Nice Chardonnay showing some light signs of age. Darker honeyed apples as well as some sweet spice. Some enjoyable lighter lemon notes on the palate. Jill drank most but I enjoyed what I got.
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I've waxed before about the brilliant chardonnays from this producer, but as I enjoy a 10 year-old bottling tonight, I have to beat my breast again on this -- these are terrific, balanced, Burgundian-styled wines, and given the pricing, amongst the world's best white wine QPRs (readily purchased at various times over the years for $18 to $30).
For a 10 year-old New World chardonnay (or Old World these days, given premox), this shows youthful and fresh, with just a touch of age on the finish. This is all lemon and fresh ginger, with white flowers and a hint of custard adding depth and complexity. Wonderful attack and mid palate concentration and texture, quickly washed away by big yet pitch perfect acids. Long, lingering delightfully tart finish. So easy to drink (12.8% alc) and ideally enjoyed with dinner. Honestly, this reminds me of the Niellon 2014 Chassagne Montrachet Clos St. Jean had recently...
It's hard not to get excited about this wine given the modest pedigree and pricing -- and to be sure, this is not the last word on depth, elegance and complexity in chardonnay -- but I'd love to place this blind in a good line up of white burgs. I bet it wildly over-performs. I haven't had any vintages post-2012, but I can vouch whole-heartedly for the 2008-2012 quintet.
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I just had a bottle of the 2013 in the past week so I thought I might give this a go. Same thing going on here but with a little age. Lemon citrus tropics apple. Like a heavy chablis. The fruit has receded quite a bit and the oak is more prominent. Still a good wine. Drink now.
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On the nose, citrus and a hint of tropical fruit. Medium-to-full body with some palate-cleansing acidity. Flavors of apple, pear, and a hint of lemon citrus, with a medium length.
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Crisp nose of white fruit and minerals. Acid driven palate with medium body. Terrific balance and persistence. This bottle showed well, if a little simple.
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This took time to integrate in glass. Upon first opening it had a strong influence of oak that was not to my liking. Given an hour though, the oak integrated and what unfolded was a rather austere Cali chard with steely fruits and minerality. Very nice. looking forward to last half of bottle tonight.
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Exactly what I desire in a Chardonnay. No big oak/vanilla/butter here. Not a fruit bomb. This is a crisp, citrus styled wine with excellent length and complex notes. It refreshes and seems light at first (not in body, light on the palate) and then the full range of flavors appear. I think it would hold well, but is in a great place right now. Serve with the seafood of your choice , as this is built to compliment food.
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Wind Gap Tasting with Scott Schultz (Forestville, CA): Gorgeous nose of minerals, white fruit and stones. Palate is acid driven and awash with minerals, slate and lime notes. Long finish with delicious mineral notes. Terrific Chablis-like Chard. Excellent.
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This paired well with sushi. Consistent with previous bottles, this shows crisp citrusy and green apple fruit, wet stone, saline, and some salted popcorn. Long finish.
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Agree with others on this, not a typical CA chard. There is very little oak reflected in this wine, the focus is the fruit. Comes off on the citrus side as others have noted, allmost a typical SB nose.... again very different than the norm. These same flavors come through on the palate and the finish is very focused.... maybe not laser sharp but very tight. All in all I liked it and would be willing to try future offering as well from Pax.
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12.8% alc on a CA chard! Similiar impressions as with the last bottle. Lemon/lime, maybe green apple on the nose. On the palate, the wine is light/medium bodied with a little texture; tart lemon/lime again, with some saline/mineral. The finish is long and crisp with more saline, and a salted butter/salted popcorn/slight cream/creme brulee/maloactic character when the wine warmed a little. Fermented in concrete and elevage in 50% stainless,50% neutral oak according to Pax. Overall I really dig this style of Chardonnay and enjoyed this wine. Best with a little chill on it though. Paired well with raw Long Island Blue Point oysters on the half shell.
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Apple and citrus on the nose, with hints of spice and tropical fruit. Great acidity on the palate, with lots of cutrus and apple, and a nice tropical fruit finish.
