple, oak. well balanced with high alcohol. seems to miss something though.
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This was rich with an oakiness, but not buttery. Smooth and elegant all the way through with a beautiful finish. Not certain this wine will get better with more age, but expect it will hold for a few years at least. Fantastic!
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Delicious bottle. Love his chardonnays. Rich without being too much. Great fruit. As I said, tend to love the Hawk Hill and Allen better, but still very nice.
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30th Birthday Bash Wine Dinner (Scoozi, Chicago): Well done with this understated classically styled RRV Chardonnay from one of my favorite producers (still) in Sonoma. Rich and buttery and certainly some oak but it's all in check. A nice slatey transition in the mid palate that lends an acid driven and supremely clean back end. Balanced, harmonious. Need I say more. Mostly tropical yellow fruit with a nice wet sidewalk play. Some white and yellow flowers and hints of all spice. Call it a day.
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Was not my favorite the first time and still is not. Normally very fond of these WS chards, but this one has too much oak and too little of everything else.
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Light, straw color. Lemon peel and tropical fruit on the nose and palate. No oak, nice acidity, rich mouthfeel. Toasted nuts and butter on the smooth finish. Drinking beautifully now.
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Light straw color. Nose of fennel early with more vanilla as the wine opens. Green apple and vanilla on the plate, with strong acidity that was meant to pair with rich food.
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Aromas of green apple and pear with a light hint of honeyed citrus. Flavors of apple and citrus combine with toasted hazelnuts. Nnice acidity on the palate and a touch of chalky minerality on the finish. Ready to drink!
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I was very pleased with this drake when I popped and poured- extremely nice balance with a litheness I did not expect. After am hour it had warmed up and fleshed out to the point I thought it a bit flabby with a touxh of bitterness to the oak. I love WS chards- just keep this one one the cool (55) side and you won't be disappointed.
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Amazing stuff. Tangerine, hazelnut and other citrus flavors. Explosive while still being balanced. Opened for 2 hours and poured off a glass. Drank over 3 hours. Wow. Best Selyem chard I have had. Drink the other one soon, or in a few years.
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Popped but only had a small taste out one night. Corked it and stashed in the frig for 48 hours. It was still great, with smooth, well integrated flavors and not too much oak. WS Chards are better than their Pinots.
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I enjoyed it and it was a nice Chardonnay on a few very hot days. But I didn't find it as memorable or as distinguishing as some of the other reviewers. Flavorful, but simple. Short finish but pleasant. It was nice but no more.
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Pale yellow with luminosity. Butterscotch, honey, vanilla on the nose. White peaches fade to melon on the palate, but thankfully, without the oak. A little acidity on the back end makes it a perfect food wine. Enjoyed with grilled salmon. Excellent.
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14.8% alcohol. Bright yellow color, with a slightly green tinge to it. Stunning nose of green apple, pear, citrus, oak, and minerals. In the mouth, strongly concentrated but strikingly elegant. There is an oily texture to the apple pear fruit, streaked with citrus. The spice and minerality in the center palate add terrific complexity. Bright acidity and a tremendously long finish cap off a complete, endearing wine that is just beautiful. A
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This was a superb Chardonnay. There was pear, melon, apples, a hint of lemon and just the right amount of oak. I agree that it more resembles a Burgundy.
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A bit oaky out of the bottle, but when it rested and warmed a little, became a wonderfully elegant and integrated wine. Pears, apples, just a hint of lemon. The oak was still there, but became subtle, and appropriate. Sorry we only had one in the allocation.
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Initial nose & taste shows a lovely balance with bright lemon, keen acidity, quince. The oak seems to emerge with a little time, not quite in balance but with a little time should be harmonious. A delicious wine now, better in time, will leave my other bottle for at least a year.
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One of the best California Chardonnays I've tasted. Vibrant melon and quince on the nose. Bright acidity and complex minerality. Nice malolactic representation delivering complete mouthfeel and long finish. Not over oaked or buttery. More Burgundian in style than Californian. Beautiful wine.
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Nice, reserved Chard. Not overripe, and with a nice balancing acidity, but a small bitter note (new wood?) that detracts from an otherwise very nice little wine. Not a powerhouse - more of finesse player.
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6/17/2017 - WineWright Likes this wine:
Gift to Dillmons. Smith Lake weekend.
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11/19/2016 - slywka7 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Aromas of papaya, mango, pineapple and butterscotch. Nose bigger than I remember. Flavors of butterscotch, tropical fruit, Apple and a touch of mineral. Palate more refrained than the nose. Expected it to be a bit bigger. Ends with a 20-25 second finish. Bit clipped to be honest. Nevertheless it's still nice and not over the top.
