Deep gold. Nose tells you right away this is a buttery wine, older style. But it IS drinking superbly, probably has deepened with age. Long long palate. Lemon curd, white fruit, but definite honey and butter. Not exactly for me but to be fair, amazing how nicely it’s aged, and it’s a high quality wine. If you prefer the style, 95+
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I am starting to see the magic of this wine. Unlike before, I immediately picked up some sweetness that counterbalanced the tart and rich, tropical fruit flavors. Kind of like key lime pie with whipped cream. Or a banana daiquiri. Sweet, fruity...and tart. This sensation brought about more enjoyment for me and to see this wine evolve has been eye-opening. Not sure if this evolution is me or the wine.
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Popped and poured. Opens with a lovely floral nose intermixed with hints of orchard fruit. The wine is surprisingly quite cloudy and so there may be a bit of taint somehow. On the plate it is reasonably good with flavors of Granny Smith apples, tropical fruits, minerals and toast but there isn’t a lot of subtlety or energy showing through. The wine is also a bit advanced so I would drink it sooner rather than later
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I reviewed this a couple of years ago. It was very good then and it’s very good now. One or two reviewers have been unduly pessimistic about it’s staying power but it’s still in excellent shape. Same tasting motes as before, tropical fruits, caramel, good acidity and a pleasure to drink.
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Burnt buttered popcorn, slightly reduced, lactic, buttercream. Slick, leesy palate with a sticky, apple brandy finish. No acidity and lacking freshness.
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US BYOB #1: Rich and over-oaked nose with pears, pineapple, yellow plums, rubber, vanilla and spices. Big body and rich mouthfeel, vegetative, dry, asparagus and warm finish.
Excessive oak, good acidity, high alcohol.
1 BV, 2 WV.
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I just had to test this wine. Now cloudier in appearance than a week ago. Aromas are of pungent white wine, which is turning just now, on the nose but very sweet. The flavors in mouth are quite similar to a week ago. This damn thing has held really well and I am oh so impressed.
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An extraordinary effort of a wine. Viscous and rich with butterscotch and caramel defining both the nose and flavor in mouth. Immediate flavors of barrel wood which provides incredible smoothness lead to a, close to the edge, over ripened fruit. I cannot believe how much the nose and palette are linked in pure harmony of experience. Right now this wine is near perfect for me. This might be 98+
So for a full throttle wine I ask can it last ? In my experience generally not. Thus I would say drink now. At 6 years this is close to the end of most Napa chard's
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Very classy Chardonnay. Not many California Chardonnays that are better than this. Drinking beautifully now. Not over Oakes and along with the richer flavors, caramel some tropical fruit etc. enough minerality to balance them out. Very enjoyable with Roast Chicken.
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This is a terrific Chardonnay; very Californian but not in anyway over the top (ie. not overoaked). Drinking beautifully now. Had with Roast Chicken and it was a perfect accompaniment.
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Game dinner with friends: In the bouquet caramel and butterscotch. On the palate a concentrated and full bodied wine, with butter great acidity and a good length. Beautiful wine.
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Found this tasting to be a little disjointed. Lovely lemon, vanilla bean and chamomile notes throughout. Wonderful texture with perfect round mouthfeel. The discombobulation comes through on the mid palette and finish. The acidity overwhelms the taste buds giving a lasting tingling sensation. Very sweet as well; let's give it another try in a year and see if it is integrating.
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A beautiful, full-bodied Chardonnay. Noise of pear and hazelnut. Layered tastes of grapefruit and stone, with focused (but not overwhelming) acidity. 14.2% alcohol, though might be higher. Definitely on the bigger side of the spectrum, but this wine, at least to me, balances fruit, minerality, and acidity in a compelling way. Make sure to decant and let warm up a bit.
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2/25/2022 - cweiner Likes this wine: 94 Points
A favorite winery.
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7/3/2021 - rcg62 wrote: 92 Points
Deep gold. Nose tells you right away this is a buttery wine, older style. But it IS drinking superbly, probably has deepened with age. Long long palate. Lemon curd, white fruit, but definite honey and butter. Not exactly for me but to be fair, amazing how nicely it’s aged, and it’s a high quality wine. If you prefer the style, 95+
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1/24/2021 - dfresh wrote: 94 Points
I am starting to see the magic of this wine. Unlike before, I immediately picked up some sweetness that counterbalanced the tart and rich, tropical fruit flavors. Kind of like key lime pie with whipped cream. Or a banana daiquiri. Sweet, fruity...and tart. This sensation brought about more enjoyment for me and to see this wine evolve has been eye-opening. Not sure if this evolution is me or the wine.
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9/11/2020 - mclanew wrote: 89 Points
Popped and poured. Opens with a lovely floral nose intermixed with hints of orchard fruit. The wine is surprisingly quite cloudy and so there may be a bit of taint somehow. On the plate it is reasonably good with flavors of Granny Smith apples, tropical fruits, minerals and toast but there isn’t a lot of subtlety or energy showing through. The wine is also a bit advanced so I would drink it sooner rather than later
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8/14/2020 - Puligny33 wrote: 94 Points
I reviewed this a couple of years ago. It was very good then and it’s very good now. One or two reviewers have been unduly pessimistic about it’s staying power but it’s still in excellent shape. Same tasting motes as before, tropical fruits, caramel, good acidity and a pleasure to drink.
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5/26/2020 - DangerMouse81 Does not like this wine: 88 Points
Burnt buttered popcorn, slightly reduced, lactic, buttercream. Slick, leesy palate with a sticky, apple brandy finish. No acidity and lacking freshness.