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Threads the needle - enough acidity to be crisp and interesting, but not to the point of being harsh or astringent. Nice fruit without being flabby. Doesn't drink at all like a "big" Cali chardonnay, but very well proportioned, nonetheless!
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Hard lemon candy, tart lime, pear aromas with wet slate. Love the smell of this wine. On the palate, there is tart lemon, lime, and some mineral. The finish is crisp, with saline notes at first but then a butter/cream almost butterscotch note takes over which a couple of the women in our office didn't like. I'd like to try more chardonnay from the these vineyards, especially the Brossseau, as the few I've had have been delicious and I love the acid and mineral notes in them. This is very good.
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5/11/2020 - beezer6 wrote: 90 Points
Nice Chardonnay showing some light signs of age.
Darker honeyed apples as well as some sweet spice.
Some enjoyable lighter lemon notes on the palate.
Jill drank most but I enjoyed what I got.
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8/30/2019 - blanquito wrote:
I've waxed before about the brilliant chardonnays from this producer, but as I enjoy a 10 year-old bottling tonight, I have to beat my breast again on this -- these are terrific, balanced, Burgundian-styled wines, and given the pricing, amongst the world's best white wine QPRs (readily purchased at various times over the years for $18 to $30).
For a 10 year-old New World chardonnay (or Old World these days, given premox), this shows youthful and fresh, with just a touch of age on the finish. This is all lemon and fresh ginger, with white flowers and a hint of custard adding depth and complexity. Wonderful attack and mid palate concentration and texture, quickly washed away by big yet pitch perfect acids. Long, lingering delightfully tart finish. So easy to drink (12.8% alc) and ideally enjoyed with dinner. Honestly, this reminds me of the Niellon 2014 Chassagne Montrachet Clos St. Jean had recently...
It's hard not to get excited about this wine given the modest pedigree and pricing -- and to be sure, this is not the last word on depth, elegance and complexity in chardonnay -- but I'd love to place this blind in a good line up of white burgs. I bet it wildly over-performs. I haven't had any vintages post-2012, but I can vouch whole-heartedly for the 2008-2012 quintet.
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9/20/2015 - 560 B&W Likes this wine: 89 Points
PnP. Heat of the vineyard is apparent. Drink now. 12.8%
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3/26/2015 - jeffreylubowski Likes this wine: 90 Points
I just had a bottle of the 2013 in the past week so I thought I might give this a go. Same thing going on here but with a little age. Lemon citrus tropics apple. Like a heavy chablis. The fruit has receded quite a bit and the oak is more prominent. Still a good wine. Drink now.
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1/12/2015 - silton wrote:
This got drunk in December. No notes but I remember thinking that if I had any more it was time to drink up.
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6/15/2014 - lockestep Likes this wine: 89 Points
Not as compelling as the prior bottle. The oak is much more forward and the crisp acids have retreated. Still a fine bottle, but better in its' youth.
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4/23/2014 - brianmik wrote:
On the nose, citrus and a hint of tropical fruit. Medium-to-full body with some palate-cleansing acidity. Flavors of apple, pear, and a hint of lemon citrus, with a medium length.
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1/23/2014 - Burgundy Al wrote: 91 Points
Chicago Wine Flock..."Top Central Coast Syrah from Rich" (House of Nanda - Chicago IL): Tasted double blind, correctly identified as New World Chardonnay. Lean apple aromas and flavors with some lemon peel hints, nicely supported by floral, anise notes. Very good acidity and a good perception of minerality. Upside from here going forward.
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12/25/2013 - Outplaying wrote:
Nice CA Chardonnay with good acid, mineral and lemon custard. A little cream and salted popcorn.
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11/16/2013 - Nanda wrote: 90 Points
Crisp nose of white fruit and minerals. Acid driven palate with medium body. Terrific balance and persistence. This bottle showed well, if a little simple.
