deep gold color. nose with butter, apples, seashell, and crushed rock. full bodied with good acidity. nice, rounded mouthfeel. ripe golden apple, gold raisin, and cleansing stone on the palate. finishes long with a clean lingering citrus. good focus and richness but lacks complexity.
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A "Burgundian" Dinner (Chez Nick): Stony nose, rather grown-up and authoritative. Such lovely balance on the palate, with limey fruit and a touch of something savoury, buttery yet bitter, something mealy to provide amplitude on the midpalate, and a long finish. My favourite white tonight, and a producer I'll look out for.
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A Burgundian evening at Nick's (Chez Nick): A little muted, brine and stones. Opens to become rounder, but not buttery, and is never as expressive as I feel it should be. It's good wine, well made, but doesn't to me really fit in the California bucket. It's quite pleasant, I like it, but is missing something that I can't put my finger on unless it's excitement. Maybe it too needs more time.
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Burgundian dinner (Chez Nick): Shy nose: orange and nutmeg, ginger, wet stone and a honeyed note. Vertical and tart palate: fleeting. Underwhelming for me, although it did seem to become more expressive with time.
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Nick's Burgundian dinner (North London): This come across as quite serious and reserved on the nose with some sea spray and iodine. With time gives a little bit more with clean pineapple notes. Palate has some weight and an undefinable savoury element but flavours seem a bit reticent to me. Not sure about this one.
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A richer style which reflects both the year and the site, this needs a good decant to shine. This started out a bit ponderous, but with air it lightened in color and brightened up. Strong anise and florals here, with sufficient lemony flavors to keep it interesting. I think this will be better with a little more time and a lot of air.
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Decanted for two hours. The slightly nutty nose wafts bright Meyer lemon, star fruit, tangerine, sea mist, and spring meadow grass. Almost medium bodied, tbe acid is bright and verging on plush in the mid-palate as it sharpens on the finish. Flavors include Marcona almond, slightly sweet Meyer lemon, orange zest, and a bit of brine. This is good, but it feels a little flat. I’m either late to the party or catching it at an awkward phase.
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Popped and poured with crab cakes (from E&S, of course). Deep golden yellow color. Typical Ceritas citrus elements, along with quince and spice notes. With time this developed a terrific floral element- something of a cross between honeysuckle and jasmine- just fantastic (I'm a sucker for those floral notes in my wines). Fairly rich and weighty for a Ceritas, but still with that signature backbone. Flavors of mineral, orchard fruit and unripe peach. As it warms there's a bit of a lemon oil quality in the finish. 92+/93 for Domino and I, respectively.
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A solid wine on again by this restrained producer. The wine is indeed as expected an oaky Chardonnay but the oak is mild and well assimilated with the wine and adds rather than leads. Soft and round but also with a lot of green fruit, well mannered on the alcohol and general a new world wine with old world finesse as we have come to expect for t his producer. 92 and went excellent with crab tacos.
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Time really appears to be helping this one along based on the prior reviews and the implied arc for the maturity.
Popped and poured over two hours. Initial notes are very similar to Rich S., but I found it opening pretty quickly and I also thought it quite vibrant with the acid quite present. To my taste, it was the most well balanced of the 2015 Ceritas chardonnay's I've tried and the first one I really enjoyed.
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served blind. Wasn't sure about this one. lots of sulfer at first needed to blow off. Some cream, yellow orchard fruit, nice wine - wish I had more time with it.
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Popped and poured. Light golden color. Tight upon first opening with just a bit of citrus and green apple coming through along with a touch of oak. After around 30-45 mins, wine opened up a bit more to reveal a nice mix of white orchard and citrus fruit. Similar flavors on the palate with some slightly toasted creamy oak. Acid not as vibrant as expected and perhaps that is why the wine didn't show as well as my earlier bottle. Still really quite good but a touch below typical Ceritas quality for me.
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Was expecting better. Decanted 45 minutes and served slightly chilled, the wine never really opened up for me. Had good balance and acidity as usual for Santa Cruz Mtn Ceritas, but the finish was short and lacked a bit of density. Maybe a little age would help?