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11/11/2016 - wiscgrad wrote: 93 Points
might have been served too cold since i didn't get much on the nose, but quite tropical on the palate. tons of pineapple and medium acidity on the finish.
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10/8/2016 - IvanMoskowitz Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nice aged Chard, balanced. Honeysuckle on the front, I say lemongrass while my wife says band-aid (!) on the back. Some age phenols starting to creep in. Drink now.
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2/14/2016 - DaninClearwater wrote: 93 Points
lovely cirus notes paired well with lobster & grapefruit sauce
aging very well like all WS wines
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8/28/2015 - petermpls Likes this wine: 93 Points
Still exciting and vibrant. Great balance between acid and oak. I think this is peaking now. We didn't find the amber color or nutty notes others mentioned.
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7/13/2015 - WineWright Likes this wine: 94 Points
Served cold. The color was a beautiful pale amber appropriate for its age. The experience was surprisingly vibrant, with layers of complex flavors and rich acidity, followed by a spiciness and vegetal characteristics--all of which expanded and intensified as the wine warmed. What a wonderful surprise, as I had no expectations for the wine. I will most likely plan to drink my remaining bottles prior to this Fall, as I can't see how they could get much better.
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7/7/2015 - RAD2626 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Pleasant surprise. Expected its best days to be over. Fine fruity taste; honeysuckle, apricot and peaches. Had two remaining bottles and enjoyed them both. Only sign of age was a deeper yellow coloring.
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1/27/2015 - Edclr wrote: 87 Points
A little long in the tooth now...Drink these babies within 5 years of the vintage date....
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12/31/2013 - rdsboca Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very well balanced chard. Nice lemon fruit profile with soft edges. Not too much oak or vanilla. Just right. Very easy to drink. It is missing the "it" factor to score higher.
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12/23/2013 - mkmast wrote: 91 Points
An excellent Cali chardonnay. Still retains some acidity for freshness. Beautiful straw color in the glass.
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5/27/2013 - tfesmgk Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very unique. Oaky and nutty, full flavor. We liked it but did not consider it a traditional chardonnay.
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3/24/2013 - Mscruggs wrote: 87 Points
Not one of my favorite Chardonnays and may have been an off bottle. Nose had a yeasty bread smell like a Champagne with a slightly tart apple on the palate.
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9/30/2012 - RWCA wrote: 93 Points
Rich, smooth and elegant without being OTT. Great bottle of wine
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7/27/2012 - RWCA wrote: 89 Points
Very smooth all the way through the finish. Doubt it will get any better with additional time. Did not hold up well with lobster.
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7/23/2012 - gwkozar Likes this wine: 90 Points
Had with a mush caserole (red ssauce) and swordfish kebobs. Nose of apple, minor oak, minerals. Palate was pear with citrus fruit apple, oak. well balanced with high alcohol. seems to miss something though.
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7/1/2012 - stantheman wrote: 93 Points
This was rich with an oakiness, but not buttery. Smooth and elegant all the way through with a beautiful finish. Not certain this wine will get better with more age, but expect it will hold for a few years at least. Fantastic!
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4/9/2012 - kenthargis wrote: 92 Points
Delicious bottle. Love his chardonnays. Rich without being too much. Great fruit. As I said, tend to love the Hawk Hill and Allen better, but still very nice.
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3/19/2012 - beezer6 wrote: 93 Points
30th Birthday Bash Wine Dinner (Scoozi, Chicago): Well done with this understated classically styled RRV Chardonnay from one of my favorite producers (still) in Sonoma.
Rich and buttery and certainly some oak but it's all in check. A nice slatey transition in the mid palate that lends an acid driven and supremely clean back end.
Balanced, harmonious. Need I say more. Mostly tropical yellow fruit with a nice wet sidewalk play. Some white and yellow flowers and hints of all spice. Call it a day.
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2/17/2012 - Stumpy wrote: 83 Points
Was not my favorite the first time and still is not. Normally very fond of these WS chards, but this one has too much oak and too little of everything else.
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10/9/2011 - KeithSurg wrote: 93 Points
Light, straw color. Lemon peel and tropical fruit on the nose and palate. No oak, nice acidity, rich mouthfeel. Toasted nuts and butter on the smooth finish. Drinking beautifully now.
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9/2/2011 - bhouk wrote:
Tangerine and toasted marshmallow. Good acidity. Finish has a slightly bitter though not unpleasant character. Perhaps a bit hotter than ideal.
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8/30/2011 - Scharin wrote: 92 Points
Light straw color. Nose of fennel early with more vanilla as the wine opens. Green apple and vanilla on the plate, with strong acidity that was meant to pair with rich food.
