Not nearly as good as a previous bottle. This is surprisingly light in color. With time and air it improved but the acidity was not integrated. I could almost detect a hint of sour milk (maloactic acid?). Again, good but I've had better.
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Great example of what Californian Chard. can be; rich, smooth, layered, lots of minerals, butter, citrus, honey - and great length. This goes on and on, very fresh and lively indeed.
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It's even better than I remember it! Wow! The balance, flavor evolution, the perfection, it's all there. Some may find the oak a little too much, but I found it perfectly integrated and not a dominant element at all. Our bottle was still fresh. The cork came out cleanly. This wine should last a few more years. All in all, one of the very best chardonnays we have ever tasted.
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Popped and poured. This is a rich golden wine with notes of honey, pineapple, marshmallow, and popcorn on the nose. This is rich and lush with some lingering sweetness on the finish. Overall, this is a large rendition of Chardonnay. It is a wine of pleasure, not nuance. 91 points.
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Wow. Best Chardonnay I have ever tried. No idea how this will age, but I wouldn't take the chance.
Opened and given 30 minutes to breathe, this was poured into Zalto Burgundy glasses and just instantly gave of intense notes of honeycomb, lemon zest, candied orange rind, some white flowers, a hint of almonds. Just the essence of how I want my Californian Chardonnay to taste. I should have bought more bottles...
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Fantastic CA Chardonnay! Heck, it's possibly the finest chard. we've served regardless of origin. Rich, full, and ultra clean with kind of a creamy citrus taste and mouth feel. Nice brilliant yellow in the glass.
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A full style chard with lemon curd, lychee, and some buttery oak. It does a great job of not over doing the oak while still making its presence known. Nice.
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Amazingly good! Incredibly pure and persistent with great mouth feel. I would rate this wine higher if it weren't for the presence of vanilla from a bit of oak along side the intense citrus and tropical fruits. This is only a problem for those who prefer no evidence of wood in their chardonnay. Previous vintages didn't display this nearly as much. I really enjoy it in this vintage. It is still pretty young.
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Like the 05-WS 97 and 12-WS 96, this (11) is a fabulous wine too, maybe the best Chard label in CA ever. White burgandy in the U.S. Great job Don Ross and TRB!!
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This is clearly the best Chard made in CA. 96-05, 96-12 and the 2011 deserves the same WS great rating. The only great white burgundy like wine made in the US!!!
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Apple with a smoky backbone, tropical fruits, This is a big, huge, rich wine and we are drinking it too early More Peter Michael than Burgundy but can't wait for the evolution. I think this wine has some serious potential
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Popped and poured. This is a golden straw colored wine. On the nose, there is lanolin combined with spring flowers. In the mouth, this is crisp, buttery, and fresh, leaving a bracing finish. This is a very good, balanced, and pure Chard -- one done in a more restrained style. Drink now or over the next several years. 93 points.
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The style is different from the previous releases. The tasting note in their website explains well. It is really like a top level white burgundy. I really love this vintage too. Excellent effort.
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Wow. Don Ross does it again. I have sat on this for 60 days since receiving it an of course we want to drink more than one bottle. Nose: grass, lemon, stone Taste: lemon, light oak, butter. Very smooth.
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10/31/2023 - bambam wrote: flawed
Oxidized
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2/20/2023 - ghanbai Likes this wine: 91 Points
On its inevitable downhill 😢
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12/31/2022 - ewasowicz wrote: 91 Points
Getting old unfortunately
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1/31/2022 - ghanbai Likes this wine: 96 Points
Still shines, too bad it's my last
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6/6/2021 - jlgnml Likes this wine: 95 Points
Delicious on a hot summer day.
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10/5/2020 - Racer117 wrote: 90 Points
Not nearly as good as a previous bottle. This is surprisingly light in color. With time and air it improved but the acidity was not integrated. I could almost detect a hint of sour milk (maloactic acid?). Again, good but I've had better.
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8/11/2020 - beatles wrote: 95 Points
Great example of what Californian Chard. can be; rich, smooth, layered, lots of minerals, butter, citrus, honey - and great length. This goes on and on, very fresh and lively indeed.
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7/2/2020 - SteelerFan wrote: 95 Points
Outstanding. One of America’s best.
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3/18/2020 - lvjohn Likes this wine: 97 Points
It's even better than I remember it! Wow! The balance, flavor evolution, the perfection, it's all there. Some may find the oak a little too much, but I found it perfectly integrated and not a dominant element at all. Our bottle was still fresh. The cork came out cleanly. This wine should last a few more years. All in all, one of the very best chardonnays we have ever tasted.
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12/22/2019 - SteelerFan wrote: 94 Points
Excellent. Very good balance and lift.
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11/16/2019 - Racer117 Likes this wine: 94 Points
I'd put this right up against any other high end Napa/Sonoma Chardonnay.
A bit darker and taking on an aged profile but still pure and focused.
Thanks to SD-Wineaux for opening.
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8/17/2019 - SteelerFan wrote: 92 Points
Dark gold. Smooth and delicious.