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Nose, integration of fruit and acid, fuller mouthfeel, everything falling neatly into place. Nice spot for drinking right now - would recommend 1hr open, serve slightly chilled.
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Bright yellow. Lemon zest. Orange pith notes. This has a crisp crystalline character. Little detectable oak- this is trim and fit- not a bit of flabbiness. Very Old World. A terrific Chardonnay.
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Popped and poured. Pale lemon color. Nose of green apple, crushed rock, lemon zest, white florals, and bit of nutty toast. Very pretty. Similar flavors on the palate with a blast of tart citrus and mineral, saline type flavors rounded out with a kiss of oak. Zippy acidity and a clean and crisp mouthfeel make this really enjoyable to drink with food. Delicious.
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Another Ceritas winner. Neither as reticent as the Porter-Bass nor as forward as the Charles Heintz. Nose is crushed rock, lemon oil, salinity; on the palate lemon comes to mind, but it’s faint and there’s a lot of chalk and stone to dry it out. Day two was more open, pear emerged next to the lemon and crushed rock. This one seems to need more time than the others for its personality to come through.
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Wife and I both enjoyed very much. This is an elevated, clean, pointed Chardonnay, without the oak, vanilla, and glycerin you might expect. On the nose, there lemon custard, green apple, with a depth of minerality and crushed rock. Flavors lead with citrus that’s immediately balanced with rocks and minerals. Just a lovely, edgy, lifted Chardonnay, with enough going on to make interesting and thoughtful. My wife said it tastes like spring. I agree!
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Nice mix of green and red apple notes, lots of rocky minerals, some maritime hints on the nose, really fresh mouth feel with more mineral and tart orchard fruit coming through this has got great length to it too
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Light yellow. Lemon, tart citrus tinged fruit. Stony mineralogy on finish. On the austere side of the spectrum- this is much better as it comes closer to room temperature.
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-Bottle at cellar temperature (54°) -Cork in excellent condition-no wine bleed on cork -No decant, served from the bottle -Color: Light straw -Nose: Sharp citrus & grapefruit. -Palate: Lemon, guava & white grapefruit up front with an herbal (tarragon) on the back palate but a very clean and quick finish, not much lingering on the palate. Medium to high acidity and mouthfeel. -Paired with Salmon (with capers). Would go very well with lighter fish or chicken in a light sauce. -Overall: Very nice and just ready to drink but will last easily 2-5 more years. Will try again in 2 years, I expect the fruit to soften a bit and give some of the herbal notes a chance to come through.
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Dinner with Tim (Tim's): Relatively neutral nose. Light lemon. Very light palate. Slightly dilute midpalate. High acid. Medium plus alcohol (13.3%). I don't get it. Maybe it needs time? Seems dilute to me.
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Not buttery and sweet if that's what you're into, but has higher acid, citrus, green apple, fresh fruit, saline quality about it. 13.3% abv. Needs more time to come together.
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MNB: Grab Bag (Home (Noe st)): (non-blind) Clear, bright, medium minus gold color. Some tartaric acid crystals - not cold-stabilized. Diminished aromatics of just-ripe lemon, slight reduction (struck match), green apple. Dry, medium body, medium alcohol - 12.5%, high acid, no phenolics. Slight impression of new oak (maybe 15%) on the palate. Good density.
Neutral wine with a touch of oak in a high-acid style. Good density and length. Some nice mid-palate citrus.
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Racy and refreshing Santa Cruz Mountain chardonnay. Perhaps it could use some more time to soften and integrate, but at this stage I prefer the Trout Gulch to this one.
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Has potential but it seems like it needs a little more time to come together. Still a good wine with lime, grapefruit, salinity and stone, med bodied, good acidity but finish is cut short.
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Came across a bit richer than previous vintages, golden apples, lime, minerals, with a grapefruit and subtle thyme note that add complexity, lots of the same on e palate with the richer fruit feel to it, medium acidity and length
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Tasting at Ceritas (Healdsburg, CA): Winery tasting. A striking contrast to the Trout Gulch. A far more savory and herbal aromatic, blended in with apple. Palate has green apple, mineral and more herbal notes. Bright fresh acids. 90-92.
