Why I like 'classic' California chardonnay. Ripe, balanced, not over-oaked, generous, yet restrained. Fine now, will suspect get better over 18 months or so
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On its own, 12C: very rich, powerful, minerally. Puligy-like. Great balance of oak. This is just my kind of wine! Quite complex: light but toasty oak, some gunflint, a hint of appley fruit, maybe even caramelised apple and pear, some nuttiness, great mouthfeel. Good value as this is comparable to a good 1er cru Puligny. With smoked haddock risotto in a creamy sauce: seems a little riper and more warm climate now. Nice balance of wood against smokiness of haddock: neither are overpowering. Good layering here: as the initial smokey, oaky mineral notes fade with time and with the smoked haddock, the fruit comes to the fore and is a lovely mix of Burgundy (apple, pear, no lemon though) and more warm climate peach and pineapple. With brie cheese (16-17C): nice lemon notes now with buttery oak. Great match. Very complex and constantly changing. Long finish too. This is exactly what I want a good oaked chardonnay to do. Excellent. PS: Ideal temperature for me was around 14-16C.
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Quite unusual for a cali Chardonnay and unlike most othe ABCs I have tried. Very light oak and much more acidity than i was expecting - almost closer to a Sauv Blanc than a buttery Chardonnay
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11/30/2013 - finewinebuff57 wrote: 90 Points
Why I like 'classic' California chardonnay. Ripe, balanced, not over-oaked, generous, yet restrained. Fine now, will suspect get better over 18 months or so
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6/15/2013 - alanh13 Likes this wine: 91 Points
On its own, 12C: very rich, powerful, minerally. Puligy-like. Great balance of oak. This is just my kind of wine! Quite complex: light but toasty oak, some gunflint, a hint of appley fruit, maybe even caramelised apple and pear, some nuttiness, great mouthfeel. Good value as this is comparable to a good 1er cru Puligny.
With smoked haddock risotto in a creamy sauce: seems a little riper and more warm climate now. Nice balance of wood against smokiness of haddock: neither are overpowering. Good layering here: as the initial smokey, oaky mineral notes fade with time and with the smoked haddock, the fruit comes to the fore and is a lovely mix of Burgundy (apple, pear, no lemon though) and more warm climate peach and pineapple.
With brie cheese (16-17C): nice lemon notes now with buttery oak. Great match.
Very complex and constantly changing. Long finish too. This is exactly what I want a good oaked chardonnay to do. Excellent.
PS: Ideal temperature for me was around 14-16C.
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4/15/2013 - DonDon wrote: 88 Points
My fault - predictably not great with curry!
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3/14/2013 - DonDon wrote: 90 Points
Improved when finished the bottle a few days later. Was properly vacuum sealed but was not expecting the wine to be so good after so long
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11/26/2012 - DonDon wrote: 88 Points
Quite unusual for a cali Chardonnay and unlike most othe ABCs I have tried. Very light oak and much more acidity than i was expecting - almost closer to a Sauv Blanc than a buttery Chardonnay
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