June 1, 2022 - One of the best California chardonnays I have had, ranking with Aubert, Peter Michael, Morlet, etc. Hard to believe that this wine is still going strong at age 17.
May 26, 2019 - Medium golden yellow in color. Initial matchstick aromas quickly give way to orchard pit fruits and pineapple, nut and citrus oils, buttered popcorn, yellow flowers. Rich and viscous palate shows sweet tropical fruit marmalade, good acidity, melted butter, vanilla creme brûlée and a long honeyed finish. This is punching up the Batard white burgundy pedigree but the sweet and rich palate gives away the region. Superb and amazing wine given this is a 14 year old Chardonnay.
February 24, 2018 - Well it has been 3 years since this wine was reviewed on CT.
On nose: Initially after decanting?...a disappointing scent of " chemical golden topping "as you find on movie theatre popcorn, and a hint of petroleum jelly.
......A half hour later: Toasted hazelnuts, gala apples and ripe peaches!
On palate:Rich, ripe.... flavours of Rhubarb fennel,cinnamon, apples vanilla custard all supported by a still firm backbone of acidity...very new world nevertheless but seeming to strive for the complexity of a Burgundian Grand cru.... . but only lacks the restraint due to high alcohol.... surprisingly un oxidized for a 13 year old Cali chard.... . drink with chicken or pork back ribs.
July 14, 2015 - I believe the voting clustered around 94 pts for this. Color is about a fourth of he way from pale yellow to maximally aged chard. Honey on the nose led some to California. Citrus/honeysuckle palate with some minerality. Some described spice on the finish, but two of us thought it was more of a astringent woody thing on the back that downgraded the wine. We could not determine if we felt it was coming together or falling apart. Further research is required.
October 23, 2014 - Drank at October Bone's saxum dinner. Remember it was showing very well.
August 1, 2014 - For nine years old this wine was quite young. Wine had good acidity and balance. Secondary flavors were present to give it complexity and personality. Enjoyed.
February 20, 2014 - This was a wine that we loved and I reviewed this in 2012. We just opened a new bottle and would recommend that you should finish off what you have,as it's best days are probably behind it. It still has the thick, golden beautiful hues, with a pineapple, cream nose, but all the flavors have faded. In fact, it was difficult to review. Some notes of pineapple still came through to give it some acidity, but melon tones seem to predominate, along with effervescence and some notes of apple or peaches. It seemed to have lost its lovely complex notes and almost had some bitterness to it. Just okay, but we had been very spoiled by its history.
September 9, 2013 - Deep gold color. The nose took a while to come around and was decidedly towards the more riper spectrum with tropical fruits, pineapple, peaches and creme-brulee. A thick viscous palate follows through with sweet peach-orange marmalade, nut oils and along after taste of burnt sugar.
December 24, 2012 - A delightful,full-bodied, golden- hewed gem. The nose is mellow straw and apple cider. The taste is rich, creamy apples and brioche bread with lite yeasty tones. Thick, elegant, and opens to pineapple tones. A beautiful, fulfilling wine.
July 15, 2012 - CITRUS, MELONS, AND VANILLA IN THE NOSE AND FLAVOR. MEDIUM LENGTH FINISH.