Popped and poured. Served with antipasto of grilled vegetables fresh from the farm and dinner of pasta with olives and Ortiz tuna. Give this wine some time to breathe. Color of Meyer lemon. Nose of almond, vanilla and a faint hint of jasmine or honeysuckle. Medium to full body. Very well structured. Notes of Meyer lemon, key lime and a little oak complement the minerality. Long finish. Drinking quite well after 10 years.
According to the vineyard, the Amphitheater Block is 2 acres on a south-facing slope at 780 to 735 ft. elevation with 32 year old vines (probably Wente clone) on their own roots.
The block is 10 miles from the Pacific Ocean in the northern Santa Cruz Mountains appellation. It is dry-farmed, non-fertilized, hand-hoed with no insecticides.
The vines are grown on porous, young (1-3 million years old) fractured sedimentary rock.
The vineyard employs minimally settled juice, indigenous yeast and malo-lactic bacteria, barrel fermentation, hand-racked using an esquive and hand-cranked barrel tilting device.
All french oak, twenty-five percent new, featuring Jupilles forest.
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medium gold, lots of clarity, silvery hue Nose: pear, green apple, lime, brioche, allspice, minerals, white pepper, oak Pal: pear, green apple, lime, brioche, allspice, white pepper, minerals, oak Feel: full, acidic Finish: long T9
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Courtesy of tlv. In a word- stunning. Has a youthful greenish tint and notes of honeysuckle, fresh pear, acacia, crab apple blossoms, citrus, coconut, vanilla and an earthiness akin to the smell of a summer rain storm. Full-bodied but bright and lively, featuring flavors of pear, vanilla fluff, pineapple, quince and mineral with a nice toasty undertone. Long finish.
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Perhaps a bit more advanced, more secondary, but still a formidable wine w/ amazing qualities. I do plan on consuming the rest of my 2010s w/ in the next year w/ much enjoyment.
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Coop's bottle. First day, light vanilla and floral elements on the nose with good balance and length. However, two days later when Bob and I drank the last two inches in the bottle we realized how closed this wine was initially. Didn't realy seem closed, but it's just that big and complex, it needs decanting!
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Opened much too soon but se la vie, as say the old folks.
A truly beautiful wine, golden and glossy.
Nose and attack reminiscent of Carneros' typisch 'Vienna sausage' Chard. But midpalate and finish tell a different story - one of persistent central coast fog, dappled sun, and long cool lazy days paired with chilly salty nights.
Pure sunlight, bound by water, in perfect balance with generous acid and bare requisite sugar.
The feather light oak is a deft chaperone, ensuring feminine fruit and masculine mineral fully enjoy their flirtatious courtship and ensuing complex relationship. If only I had let it cellar for another 5 years....
Robert P-diddy did not overscore this wine; his high regard merely reinforces his suburb judgement and admirable appreciation of California's finest.
Raw almond, white rose, fresh-picked rosemary, plus organic fennel are highlights in Varner's Amphitheater Block. If it existed in 1976, the Judgement of Paris may have been unnecessary as its able Francophile participants would have simply conceded.
My flowery rhetoric and flailing exaggerations, however desperately they grasp and regardless of their feeble reach, do this inimitable bottle no justice. We. Are. Not. Worthy.
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USA Cult and Wines of Interest (Sydney, Australia): Quite restrained on the nose, with lemon, apple, spice and some graphite. The palate is a little bit more forward, showing oak and more richness to the fruit profile. Perhaps finishes a touch short but it is very good.
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Light medium lemon yellow color; appealing, tart pear, light hazelnut nose; creamy textured, tart pear, mineral, tart lemon palate with medium acidity; medium-plus finish
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Not a traditional Chardonnay and I could see how this could be someone’s favorite. No buttery tones and more of an American oak profile. Lemon rind and mineral. Very crisp and clean.
