January 4, 2024 - medium density hay colored. nose gives apples, hay, and just a hint of butter. medium bodied with a crisp citric acidity. shows good minerality on the palate with apple, lemon, and a faint sweet nuttiness on the finish. clean and refreshing with rich flavors. could convince me this was a cote de beaune or some other nearby appellation.
June 22, 2022 - A long day at work always calls for one of John’s wines. This has opened up a little since my last bottle, with the texture rounding a little and the laser-like acidity coming into balance with beautifully-poised lemon curd, white peach, and spearmint under some rich honeycomb and sea spray aromatics. There’s a touch of refreshing bitterness there, too. The finish really stretches out with air. This is exactly what California Chardonnay should be.
February 13, 2022 - 18 months in the cellar took the edge off. Still bright and focused, but not so taut that it could cut. More depth to the fruit. More texture on the palate. What hasn’t changed is the energy. Shame on me for not buying six bottles.
March 27, 2021 - Tight upon opening so decanted briefly. Opened up over the course of dinner and was consistent with previous bottle. Lots of mineral/saline notes but also a lovely lemon meringue note. Drank along side a 2015 Ceritas Trout Gulch and this more than held its own. Paired perfectly with steamed king crab legs with drawn lemon butter sauce.
February 7, 2021 - Shimmering straw color. Enticing aromatics with lemon rind and melon notes. The flavors are citrus dominant. Delicious wine with a nice acid backbone.
August 31, 2020 - Coiled like a cold spring that’s likely to shatter rather than extend. This is one taut wine. Lemon cream, river rocks, a dusting of herbs and pine then whisked away by bright acidity. A rush of cold Chard to the head. More please.
June 23, 2020 - Racy and bracing and very inviting.
June 14, 2020 - Needs time (the 14 is still tightly coiled and isn’t ready for business yet, to give readers an idea), but this continues to be one of the best Cali Chardonnays out there. Lemon, white peach, green apple, sea salt are almost Chablis-like, but with a warmer character. Long finish; needs time to open. Drink 2023-2030?
June 7, 2020 - Lively and bright. Preferred this to the Citrine. Lighter and fresher. Citrus was more prominent, but it had the same sea spray salinity, but with some gingery undertones and light, almost minty herbaceousness on the nose. The citrus and spice and liveliness on the nose are still there on the palate. Good stuff.
May 5, 2020 - Gorgeous on day 2. Beautiful mouthfeel.