January 17, 2019 - a little too much oak for my taste
March 12, 2015 - Wonderful chard! Beautifully balanced citrus, honey, and buttery oak notes with a long finish. Paired well with Dungeness crab ravioli.
May 2, 2014 - Haven't been drinking much California wine over the past several years, and this was a pleasant surprise. In the past, I'd had numerous pinot noirs from Sea Smoke and thought them to be overblown. Not the case with this chardonnay, it was well balanced. Pear and pineapple notes abound, good minerality. The only negative: the finish is short. Nevertheless, what's there is enjoyable.
April 20, 2014 - -- popped and poured --
-- tasted a couple glasses non-blind over approx. 1 hour --
This wasn’t nearly as ripe/buttery/oaky as I was expecting. Medium pale yellow color. Nose was moderately expressive. Medium bodied on the palate; not overripe; 15.2% alc. surprisingly not noticeable; dry; lots of mineral on the finish; actually very good (better than most CA Chardonnays, for my preferences); dare I say it? --- somewhat Burg.-like.
March 24, 2014 - Free is always good! Haven't purchased from SS since the 05 vintage…but have had the Gratis from 02-03……this 09 is just as good as I remember! Not to fond of the "California Grand Cru" though? Get yourself some buttery pear, pineapple, fig fruit….nice cream to this….as well as some citrus and crushed stone……hazelnut, toasted marshmallow, vanilla lemon butter, smoke and spice. Really rich and creamy, yet does have "some" cut…and a nice balance. Not Burgundy…but a nice example of a rich oaked Calif Chard in good balance…..a style a actually like on occasion. I'd buy this under $30.
October 20, 2013 - Golden blonde color with a canary yellow hue around the rim. Mellow and strait forward with a hint of oak and a touch of acidity. It finishes with a little lemon zest and just the slightest note of banana pudding.
March 17, 2013 - For me a bit thin and too subtle for the tariff. definitely well constructed and balanced, but missing the wow factor..
December 1, 2012 - A nice yellow to straw coloring. A sharp acidic finish initally but faded after about 30 minutes. Nice apple, pear, quince notes along with some mineral and dusty notes. Drink up!
October 30, 2012 - Eagerly popped this with some friends in a storm party. And to be quite honest was a little disappointed. A little funk on the nose and the palate that ultimately blew off.Fruit was not vibrant enough for my liking. So so acidity, was ok but nothing special. was ok at its pricepoint :-)....but would not go out and search for it
August 21, 2012 - Yummy, creamy, balanced, sprite-full. Nice Chardonnay. Perhaps just a tad bit heavy, and a subtle dash of smoke might have been nice while we're at it, but otherwise......