October 15, 2023 - Big Arcadian Tasting in ATL Part II, With Joe Davis (1998-2005); 10/15/2023-10/16/2023: 14 years since my last taste...last night we had two bottles- one bottle was oxidized- old -second bottle was much more fresh-burgundian-clean, good acid- some peach and citrus notes. V good with scallop dish
April 4, 2015 - This is a simply stunning example of mature chardonnay that is, for my preferences, at its zenith. Showing a bit of bronzing in color and some slight oxidative notes, but buttressed by loads of still-fresh acidity, lemon, and salted hazelnuts in the mouth. The finish keeps on rolling thanks to the great extract and just seems to pull on the back of the tongue. Wow...super impressive juice.
April 7, 2012 - Burg Dinner (CA and France--Served Blind!)--Part 2 (The Macks In Bennett Valley): This wine at over 10 years old is hanging right in there. Joe Davis made a great chard out of this fruit and it's really lithe, fruity with lemon oil, citrus and a long finish. The length here is very nice and it maintains an even balance.
February 4, 2012 - Followed over 2 nights with strikingly similar notes as my last TN from May 2010.
Beautiful bright- brassy color that shows no signs of the fact that it is a 12-year old domestic chardonnay. This has been firing on all cylinders since pulling the cork 24 hours ago, and boasts a very aromatic nose of slate, lemon oil and sea salt. The palate shows a hint of butterscotch on the finish, but is still very fresh. Taut and linear from the big dose of acidity which reminds me a bit of the Roulot style, but with a domestic sweetness to the fruit.
Really delicious chardonnay that should show well for a few more years yet.
November 27, 2011 - Disappointing bottle: less complexity; searing acidity. Drinkable but not a show bottle.
November 24, 2011 - This Chardonnay has aged very well, showing touches of butterscotchy richness atop a base of lemony acidity. Doesn't quite come together well enough to be truly great, but still a great example of a top CA chard producer - a dinner guest who hates oaky CA chards loved this one because it's clean without being austere.
August 28, 2011 - medium gold. Ripe, developed, toasty nose; caramel, lemon.
Full-bodied, broad palate but not heavy or fat due to off-the-charts acidity, which preserves the wine, adds to the mineral expression, and drives it. ! Tart lemon finish, with a mineral quality coming from the searing acidity, contributing to a saline, minerally texture under the fruit. Medium finish. Notes of caramel, toast, yeast, brioche. Clean, crisp, still nervy underneath.
June 21, 2011 - Delicious. Still has more life in it.
May 20, 2010 - Another great bottle. Brassy yellow color. Lots of lemon and slate on the nose, followed by a racy, lean and crisp lemon/pineapple filled palate. The citrus notes lengthen and keep pulling on the finish. Followed over 3 days. 13.0 ABV. Delicious.
October 16, 2009 - Medium color nose of stone fruit, nectarine, a slight oxidative note that blew off over the course of several hours. This wine is lean & mean with wonderful minerality, lively acidity and just a really elegant drink. My only complaint is the brief finsih. This wine got better the longer is was open and shares some of the hallmarks of a mature Puligny-Monrachet.