California Chards to kick off the spring

A couple of us met up to kick the spring off with some california chards. We went with the 5 course menu for the evening as it paired well with what we were drinking. I was really looking forward to this as we had a nice lineup for a small setting

• 2000 Simon Bize Savigny-lès-Beaune Aux Grands Liards 90 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Savigny-lès-Beaune

  nose: perfumed and very beaunish nose of dark red cherries, dark berries, earthen tones, bits of spices and a touch of violets. Very good depth for a village wine and has a charming quality to it
  
  taste: very tasty and smooth medium feel with good medium+ acidity and balanced tones of dark red cherries, dark berries, bits of earth tones, soy, and a touch of floral tones. Good depth and has an expressive quality to it
  
  overall: a real attractive savigny. This is drinking perfectly and has a real charm to it. Well balanced, this is drinking great and shows of better then its village status would fully indicate

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• 2007 DuMOL Chardonnay Chloe 93 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  nose: deep and rich nose that is packed with tones of minerals, white fruits, buttered toast, meringue, and bits of orange peels. While it has a largeness to it, it isn't overdone and the butter is held in check
  
  taste: great medium/full feel with medium acidity and rich tones of meringue, minerals, pears, buttered toast, and orange peels. The tones are hiding a bit and not seeming to fully show themselves
  
  overall: this is young and could use another 2-3 years before it really gets going. While its a bigger chard, its not too big and it holds itself really well. Lots of depth on both the nose and palate, this is a great chard right now and could really turn into something

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• 2005 Kistler Chardonnay Vine Hill Vineyard 92 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  nose: extremely big as one would expect from kistler with rich tones of lemon meringue, butter, pears, and a good amount of creamed fruits. Good depth and shows off its style real well
  
  taste: full bodied with a real creamy feel and tones of white fruits, pears, creams, butter, and bits of lemon meringue. Rich as well to go with the full body, this has a lot of presence
  
  overall: a real quality chard. Its full bodied and shows off a lot of oak, but its also really good. Its very much what you'd expect from kistler and it shows itself off very well.

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• 2005 Kistler Chardonnay Stone Flat Vineyard Parmelee-Hill 93 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  nose: very deep and big nose of buttered toast, blood oranges, pears, red apples, and a touch of lemon zest. Is showing itself to be a bit tight on the nose, but it gets going a bit in the glass
  
  taste: full bodied and very rich with deep tones of buttered toast, pears, creamed apples, and lemon zest tones with a touch of tropical citrus'
  
  overall: this needs a couple of years to fully come together. Big and rich, this is a bit of a bruiser right now and needed more air then the 2 1/2 hours I gave it in bottle

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• 2002 Kongsgaard Chardonnay Flawed

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  there was something off with this bottle. The color was fairly gold and there was a bit of oxidation on the nose as well. there were some tones of nuts and pears on both the nose and palate, but the sherry tones showed through a bit as well

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• 2005 Kongsgaard Chardonnay 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  nose: much more up to speed with deep and sexy tones of white fruits, lemon drops, bits of tropical citrus', navel oranges, butter and a touch of oak. This has a real classy quality to it while still being very cali
  
  taste: full bodied with smooth and polished tones of white fruits, roasted nuts, tropical citrus, lemons, and bits of navel oranges. Has a real cool quality to it and good medium acidity
  
  overall: a great chardonnay. There is some power behind it, but there is a sense of polish as well. Big and pungent, this was firing on all cylinders and showing itself off well

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• 1988 Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey 92 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  nose: polished and rounded tones of apricots, nectarines, bits of limes, apples and bits of peaches that is all backed up with real good depth
  
  taste: round and succulent medium bodied tones of apricots, pears, bits of peaches, limes and a touch of warm honey along with medium acidity and a real polished feel to it
  
  overall: this is right in its zone. A lovely sauternes that has a bit of age on it, but remains fairly youthful and well put together. This is just starting to hit a real window and should be a wonderful wine for years to come

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Bonsoiree did a great job. I wish I had taken pictures and wrote down the dishes, but that didn't happen. Sadly the 02 Kongsgaard was a bit oxidized, but other then that, the wines were terrific. The smaller events are always a lot of fun as we get a chance to talk to each other rather then quartering off as can happen at the larger tastings. A great time, and onto the next one