Important Update From the Founder
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Look at all these Chardonnays!
The Double B
Tasted November 21, 2006 by davidcbaker with 430 views
Introduction
All my fall shipments came in (finally cool enough here in Texas) and I need to figure out which Chardonnay's I want to buy again next season. Sooo, invited some Chard loving friends over and went at it....
Flight 1 (7 notes)
White
2005 Lewis Cellars Chardonnay Sonoma
91 points
Best of the night - fruits and nuts in a glass - flavors of honey, pears, almonds and vanilla.
White
2003 La Tour Vineyards Chardonnay
90 points
Initially light with very little nose - let it warm up for 15 minutes or so. Nice flavors of buttermilk, toast, vanilla and a hint of cinnamon. Long, vanilla finish. Superb.
White
2004 Tamber Bey Chardonnay Two Rivers Vineyard
90 points
Pale straw color did not lead to great expectations. Initially very closed as there was no smell but the taste was fantastic. Buttery. After 15 min in the glass the nose opened up with honey notes and flavors of burnt sugra, honey and canteloupe.
White
2003 Ramey Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard
89 points
Bright color, and initially musty nose - definitely need to let this one open up a bit. Effervescent on the tounge with almond and lemon flavors. Did not stack up well though against the other chards of the night as the grouped loved the Lewis Sonomoa chard and the La Tour Napa chard better.
White
2004 O'Brien Estate Chardonnay
88 points
Floral nose and a bit of licorice. Light in flavor - grapefruit, grass. A nice chardonnay if you want to avoid the typical Cali buttery, malolactic kind.
White
2003 Rudd Chardonnay Bacigalupi Vineyard
83 points
Usually one of our favorites, but did not do well in the comparison tonight. Musty smell, with flinty pear and vanilla.
White
2004 Kanu Chardonnay
81 points
Light in both the nose and the flavor. Lemon, granite, vanilla. Alchoholic finish. Least favorite of the night.
Closing
Surprising night. The top wines (by popular voite) were the Lewis, La Tour, and Tamber Bey (in that order) - the Tamber Bey - at $28 - is the best value of the night. The Kanu was the ringer we threw in and was an almost unanimous stinker. Surprise of the night was that the Ramey Ritchie and the Rudd Bacagulupi were so middle of the road.