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5/19/2024 - Beezc Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drank side by side with the 2015 Porter Bass. The Peter Martin Ray was good but the Porter Bass was better IMO.
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1/21/2024 - bps2266 wrote:
deep gold color. nose with butter, apples, seashell, and crushed rock. full bodied with good acidity. nice, rounded mouthfeel. ripe golden apple, gold raisin, and cleansing stone on the palate. finishes long with a clean lingering citrus. good focus and richness but lacks complexity.
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11/3/2023 - NickA Likes this wine: 93 Points
A "Burgundian" Dinner (Chez Nick): Stony nose, rather grown-up and authoritative. Such lovely balance on the palate, with limey fruit and a touch of something savoury, buttery yet bitter, something mealy to provide amplitude on the midpalate, and a long finish. My favourite white tonight, and a producer I'll look out for.
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11/3/2023 - oenanthe Likes this wine: 88 Points
A Burgundian evening at Nick's (Chez Nick): A little muted, brine and stones. Opens to become rounder, but not buttery, and is never as expressive as I feel it should be. It's good wine, well made, but doesn't to me really fit in the California bucket. It's quite pleasant, I like it, but is missing something that I can't put my finger on unless it's excitement. Maybe it too needs more time.
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11/3/2023 - Joshvoulters Likes this wine: 89 Points
Burgundian dinner (Chez Nick): Shy nose: orange and nutmeg, ginger, wet stone and a honeyed note. Vertical and tart palate: fleeting. Underwhelming for me, although it did seem to become more expressive with time.
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11/3/2023 - Radders12345 wrote: 89 Points
Nick's Burgundian dinner (North London): This come across as quite serious and reserved on the nose with some sea spray and iodine. With time gives a little bit more with clean pineapple notes. Palate has some weight and an undefinable savoury element but flavours seem a bit reticent to me. Not sure about this one.
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10/4/2023 - acidqueen wrote: 91 Points
A richer style which reflects both the year and the site, this needs a good decant to shine. This started out a bit ponderous, but with air it lightened in color and brightened up. Strong anise and florals here, with sufficient lemony flavors to keep it interesting. I think this will be better with a little more time and a lot of air.
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1/25/2023 - goodvitis.com Likes this wine: 90 Points
Decanted for two hours. The slightly nutty nose wafts bright Meyer lemon, star fruit, tangerine, sea mist, and spring meadow grass. Almost medium bodied, tbe acid is bright and verging on plush in the mid-palate as it sharpens on the finish. Flavors include Marcona almond, slightly sweet Meyer lemon, orange zest, and a bit of brine. This is good, but it feels a little flat. I’m either late to the party or catching it at an awkward phase.
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1/16/2022 - agnorger Likes this wine: 92 Points
Super tropical notes tonight. Pineapple come out strong. Paired with crab cakes nicely
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5/22/2021 - qcwino wrote:
A nice wine. Fairly medium all around. (Not in a bad way)Medium ripe apple, medium acid and freshness. Fairly long finish. Good sense of balance.
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12/7/2020 - AllRed wrote: 93 Points
Popped and poured with crab cakes (from E&S, of course). Deep golden yellow color. Typical Ceritas citrus elements, along with quince and spice notes. With time this developed a terrific floral element- something of a cross between honeysuckle and jasmine- just fantastic (I'm a sucker for those floral notes in my wines). Fairly rich and weighty for a Ceritas, but still with that signature backbone. Flavors of mineral, orchard fruit and unripe peach. As it warms there's a bit of a lemon oil quality in the finish. 92+/93 for Domino and I, respectively.
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11/15/2020 - Jmb4263 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Perfect pairing with lobster. Drinking well now but has plenty of time to go.