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Smokey out of the gate. Lemon with broad shoulders in the sense that it has some earth and oomph that holds it up strong. Integrated with a background of sweet oak that is barely detected. Airy and graceful. A wine that makes you stop and think about how well all the parts fit together. Every sip you pick out how the minerals hit at just the right time, the weight on the palate is nice, the acidity pops but not overbearing, and knowing how well it will go with food although I drank this one on its own. Such a great wine for my tastes on its own, or definitely built for food.
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12/1/2021 - Jd6725 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Perfectly solid, aged mountain cali chard. Likely 3-5 years past it's peak for me though. Minimal fruit left. Drink up.
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9/26/2021 - 560 B&W Likes this wine: 90 Points
Even with a decant and several more years of age, this still has too much oak for me. Better with food, of course. 13.5%
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7/10/2020 - 312 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Popped and poured. Served with antipasto of grilled vegetables fresh from the farm and dinner of pasta with olives and Ortiz tuna. Give this wine some time to breathe. Color of Meyer lemon. Nose of almond, vanilla and a faint hint of jasmine or honeysuckle. Medium to full body. Very well structured. Notes of Meyer lemon, key lime and a little oak complement the minerality. Long finish. Drinking quite well after 10 years.
According to the vineyard, the Amphitheater Block is 2 acres on a south-facing slope at 780 to 735 ft. elevation with 32 year old vines (probably Wente clone) on their own roots.
The block is 10 miles from the Pacific Ocean in the northern Santa Cruz Mountains appellation. It is dry-farmed, non-fertilized, hand-hoed with no insecticides.
The vines are grown on porous, young (1-3 million years old) fractured sedimentary rock.
The vineyard employs minimally settled juice, indigenous yeast and malo-lactic bacteria, barrel fermentation, hand-racked using an esquive and hand-cranked barrel tilting device.
All french oak, twenty-five percent new, featuring Jupilles forest.
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3/8/2020 - Frijole wrote:
medium gold, lots of clarity, silvery hue
Nose: pear, green apple, lime, brioche, allspice, minerals, white pepper, oak
Pal: pear, green apple, lime, brioche, allspice, white pepper, minerals, oak
Feel: full, acidic
Finish: long
T9
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10/28/2018 - bonedoc wrote: 93 Points
Last bottle, great stuff.
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7/3/2018 - bonedoc wrote: flawed
Unfortunately this wine was oxidized, giving it a honeyed off flavor.
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4/1/2018 - Backdoctor wrote: 92 Points
Love varner chards
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2/24/2017 - 560 B&W Likes this wine: 91 Points
PnP. Too big for my taste, but very pretty, balanced and complete. 13.5%
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12/11/2016 - bonedoc wrote:
All 2010's, all very good, around 92/93, similar in style and quality, no clear winner.
#1- Varner amphitheater
#2- Varner home
#3- mt Eden estate
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6/24/2016 - aaronfeigin Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nectarine and mint flavors abound, good minerality, soft, lush, and round. Very enjoyable.
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4/8/2016 - thelostverse wrote: 95 Points
Opened at Anvil. Consistent notes as last bottle, but elevated a touch. Beautiful.
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8/17/2015 - AllRed wrote: 95 Points
Courtesy of tlv. In a word- stunning. Has a youthful greenish tint and notes of honeysuckle, fresh pear, acacia, crab apple blossoms, citrus, coconut, vanilla and an earthiness akin to the smell of a summer rain storm. Full-bodied but bright and lively, featuring flavors of pear, vanilla fluff, pineapple, quince and mineral with a nice toasty undertone. Long finish.
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8/17/2015 - thelostverse wrote: 94 Points
Pop and pour with grilled chicken breasts. Notes of hazelnut, lemon oil and other citrus. No hurry here.
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6/19/2015 - aaronfeigin Likes this wine: 92 Points
Honeysuckle, lemon and pear with nice vein of acidity. Such good balance, excellent for a well made California Chardonnay.
