Pale yellow with greenish tint. Smells like a typical showy New World Chardonnay, buttery and oaky/vanilla. Sweet sensation (likely sweet American oak and a little fruit), butter and creaminess suggesting full MLF; moderate level of acidity that has an interesting sharpness that shows up late and persists (like in an acidified wine); some bitter oak tannins of the finish. Big wine that’s awkward and unbalanced. Worst of the whites in this tasting.
Medium straw yellow. Nose: no overt oakiness, clean minerality, nice SB varietal character of ripe gooseberries and a touch of grassiness. Palate: nice combination of mineral and fruit intensity -- very ripe stone fruits and tropical fruits, along with the gooseberries and slight bit of grass; fresh acidity; moderate alcohol. Minor hint of bitterness on the finish (but that good bitterness). Good body, nicely balanced, wonderful expression of the variety. We were told it’s had 10 months in French barrique and battonage. Best of the whites in this tasting.
USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
Medium gold colour. On the nose it is clearly a Chardonnay; less oaky aroma than the Lohr, although it gets stronger with time in the glass, along with nuts and roasted character. On palate, very intense and persistent; creaminess of a MLF and buttery with a nicely integrated sweet sensation; more alcohol than the other whites (although both the Mondavi and this one label as 14.5%); moderate acidity. Full bodied, rich, concentrated, well-balanced; not nearly as clumsy as the Lohr. Text-book NW Chardonnay.
USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
Light, transparent ruby colour; looks like a PN. Smells like a PN, light intensity of small berryfruits. On palate, just-right fruitiness, with minerality, earthiness and some sweet spices; highish alcohol (14%), highish acidity; good tannins (11 months in French barrique). Nicely balanced and reasonably elegant (i.e., not overly rich / concentrated / fat). I like it.
Dark, dense. On nose, intense ripe and slightly stewed fruit along with some unusual lilac notes. A little better on palate, but this wine is not nearly as great as the ones I’ve enjoyed State-side, although those were a different vintage. Maybe some heat damage in transit? Disappointing.
Blend of 70% Zin, 27% PS, 10% Carignano, 3% Port grapes. Dark, dense. On nose, extreme fruit, along with oak, mint and balsamic notes; with time in the glass the oakiness gets more prominent and a heavy lilac aroma comes through (heavier than the Dominus). On palate, extreme fruits follow on from the nose -- cherries, prunes, cooked fruits; there’s a sweetness that probably includes a touch of RS along with sweet sensations from the oak and fruit. Not well-balanced (troppo morbidezza), fat, short and simple. Don’t like this wine, yet it was the favourite of most of the Italian Sommeliers at this tasting.
2003 J. Lohr Chardonnay Riverstone 80 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Arroyo Seco
Pale yellow with greenish tint. Smells like a typical showy New World Chardonnay, buttery and oaky/vanilla. Sweet sensation (likely sweet American oak and a little fruit), butter and creaminess suggesting full MLF; moderate level of acidity that has an interesting sharpness that shows up late and persists (like in an acidified wine); some bitter oak tannins of the finish. Big wine that’s awkward and unbalanced. Worst of the whites in this tasting.
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2002 Robert Mondavi Winery Fumé Blanc 89 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Medium straw yellow. Nose: no overt oakiness, clean minerality, nice SB varietal character of ripe gooseberries and a touch of grassiness. Palate: nice combination of mineral and fruit intensity -- very ripe stone fruits and tropical fruits, along with the gooseberries and slight bit of grass; fresh acidity; moderate alcohol. Minor hint of bitterness on the finish (but that good bitterness). Good body, nicely balanced, wonderful expression of the variety. We were told it’s had 10 months in French barrique and battonage. Best of the whites in this tasting.
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2003 Gallo Family Vineyards / Gallo of Sonoma Chardonnay Laguna Ranch Vineyard 85 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
Medium gold colour. On the nose it is clearly a Chardonnay; less oaky aroma than the Lohr, although it gets stronger with time in the glass, along with nuts and roasted character. On palate, very intense and persistent; creaminess of a MLF and buttery with a nicely integrated sweet sensation; more alcohol than the other whites (although both the Mondavi and this one label as 14.5%); moderate acidity. Full bodied, rich, concentrated, well-balanced; not nearly as clumsy as the Lohr. Text-book NW Chardonnay.
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1999 Seghesio Family Vineyards Pinot Noir Keyhole Ranch 89 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
Light, transparent ruby colour; looks like a PN. Smells like a PN, light intensity of small berryfruits. On palate, just-right fruitiness, with minerality, earthiness and some sweet spices; highish alcohol (14%), highish acidity; good tannins (11 months in French barrique). Nicely balanced and reasonably elegant (i.e., not overly rich / concentrated / fat). I like it.
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1998 Dominus Estate 80 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Dark, dense. On nose, intense ripe and slightly stewed fruit along with some unusual lilac notes. A little better on palate, but this wine is not nearly as great as the ones I’ve enjoyed State-side, although those were a different vintage. Maybe some heat damage in transit? Disappointing.
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2000 Ridge Lytton Springs 79 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley
Blend of 70% Zin, 27% PS, 10% Carignano, 3% Port grapes. Dark, dense. On nose, extreme fruit, along with oak, mint and balsamic notes; with time in the glass the oakiness gets more prominent and a heavy lilac aroma comes through (heavier than the Dominus). On palate, extreme fruits follow on from the nose -- cherries, prunes, cooked fruits; there’s a sweetness that probably includes a touch of RS along with sweet sensations from the oak and fruit. Not well-balanced (troppo morbidezza), fat, short and simple. Don’t like this wine, yet it was the favourite of most of the Italian Sommeliers at this tasting.
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