April 27, 2024 - Light yellow in color. Initially a lot of VSC aromas that settle down a bit over time to reveal complex aromas of intense citrus, struck match stick, toasted sesame, yellow peach, florals. The palate shows both volume and length, a wave of citrus, orchard pit fruits, flinty minerals, stem ginger and a long finish. Superb and drank too young. This will get better in the bottle.
September 4, 2023 - Tasted with Chardonnay specialist Seth Morgen Long at his facility. Clearly, he has developed a distinct, low ABV, high acid, reductive style of chard that also uses "brown juice" oxidation before fermentation in both steel and barrel and full Malolactic conversion. This wine comes from the Koosah vineyard (but is not labeled as such), which I have had an affinity for from other producers, but apparently, the vineyard has been sold to Resonance/Jadot and may not be available in the future. Slightly darker lemon yellow than the other 2 chards from him we had today. There is some distinct reduction that needs aggressive swirling to overcome, but there is a seamlessness to the textures and flavors that I really like. It is floral, lemony citrus, white nectarine, and mineral-driven, though a little less so than the other two as well. Needs cellaring but probably a little less than the other two.
September 1, 2023 - Opened side-by-side with 2021 Walter Scott Chardonnay Koosah Vineyard for educational purposes (separate TN posted), as Seth’s Eola-Amity Hills cuveé this year has 100% Koosah fruit.
Glassware: Riedel Burgundy
Prep: Splash decant, followed over 3 hours
This wine has a complex nose of hazelnut, seabreeze, mint tea, mandarin orange, and lemon peel from the start. Medium-bodied but expansive on the palate, with brisk acidity nicely balanced by a silky/creamy texture. This wine has more oomph to it compared to some of Seth’s other bottlings, including X-Omni, with tremendous dry extract and dense flavors of lime blossom, minty herbs, aloe, and fine flinty minerals that linger over a long finish.
This is a lovely chardonnay and all the right components are there. I think it needs a bit more time to integrate and settle down, and it wouldn’t surprise me if this becomes a long-term ager.
August 14, 2023 - Really impressive stuff here, lots of spices, matchstick, citrus and some orchard fruits on the nose, tense and crisp palate with medium ++ acidity well integrated and a ling saline like finish
July 18, 2023 - Another killer 21 from SML. Well within the house style. Laser focused with ginger and lime peel. Lithe and almost Riesling like fine petrol notes. Of course these will be long lived. I just need to get my hands off of them.
July 1, 2023 - Absolutely phenomenal. Wasn’t able to take detailed notes but plenty of seashell, tart apple, flinty minerality. Lean in style but plenty of power, depth, and complexity.
Coiled up and does drink well now, but look to 5-7 years to really unfurl.
November 11, 2022 - Tasting with Seth Morgen
Still in tank
A saline and stony nose, with asian pear, citrus and jasmine. Toothsome and intense yet light and airy. Power without weight. Delicious (48 views)