March 16, 2024 - 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Event (Minneapolis, MN): When the 2016 Tyler Chardonnay was the 2nd best wine at the 2016 Cabernet tasting you know it is good. This wine is amazing and balanced. Featuring orange peel, lemon, floral, dust, shells and tropical fruit. Very Chablis like and outstanding value. Up there with Morgen Long from Oregon.
January 14, 2024 - Day 1: Outstanding again. Up there with the Leeuwin Chardonnay I just sampled but at a fraction of the price. Chablis color and feel. Shells, lemon, spice, floral, minerals and flint. Medium plus finish and good acidity. This is an amazing effort and should have bought a case when had the chance on the auction. 94 points
Day 2: While not as impressive as day 1 still solid and very enjoyable. Shells, lemon, orange peel, floral, flint and mild spice. Little shorter on the finsh. 91 points
Recommendation: I would drink these through 2025 for maximum enjoyment.
September 29, 2023 - Day 1: Outstanding Value and scary Chablis clone. Shells, minerals, lemon, orange peel, sour apple and matchstick. Wow finish on this wine. Top 10 wine of the year right now. 94+ points
Day 2: Quite a bit less exciting and indication on this is pop and pour and consume with a few years.
Recommendation: If you can get some of this for under $40 buy a case and share with friends. Only bought 4 so looking for more.
June 18, 2021 - You might as well be licking oyster shells but I must say this wine makes that appealing!
December 14, 2020 - Pale yellow in color. Initial approach was white grapefruit, definitely citrus in nature. I discernible oak as this is crisp and clean. Coy on the the nose. With a bit of warming in the glass orchard fruit comes through. Pristine and precise with no bite or edge. A bit of raw hazelnut on the back end.
December 22, 2019 - Restrained and focused with citrus, chalk and saline notes. Nice richness emerges with some time. Orchard fruit on the nose and some persistent minerality. Elegant and flavorful.
November 19, 2019 - Very pronounced nose. Cream and chalk and limestone. Palate is very acidic, not much more than acid going on there. Lemon, straight narrow. A bit too linear to me right now.
August 20, 2019 - Delicious and pure, showing minimal oak. Heftier than the 2017s I tasted.
February 19, 2019 - Small little vineyard off the 246. A more sandy soil I guess. Apparently this is like beach sand or sand dune.
More crisp pineapple on the nose. Salty saline is the idea. A touch more mineral driven. Actually allot more mineral driven. And long too. Much different than the "basic" Santa Barbara from Tyler. 15% new oak which doesn't show at all.
June 14, 2018 - Santa Barbara (Summer 2018): Nose is a little more closed in comparison to preceding wines. Didn't get much besides a touch of reduction. On the palate, more acid driven; good minerality with salt and lemon peel. Great texture.