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8/31/2013 - lolo66 wrote:
This took time to integrate in glass. Upon first opening it had a strong influence of oak that was not to my liking. Given an hour though, the oak integrated and what unfolded was a rather austere Cali chard with steely fruits and minerality. Very nice. looking forward to last half of bottle tonight.
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4/29/2013 - lockestep Likes this wine: 93 Points
Exactly what I desire in a Chardonnay. No big oak/vanilla/butter here. Not a fruit bomb. This is a crisp, citrus styled wine with excellent length and complex notes. It refreshes and seems light at first (not in body, light on the palate) and then the full range of flavors appear. I think it would hold well, but is in a great place right now. Serve with the seafood of your choice , as this is built to compliment food.
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4/19/2013 - Nanda wrote: 92 Points
Wind Gap Tasting with Scott Schultz (Forestville, CA): Gorgeous nose of minerals, white fruit and stones. Palate is acid driven and awash with minerals, slate and lime notes. Long finish with delicious mineral notes. Terrific Chablis-like Chard. Excellent.
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4/17/2013 - Outplaying Likes this wine:
This paired well with sushi. Consistent with previous bottles, this shows crisp citrusy and green apple fruit, wet stone, saline, and some salted popcorn. Long finish.
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3/8/2013 - Madkat Likes this wine: 90 Points
Agree with others on this, not a typical CA chard. There is very little oak reflected in this wine, the focus is the fruit. Comes off on the citrus side as others have noted, allmost a typical SB nose.... again very different than the norm. These same flavors come through on the palate and the finish is very focused.... maybe not laser sharp but very tight. All in all I liked it and would be willing to try future offering as well from Pax.
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2/27/2013 - 560 B&W wrote: 92 Points
Substantial, with a bit more weight than I favor.
Retasted April 4, 2013: upscored to 92. Fully in balance and delightful now.
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2/4/2013 - rjonwine@gmail.com wrote: 92 Points
Light lemon yellow color; ripe lemon, honey nose; rich, ripe lemon, honey, lemon drop palate; medium-plus finish (12.8% alcohol; 11 mos in 50% stainless steel and 50% neutral oak)
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1/31/2013 - MattMauldin wrote: 90 Points
Tasting at The Watering Hole- Sandhi & other Terroir Selections (Los Olivos, CA): Notes of earth, straw, honey, spice and stone fruit. Lively and bright with a round creamy texture. The fruit and mineral flavors are subtle and need some time to unwind. Medium finish. Very nice.
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1/30/2013 - Outplaying wrote:
12.8% alc on a CA chard! Similiar impressions as with the last bottle. Lemon/lime, maybe green apple on the nose. On the palate, the wine is light/medium bodied with a little texture; tart lemon/lime again, with some saline/mineral. The finish is long and crisp with more saline, and a salted butter/salted popcorn/slight cream/creme brulee/maloactic character when the wine warmed a little. Fermented in concrete and elevage in 50% stainless,50% neutral oak according to Pax. Overall I really dig this style of Chardonnay and enjoyed this wine. Best with a little chill on it though. Paired well with raw Long Island Blue Point oysters on the half shell.
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1/6/2013 - mmurry Likes this wine: 91 Points
Apple and citrus on the nose, with hints of spice and tropical fruit. Great acidity on the palate, with lots of cutrus and apple, and a nice tropical fruit finish.
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12/23/2012 - FLI Likes this wine: 91 Points
Threads the needle - enough acidity to be crisp and interesting, but not to the point of being harsh or astringent. Nice fruit without being flabby. Doesn't drink at all like a "big" Cali chardonnay, but very well proportioned, nonetheless!
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12/7/2012 - Outplaying Likes this wine:
Hard lemon candy, tart lime, pear aromas with wet slate. Love the smell of this wine. On the palate, there is tart lemon, lime, and some mineral. The finish is crisp, with saline notes at first but then a butter/cream almost butterscotch note takes over which a couple of the women in our office didn't like. I'd like to try more chardonnay from the these vineyards, especially the Brossseau, as the few I've had have been delicious and I love the acid and mineral notes in them. This is very good.
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