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5/17/2015 - calodo2011 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Perhaps a bit more advanced, more secondary, but still a formidable wine w/ amazing qualities. I do plan on consuming the rest of my 2010s w/ in the next year w/ much enjoyment.
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7/4/2014 - Neecies Likes this wine: 92 Points
Coop's bottle. First day, light vanilla and floral elements on the nose with good balance and length. However, two days later when Bob and I drank the last two inches in the bottle we realized how closed this wine was initially. Didn't realy seem closed, but it's just that big and complex, it needs decanting!
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6/14/2014 - cweiner Likes this wine: 94 Points
Bold, refined.
Beautiful legs.
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4/23/2014 - NapaWinePonce Likes this wine: 95 Points
Opened much too soon but se la vie, as say the old folks.
A truly beautiful wine, golden and glossy.
Nose and attack reminiscent of Carneros' typisch 'Vienna sausage' Chard. But midpalate and finish tell a different story - one of persistent central coast fog, dappled sun, and long cool lazy days paired with chilly salty nights.
Pure sunlight, bound by water, in perfect balance with generous acid and bare requisite sugar.
The feather light oak is a deft chaperone, ensuring feminine fruit and masculine mineral fully enjoy their flirtatious courtship and ensuing complex relationship. If only I had let it cellar for another 5 years....
Robert P-diddy did not overscore this wine; his high regard merely reinforces his suburb judgement and admirable appreciation of California's finest.
Raw almond, white rose, fresh-picked rosemary, plus organic fennel are highlights in Varner's Amphitheater Block. If it existed in 1976, the Judgement of Paris may have been unnecessary as its able Francophile participants would have simply conceded.
My flowery rhetoric and flailing exaggerations, however desperately they grasp and regardless of their feeble reach, do this inimitable bottle no justice. We. Are. Not. Worthy.
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5/25/2013 - Backdoctor wrote: 92 Points
wonderful smooth chard with slight melon tones. glad I have another to age..
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3/14/2013 - CamWheeler wrote: 90 Points
USA Cult and Wines of Interest (Sydney, Australia): Quite restrained on the nose, with lemon, apple, spice and some graphite. The palate is a little bit more forward, showing oak and more richness to the fruit profile. Perhaps finishes a touch short but it is very good.
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2/4/2013 - rjonwine@gmail.com wrote: 92 Points
Light medium lemon yellow color; appealing, tart pear, light hazelnut nose; creamy textured, tart pear, mineral, tart lemon palate with medium acidity; medium-plus finish
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8/22/2012 - keelegl wrote:
Might be too early or an off bottle, but this was dominated by oak on the nose and palate.
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7/23/2012 - jaxpaj wrote: 90 Points
Not a traditional Chardonnay and I could see how this could be someone’s favorite. No buttery tones and more of an American oak profile. Lemon rind and mineral. Very crisp and clean.
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5/5/2012 - aussie05 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Smokey out of the gate. Lemon with broad shoulders in the sense that it has some earth and oomph that holds it up strong. Integrated with a background of sweet oak that is barely detected. Airy and graceful. A wine that makes you stop and think about how well all the parts fit together. Every sip you pick out how the minerals hit at just the right time, the weight on the palate is nice, the acidity pops but not overbearing, and knowing how well it will go with food although I drank this one on its own. Such a great wine for my tastes on its own, or definitely built for food.
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4/30/2012 - brianofthevine wrote: 90 Points
Lemon and citrus with nice oak presence and good minerality to it. Decent finish.
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3/30/2012 - rjonwine@gmail.com wrote: 91 Points
Visit to Varner: Great Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnays (Varner Winery, Portola Valley, California): Light lemon yellow color; lovely, lemon gelee, mineral, light green herb nose; tight, medium bodied, reduction, tart lime, lemon gelee, mineral, bee pollen palate; needs 2-plus years; medium-plus finish 91+ points
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