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6/21/2019 - mdfuller Likes this wine: 95 Points
Both my wife and I loved this wine. Solstice with humus and veggies ... the wine was the brute - and so well matched with the humus
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9/14/2018 - Markus IWC wrote: 87 Points
US BYOB #1: Rich and over-oaked nose with pears, pineapple, yellow plums, rubber, vanilla and spices. Big body and rich mouthfeel, vegetative, dry, asparagus and warm finish.
Excessive oak, good acidity, high alcohol.
1 BV, 2 WV.
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8/20/2018 - Minnesota wrote: 94 Points
I agree with others best drunk now. May hold longer but do not see likelihood of improving on its present flavor profile.
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5/29/2018 - tomoem Likes this wine: 95 Points
.... seven days later since first opened.
I just had to test this wine. Now cloudier in appearance than a week ago. Aromas are of pungent white wine, which is turning just now, on the nose but very sweet. The flavors in mouth are quite similar to a week ago. This damn thing has held really well and I am oh so impressed.
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5/22/2018 - tomoem Likes this wine: 97 Points
An extraordinary effort of a wine. Viscous and rich with butterscotch and caramel defining both the nose and flavor in mouth. Immediate flavors of barrel wood which provides incredible smoothness lead to a, close to the edge, over ripened fruit. I cannot believe how much the nose and palette are linked in pure harmony of experience. Right now this wine is near perfect for me. This might be 98+
So for a full throttle wine I ask can it last ? In my experience generally not. Thus I would say drink now. At 6 years this is close to the end of most Napa chard's
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5/22/2018 - cweiner Likes this wine: 96 Points
Prefer it to the far more expensive Coup de Coeur
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5/11/2018 - cweiner Likes this wine: 95 Points
For me, a near ideal chardonnay. Deep yellow, hints of fruit, well integrated, smooth and free of the alcohol burn for some Morlet products.
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4/16/2018 - Puligny33 wrote: 94 Points
Very classy Chardonnay. Not many California Chardonnays that are better than this. Drinking beautifully now. Not over Oakes and along with the richer flavors, caramel some tropical fruit etc. enough minerality to balance them out. Very enjoyable with Roast Chicken.
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2/25/2018 - dfresh wrote: 96 Points
Serious wine, powerful, concentrated and bold.
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2/15/2018 - worldwidewine Likes this wine: 98 Points
Really fantastic and exciting!
The best chardonnay since 2010.
Will be at its best in 2022.
Wow !
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1/11/2018 - Puligny33 Likes this wine: 94 Points
This is a terrific Chardonnay; very Californian but not in anyway over the top (ie. not overoaked). Drinking beautifully now. Had with Roast Chicken and it was a perfect accompaniment.
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11/24/2017 - Zweder wrote: 93 Points
Game dinner with friends: In the bouquet caramel and butterscotch. On the palate a concentrated and full bodied wine, with butter great acidity and a good length. Beautiful wine.
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6/4/2017 - aegerter Likes this wine: 96 Points
Wonderfully lush Chardonnay. Complexity and texture delivers a hedonistic drinking experience.
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3/12/2017 - dfresh wrote: 89 Points
Found this tasting to be a little disjointed. Lovely lemon, vanilla bean and chamomile notes throughout. Wonderful texture with perfect round mouthfeel. The discombobulation comes through on the mid palette and finish. The acidity overwhelms the taste buds giving a lasting tingling sensation. Very sweet as well; let's give it another try in a year and see if it is integrating.
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1/13/2017 - dlcass Likes this wine: 98 Points
Delicious. Amazing nose with caramelized vanilla; minerality, wet stone; nice mouth feel and finish. Amazing wine.
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1/2/2017 - pjgruber wrote: 99 Points
Unreal
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6/16/2016 - Pquaker wrote: 94 Points
Buttery, malolactic, some mineral, Rhone style. Smooth. We let it sit for 20 mins in glass to open up.
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5/27/2016 - dfresh wrote: 94 Points
nearly flawless. Superb execution. Flavors. Depth. Mouthfeel.
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3/5/2016 - shaferguy91 wrote: 94 Points
Absolutely delicious.
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3/4/2016 - Snowryeder Likes this wine: 94 Points
Excellent. Drinking very well now.
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11/19/2015 - Bigtuna Likes this wine: 94 Points
Beautiful, rich, full bodied California Chard, not too much oak
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7/26/2015 - Martinjbrand wrote: 92 Points
A little too big for my taste, would have liked this better with more minerality.
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3/30/2015 - msuwine Likes this wine: 93 Points
A beautiful, full-bodied Chardonnay. Noise of pear and hazelnut. Layered tastes of grapefruit and stone, with focused (but not overwhelming) acidity. 14.2% alcohol, though might be higher. Definitely on the bigger side of the spectrum, but this wine, at least to me, balances fruit, minerality, and acidity in a compelling way. Make sure to decant and let warm up a bit.
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3/14/2015 - G_H Likes this wine: 95 Points
Amazing richness, lemon curd, vanilla, great viscosity, really really love this wine!
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9/16/2014 - REWindsor Likes this wine: 94 Points
Big full buttery Cali chard. Very complex. Somewhat fat but reasonably balanced. Long finish. Huge extract. Moderate oak.
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8/25/2014 - G_H Likes this wine: 95 Points
Surprisingly even richer then the coup de coeur, nice buttered popcorn notes, really long. Great wine!
Drink this at room temp...
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