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7/18/2020 - Papies wrote: 92 Points
A solid wine on again by this restrained producer. The wine is indeed as expected an oaky Chardonnay but the oak is mild and well assimilated with the wine and adds rather than leads. Soft and round but also with a lot of green fruit, well mannered on the alcohol and general a new world wine with old world finesse as we have come to expect for t his producer. 92 and went excellent with crab tacos.
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7/1/2020 - 560 B&W Likes this wine: 93 Points
Still tremendous and not declining. 13.3%
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4/28/2020 - R.H. Likes this wine:
Decanted a couple hours ahead of drinking which helped round out the overall feel. Drinking really nicely now. Couldn’t put it down
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10/18/2019 - OG-Wino wrote: 92 Points
Time really appears to be helping this one along based on the prior reviews and the implied arc for the maturity.
Popped and poured over two hours. Initial notes are very similar to Rich S., but I found it opening pretty quickly and I also thought it quite vibrant with the acid quite present. To my taste, it was the most well balanced of the 2015 Ceritas chardonnay's I've tried and the first one I really enjoyed.
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9/19/2019 - lolo66 wrote:
served blind. Wasn't sure about this one. lots of sulfer at first needed to blow off. Some cream, yellow orchard fruit, nice wine - wish I had more time with it.
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9/19/2019 - Rich S Likes this wine: 91 Points
Popped and poured. Light golden color. Tight upon first opening with just a bit of citrus and green apple coming through along with a touch of oak. After around 30-45 mins, wine opened up a bit more to reveal a nice mix of white orchard and citrus fruit. Similar flavors on the palate with some slightly toasted creamy oak. Acid not as vibrant as expected and perhaps that is why the wine didn't show as well as my earlier bottle. Still really quite good but a touch below typical Ceritas quality for me.
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8/13/2019 - 560 B&W Likes this wine: 93 Points
And time has done its work. Lovely. Mid body, mid+ acid, 13.3%
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6/8/2019 - Burglover13 wrote: 91 Points
Was expecting better. Decanted 45 minutes and served slightly chilled, the wine never really opened up for me. Had good balance and acidity as usual for Santa Cruz Mtn Ceritas, but the finish was short and lacked a bit of density. Maybe a little age would help?
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5/23/2019 - dclaggett Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nose, integration of fruit and acid, fuller mouthfeel, everything falling neatly into place. Nice spot for drinking right now - would recommend 1hr open, serve slightly chilled.
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12/13/2018 - mjf@ulkner wrote: 94 Points
Bright yellow. Lemon zest. Orange pith notes. This has a crisp crystalline character. Little detectable oak- this is trim and fit- not a bit of flabbiness. Very Old World. A terrific Chardonnay.
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9/15/2018 - Rich S Likes this wine: 93 Points
Popped and poured. Pale lemon color. Nose of green apple, crushed rock, lemon zest, white florals, and bit of nutty toast. Very pretty. Similar flavors on the palate with a blast of tart citrus and mineral, saline type flavors rounded out with a kiss of oak. Zippy acidity and a clean and crisp mouthfeel make this really enjoyable to drink with food. Delicious.
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9/2/2018 - Grillgod Likes this wine: 91 Points
Lemon mineral saline, very pure and elegant fruit. Even better the 2nd day.
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5/19/2018 - Scamber Likes this wine: 92 Points
Another Ceritas winner. Neither as reticent as the Porter-Bass nor as forward as the Charles Heintz. Nose is crushed rock, lemon oil, salinity; on the palate lemon comes to mind, but it’s faint and there’s a lot of chalk and stone to dry it out. Day two was more open, pear emerged next to the lemon and crushed rock. This one seems to need more time than the others for its personality to come through.
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4/21/2018 - WineGold wrote: 93 Points
Wife and I both enjoyed very much. This is an elevated, clean, pointed Chardonnay, without the oak, vanilla, and glycerin you might expect. On the nose, there lemon custard, green apple, with a depth of minerality and crushed rock. Flavors lead with citrus that’s immediately balanced with rocks and minerals. Just a lovely, edgy, lifted Chardonnay, with enough going on to make interesting and thoughtful. My wife said it tastes like spring. I agree!
