I was quite suspicious of the negative reviews and low scores but bought it anyway. And I’m so glad I did! This is smack-dab in the middle of my preferred style of Chardonnay. Lean, not buttery, fruit-forward, and with some minerality. Even on PnP, this was super yummy. The oak is restrained and the mouthfeel is quite full. The acidity on the finish drives it forward. Really good stuff.
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This was our first bottle of the ‘22. We’ve loved prior vintages and this was no exception. The nose is a bit shy, focusing on citrus and cream. But it explodes onto the palate with a spicy butterscotch and lingering acidity that persists through the long nutty finish. As I’ve written before about this wine, I don’t love overly oaked Cali butter bomb Chardonnays. But whatever they are doing here is perfectly balanced and beautifully complex. Remains my go-to favorite Chard that’s reasonably priced and widely available. I’m scoring it just a hair lower than last year because the fruit seems a bit muted and I don’t get the bready notes. But that may just be a bottle aging issue and I’ll update at the next tasting.
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2022 Stags' Leap Winery Chardonnay
5/1/2024 - Deegie Likes this wine: 91 Points
I was quite suspicious of the negative reviews and low scores but bought it anyway. And I’m so glad I did! This is smack-dab in the middle of my preferred style of Chardonnay. Lean, not buttery, fruit-forward, and with some minerality. Even on PnP, this was super yummy. The oak is restrained and the mouthfeel is quite full. The acidity on the finish drives it forward. Really good stuff.
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2021 La Arauca Rosé
4/30/2024 - Deegie Likes this wine: 89 Points
Surprisingly good stuff. This is no Provence-style wine. It’s powerful and fruity with a nice acid backbone. Refreshing and delicious.
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2022 Frank Family Vineyards Chardonnay Carneros
4/28/2024 - Deegie Likes this wine: 91 Points
This was our first bottle of the ‘22. We’ve loved prior vintages and this was no exception. The nose is a bit shy, focusing on citrus and cream. But it explodes onto the palate with a spicy butterscotch and lingering acidity that persists through the long nutty finish. As I’ve written before about this wine, I don’t love overly oaked Cali butter bomb Chardonnays. But whatever they are doing here is perfectly balanced and beautifully complex. Remains my go-to favorite Chard that’s reasonably priced and widely available. I’m scoring it just a hair lower than last year because the fruit seems a bit muted and I don’t get the bready notes. But that may just be a bottle aging issue and I’ll update at the next tasting.
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