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7/13/2019 - whitmanlholt wrote: 91 Points
Popped and poured. This is a rich golden wine with notes of honey, pineapple, marshmallow, and popcorn on the nose. This is rich and lush with some lingering sweetness on the finish. Overall, this is a large rendition of Chardonnay. It is a wine of pleasure, not nuance. 91 points.
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5/26/2019 - Burgundy Al wrote:
A Few Wines with BBQ (Chez Whitehead - Northbrook IL): Small glass, brief note. Enjoyable, but just dominated by its ripeness right now. Some structure on finish gives me hope.
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12/4/2018 - jlgnml Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drank over 3 days and got better each day. Initially upon opening very stringent. Needed time to blossom.
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7/26/2018 - jlgnml Likes this wine: 90 Points
Pop and pour. Wife said she had a pungent smell. I thought it was fine as maybe her glass was tainted. Over all enjoyable. Had better.
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2/3/2018 - SteelerFan wrote: 94 Points
Consistently great. As good as any Chardonnay in California.
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11/18/2017 - BilboBaggins wrote: 96 Points
Wow. Best Chardonnay I have ever tried. No idea how this will age, but I wouldn't take the chance.
Opened and given 30 minutes to breathe, this was poured into Zalto Burgundy glasses and just instantly gave of intense notes of honeycomb, lemon zest, candied orange rind, some white flowers, a hint of almonds. Just the essence of how I want my Californian Chardonnay to taste. I should have bought more bottles...
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1/2/2017 - lvjohn Likes this wine: 94 Points
Has a golden appearance. Tastes great with citrus and creame brulee notes. Wow is this good!
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12/3/2016 - SteelerFan wrote: 93 Points
Crowdpleaser
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8/9/2016 - SteelerFan wrote: 93 Points
Delicious.
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4/15/2016 - lvjohn Likes this wine: 96 Points
Fantastic CA Chardonnay! Heck, it's possibly the finest chard. we've served regardless of origin. Rich, full, and ultra clean with kind of a creamy citrus taste and mouth feel. Nice brilliant yellow in the glass.
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12/5/2015 - bambam Likes this wine: 94 Points
A full style chard with lemon curd, lychee, and some buttery oak. It does a great job of not over doing the oak while still making its presence known. Nice.
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7/15/2015 - Our cellar wrote: 99 Points
Consistent with previous notes, but more balanced, clean and crisp. IMO, this may be the best Chardonnay I have ever tasted.
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3/31/2015 - lvjohn Likes this wine: 96 Points
Amazingly good! Incredibly pure and persistent with great mouth feel. I would rate this wine higher if it weren't for the presence of vanilla from a bit of oak along side the intense citrus and tropical fruits. This is only a problem for those who prefer no evidence of wood in their chardonnay. Previous vintages didn't display this nearly as much. I really enjoy it in this vintage. It is still pretty young.
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3/31/2015 - facchair Likes this wine: 95 Points
Like the 05-WS 97 and 12-WS 96, this (11) is a fabulous wine too, maybe the best Chard label in CA ever. White burgandy in the U.S. Great job Don Ross and TRB!!
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3/31/2015 - facchair Likes this wine: 96 Points
This is clearly the best Chard made in CA. 96-05, 96-12 and the 2011 deserves the same WS great rating. The only great white burgundy like wine made in the US!!!
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8/3/2014 - ewasowicz Likes this wine:
Our favorite Chardonnay
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4/26/2014 - johnh1001 wrote: 93 Points
French Laundry (Napa): Really nice surprise. Apple and other orchard fruit. Slight lemon. Creamy. A bit of oak. Fresh and lively. Great value.
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3/19/2014 - Javatrader wrote: 94 Points
Closed
Milk, candle wax, honey, perfumed
Apple with a smoky backbone, tropical fruits, This is a big, huge, rich wine and we are drinking it too early
More Peter Michael than Burgundy but can't wait for the evolution.
I think this wine has some serious potential
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1/28/2014 - Rubinstein wrote: 95 Points
Butter, SAP, limestone, oyester Shell.very Burgundian.a truly great wine.
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12/22/2013 - whitmanlholt Likes this wine: 93 Points
Popped and poured. This is a golden straw colored wine. On the nose, there is lanolin combined with spring flowers. In the mouth, this is crisp, buttery, and fresh, leaving a bracing finish. This is a very good, balanced, and pure Chard -- one done in a more restrained style. Drink now or over the next several years. 93 points.
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6/2/2013 - mateo-san Likes this wine: 96 Points
The style is different from the previous releases. The tasting note in their website explains well. It is really like a top level white burgundy. I really love this vintage too. Excellent effort.
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6/1/2013 - ewasowicz wrote: 95 Points
Wow. Don Ross does it again. I have sat on this for 60 days since receiving it an of course we want to drink more than one bottle.
Nose: grass, lemon, stone
Taste: lemon, light oak, butter. Very smooth.
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4/16/2013 - Our cellar wrote: 97 Points
Absolutely stunning. Tropical notes with slight acidity and minimal typical Chardonnay butter. Beautiful wine.
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