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2/17/2018 - eoinhharkins wrote: 92 Points
Nice mix of green and red apple notes, lots of rocky minerals, some maritime hints on the nose, really fresh mouth feel with more mineral and tart orchard fruit coming through this has got great length to it too
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1/22/2018 - mjf@ulkner wrote: 90 Points
Light yellow. Lemon, tart citrus tinged fruit. Stony mineralogy on finish. On the austere side of the spectrum- this is much better as it comes closer to room temperature.
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1/3/2018 - Black Kat Likes this wine: 90 Points
-Bottle at cellar temperature (54°)
-Cork in excellent condition-no wine bleed on cork
-No decant, served from the bottle
-Color: Light straw
-Nose: Sharp citrus & grapefruit.
-Palate: Lemon, guava & white grapefruit up front with an herbal (tarragon) on the back palate but a very clean and quick finish, not much lingering on the palate. Medium to high acidity and mouthfeel.
-Paired with Salmon (with capers). Would go very well with lighter fish or chicken in a light sauce.
-Overall: Very nice and just ready to drink but will last easily 2-5 more years. Will try again in 2 years, I expect the fruit to soften a bit and give some of the herbal notes a chance to come through.
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10/6/2017 - RajivAyyangar wrote:
Dinner with Tim (Tim's): Relatively neutral nose. Light lemon. Very light palate. Slightly dilute midpalate. High acid. Medium plus alcohol (13.3%). I don't get it. Maybe it needs time? Seems dilute to me.
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8/20/2017 - dclaggett wrote: 90 Points
Not buttery and sweet if that's what you're into, but has higher acid, citrus, green apple, fresh fruit, saline quality about it. 13.3% abv. Needs more time to come together.
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8/15/2017 - RajivAyyangar wrote: 89 Points
Pasta with Ousi et al. (Portrero Hill, SF): Pale toffee. Yellow citrus. Fuller and higher acid than the Leflaive.
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8/14/2017 - RajivAyyangar wrote: 89 Points
MNB: Grab Bag (Home (Noe st)): (non-blind)
Clear, bright, medium minus gold color. Some tartaric acid crystals - not cold-stabilized.
Diminished aromatics of just-ripe lemon, slight reduction (struck match), green apple.
Dry, medium body, medium alcohol - 12.5%, high acid, no phenolics. Slight impression of new oak (maybe 15%) on the palate. Good density.
Neutral wine with a touch of oak in a high-acid style.
Good density and length. Some nice mid-palate citrus.
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7/23/2017 - EstimatedEyes wrote: 90 Points
Racy and refreshing Santa Cruz Mountain chardonnay. Perhaps it could use some more time to soften and integrate, but at this stage I prefer the Trout Gulch to this one.
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5/2/2017 - PANYC Likes this wine: 91 Points
Has potential but it seems like it needs a little more time to come together. Still a good wine with lime, grapefruit, salinity and stone, med bodied, good acidity but finish is cut short.
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4/23/2017 - eoinhharkins Likes this wine:
Came across a bit richer than previous vintages, golden apples, lime, minerals, with a grapefruit and subtle thyme note that add complexity, lots of the same on e palate with the richer fruit feel to it, medium acidity and length
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4/10/2017 - Mountster27 Likes this wine: 93 Points
No new notes, but man is this good.
I would have left for a while still but my wife came upstairs with it and I couldn't say no
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4/5/2017 - 560 B&W Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nice mid-weight. Needs time to come into balance. 13.3%
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4/1/2017 - Mountster27 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Another stunner.
White peach and citrus. River rock.
Well balanced and great on its own and also with multiple cheeses.
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4/1/2017 - ljl203 wrote:
Pale straw color. Marshmallow, honey, grass on the nose. Saline, grapefruit, lemon curd, acid core.
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3/30/2017 - Nanda wrote:
Tasting at Ceritas (Healdsburg, CA): Winery tasting. A striking contrast to the Trout Gulch. A far more savory and herbal aromatic, blended in with apple. Palate has green apple, mineral and more herbal notes. Bright fresh acids. 90-92.
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