Chardonnays from the Santa Cruz Mountains typically age very well, and the 2004 Neely Spring Ridge Chardonnay is no exception. It is fascinating to pair this wine alongside the explosive 2008 Neely Holly's Cuvee which has garnered rave reviews from Parker. The 2004 Neely Spring Ridge exhibits ripe, honey melon flavor with buttery caramel overtones ... the oak is well integrated and more present than in the 2008 (because the fruit has mellowed). The super-ripe tropical, pineapple nose of the 2008 (reminiscent of a great Austrian Riesling - but less minerally and stony in flavor) has evolved into a very pleasing and balanced tropical bouquet in the 2004. It looks like the huge tropical fruit of recent Neely vintages will mature into a really nice "honeyed" disposition as evidenced by this 2004. Ya gotta love what the Varner boys are doing with their wines. It's great to find someone building chardonnays built for the long haul. If you can find this on the 2ndary market, buy it. It's good to go for another couple of years. I found some of this 2004 vintage on closeout for $5 a btl (yes $5). Wish I had bought more. The release price for 2008's is around $40/btl. Cheers!
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EWG - Church & State - Cabs - Jan 3, 2009: A richer, heavier wine but not over the top. Nice acidity to balance things but may be a little soft to keep aging. This was a bigger contrast to the Ridge than I expected.
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5/16/2015 - Rezy13 wrote: flawed
New World Blind Tasting Group $25+ (Bin 75): Oxidized- done.
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3/24/2011 - Le Nez wrote: 92 Points
Chardonnays from the Santa Cruz Mountains typically age very well, and the 2004 Neely Spring Ridge Chardonnay is no exception. It is fascinating to pair this wine alongside the explosive 2008 Neely Holly's Cuvee which has garnered rave reviews from Parker. The 2004 Neely Spring Ridge exhibits ripe, honey melon flavor with buttery caramel overtones ... the oak is well integrated and more present than in the 2008 (because the fruit has mellowed). The super-ripe tropical, pineapple nose of the 2008 (reminiscent of a great Austrian Riesling - but less minerally and stony in flavor) has evolved into a very pleasing and balanced tropical bouquet in the 2004. It looks like the huge tropical fruit of recent Neely vintages will mature into a really nice "honeyed" disposition as evidenced by this 2004. Ya gotta love what the Varner boys are doing with their wines. It's great to find someone building chardonnays built for the long haul. If you can find this on the 2ndary market, buy it. It's good to go for another couple of years. I found some of this 2004 vintage on closeout for $5 a btl (yes $5). Wish I had bought more. The release price for 2008's is around $40/btl. Cheers!
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3/16/2011 - dhammer53 wrote:
Drank this with Jordan in Rochester. This was delicious and smooth. I tasted a hint of minerals.
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4/13/2010 - danski wrote: 90 Points
more acidic than expected, and more acidic than other (more recent) Varner chards.
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1/3/2010 - jasonh wrote:
EWG - Church & State - Cabs - Jan 3, 2009: A richer, heavier wine but not over the top. Nice acidity to balance things but may be a little soft to keep aging. This was a bigger contrast to the Ridge than I expected.
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