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7/30/2011 - bgriffi1 wrote: 88 Points
I liked this one for everyday drinking. Quite quaffable with good balance.
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7/23/2011 - PangurBan wrote: 92 Points
Aromas of green apple and pear with a light hint of honeyed citrus. Flavors of apple and citrus combine with toasted hazelnuts. Nnice acidity on the palate and a touch of chalky minerality on the finish. Ready to drink!
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5/22/2011 - Stumpy wrote: 91 Points
I was very pleased with this drake when I popped and poured- extremely nice balance with a litheness I did not expect. After am hour it had warmed up and fleshed out to the point I thought it a bit flabby with a touxh of bitterness to the oak. I love WS chards- just keep this one one the cool (55) side and you won't be disappointed.
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3/14/2011 - kenthargis wrote: 92 Points
A wonderful wine, although I still tend to enjoy the Hawk Hill better. The Drake is slightly leaner. This was a bit young, but still very enjoayable.
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2/12/2011 - Jmartin wrote:
Great wine. Didn't take any notes but WS chards never diappoint.
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1/16/2011 - dougie wrote: 94 Points
Amazing stuff. Tangerine, hazelnut and other citrus flavors. Explosive while still being balanced. Opened for 2 hours and poured off a glass. Drank over 3 hours. Wow. Best Selyem chard I have had. Drink the other one soon, or in a few years.
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1/15/2011 - Jmartin wrote: 92 Points
Popped but only had a small taste out one night. Corked it and stashed in the frig for 48 hours. It was still great, with smooth, well integrated flavors and not too much oak. WS Chards are better than their Pinots.
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11/25/2010 - vino_per_tutti wrote: 92 Points
Straw yellow color. Aromas of apple, pears and citrus. Pink apple, tangerine, almond and honey on the palate; long, clean finish.
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10/3/2010 - meatbomb013 wrote: 95 Points
Fabulous California Chardonnay. A near perfect balance of old and new world wine making. Wish I had another case of this.
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8/24/2010 - jasonkle wrote: 87 Points
I enjoyed it and it was a nice Chardonnay on a few very hot days. But I didn't find it as memorable or as distinguishing as some of the other reviewers. Flavorful, but simple. Short finish but pleasant. It was nice but no more.
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8/6/2010 - vino_per_tutti wrote: 93 Points
Pale yellow with luminosity. Butterscotch, honey, vanilla on the nose. White peaches fade to melon on the palate, but thankfully, without the oak. A little acidity on the back end makes it a perfect food wine. Enjoyed with grilled salmon. Excellent.
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7/24/2010 - gutt22 wrote:
14.8% alcohol. Bright yellow color, with a slightly green tinge to it. Stunning nose of green apple, pear, citrus, oak, and minerals. In the mouth, strongly concentrated but strikingly elegant. There is an oily texture to the apple pear fruit, streaked with citrus. The spice and minerality in the center palate add terrific complexity. Bright acidity and a tremendously long finish cap off a complete, endearing wine that is just beautiful. A
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7/24/2010 - Fishboy wrote: 90 Points
Really nice chardonnay with apple, butterscotch and some oak notes.
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7/23/2010 - Rhythmdoc wrote: 94 Points
This was a superb Chardonnay. There was pear, melon, apples, a hint of lemon and just the right amount of oak. I agree that it more resembles a Burgundy.
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7/3/2010 - Tony Poli wrote: 93 Points
A bit oaky out of the bottle, but when it rested and warmed a little, became a wonderfully elegant and integrated wine. Pears, apples, just a hint of lemon. The oak was still there, but became subtle, and appropriate. Sorry we only had one in the allocation.
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4/24/2010 - Richard M wrote: 90 Points
Initial nose & taste shows a lovely balance with bright lemon, keen acidity, quince. The oak seems to emerge with a little time, not quite in balance but with a little time should be harmonious. A delicious wine now, better in time, will leave my other bottle for at least a year.
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4/10/2010 - BailliSacks wrote: 90 Points
Very very nice. Clearly California, but I can understand why some say Burgundian: very fruity and acidic, well structured, good with food.
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11/27/2009 - pfromen wrote: 97 Points
One of the best California Chardonnays I've tasted. Vibrant melon and quince on the nose. Bright acidity and complex minerality. Nice malolactic representation delivering complete mouthfeel and long finish. Not over oaked or buttery. More Burgundian in style than Californian. Beautiful wine.
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10/22/2009 - herberto wrote: 91 Points
Nice, reserved Chard. Not overripe, and with a nice balancing acidity, but a small bitter note (new wood?) that detracts from an otherwise very nice little wine. Not a powerhouse - more of finesse player.
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