Boy, this is not our style of chardonnay. Deep yellow with butterscotch, caramel, rich vanilla nose more reminiscent of dessert. Forced myself to continue drinking though did improve -- a bit -- over time. This is not the Marcassin of 90s and 00s.
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Palate: Rich fruits of deep pineapples with a bit of guava, providing a bit of unripe prickliness in a good way. While rich, this has a bit of elegance and good acidity to keep this moving. Spiced oak gets pronounced with a bit more time.
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It was in a line up of Chardonnays served blind (including some Burgundies):
1. 2013 Marcassin 2. 2019 Domaine Henri Boillot Puligny-Montrachet Clos de la Mouchère 3. 2018 Kongsgaard Chardonnay The Judge 4. 2021 Faiveley Bâtard-Montrachet 5. 2022 Walter Scott Chardonnay X-Novo Vineyard 6. 2020 Henri Boillot Corton-Charlemagne
2013 Marcassin - The wine was easily identified as CA Chardonnay by everyone. The wine was rich, buttery, with nice minerality (saline and chalk), citrus and pear notes and some oak and butterscotch on the finish. At 11 years old, this wine is nicely integrated and drinking quite well. Should hold up quite a bit longer, so no hurry on these! Solid 97 for me, and I feel that may be conservative. This is one of my all time favorite Chardonnays from anywhere, and my favorite American Chardonnay. I wish they would get to their next release!
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Pop and pour into a decanter - 30-60 minutes would have been preferable, but this was a last-minute decision to add to the evening's lineup. In the decanter, slightly cloudy pale gold; in the glass, clear pale gold. On the nose, Meyer lemon, followed by a shifting mix of spices - nutmeg, cardamom, thyme, and a hint of clove. On the palate, a mouth-filling oily texture, delivering a foundation of fruit (more Meyer lemon, apples), upon which the spices and herbs come in and out of focus. Class.
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Decanted about 30 minutes but drank slowly over the next hour or so. Did a blind side by side with a 13 Domaine Serene Recolte. In the glass, a beautiful medium yellow going towards fresh hay. The Recolte was much darker. On the nose, plenty of oak, lemon and tropical notes that continued to evolve with time in the glass. Beautiful juice and a long delicious finish. One of the best Chardonnay's I have ever had.
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Decanted for two hours...an absolute stunner...pale to medium yellow in color...lemon, vanilla, buttered popcorn (?) on the nose...smooth...great finish.
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Served with appetizers (cheese / olives). Gold color with no real sediment. On nose, butter, lemon, floral and vanilla - not overdone. On palate, similar flavor profile to nose ex. vanilla. Medium body/acidity and no noticeable tannins (as expected). Long finish. Has aged beautifully. At this price point I'd prefer a Grand Cru Burgundy but this is a very nice bottle of wine. 93+/-
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Consistent with previous tasting notes - we did the wine no favors by serving it with boldly seasoned vegetables and fish. Still clearly a wine of class, but, if I had to do it again, and having experienced this wine when it shows at its peak, I'd pair it with something milder, so that the full spectrum of floral, herbal, and spice aromatics and flavors present themselves clearly.
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Helen Turley is undoubtedly the reference in California when we talk about chardonnay or pinot noir.
Incredibly rich nose of pear, beeswax, vanilla and hazelnut.
The mouth is exuberant. It’s a sort of Meursault on steroids. We take the Murisalian boldness and add Californian exuberance. This gives an obviously rich wine but its acidic structure gives spring to a kaleidoscopic whole which becomes almost ethereal. It is glycerinated, wet stone, candied pear, citrus, vanilla and honey. Everything is based on an impressive structure. Finish both glycerinated and saline with a length propelled by an acidic touch.
An impressive wine, an experience in itself for me who struggles to find happiness in white outside France.
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2013 vintage. Overtly decadent, überripe and spent when tasting just after decanting. No sediment. Initial temp tasted was at about 60 degrees F. Rated an 8.8/88. Beyond golden color in the decanter. Prepared an ice bucket ice bath with double linen napkins atop the remaining ice and placed the decanter roughly 25% into the ice bath. Let sit for 20-25 mins. Retasted. Wine temp was closer to 45 degrees F. Completely different wine. Tasted like a top-notch, 10 year old Meursault with ridiculous amounts of vanilla bean and crème brûlée. Slight undercurrent of acidity wove the entire endeavor together. Now? A 9.4/94. Not my style but it didn't suck. 11.15.23.
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This is good, no where near the best Marcassin Chard I have had. started off orangish and after 2 hours brilliant gold, this needs time. I agree served cold or room temp changes this wine dramatically. At the end all the richness, butter and oak from a classic Maracassin but too damn flabby. No other way to say it. I like the leaner style and that is usually with vintage, but this was so over the top not the biggest fan
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Extremely nice. Very pure fruit with almost no oak evident and some tannins. Some caramel notes...Very pure fruit but not a fruit bomb. Everything you would expect from a boutique, high end California chardonnay. Not sure why I rated it a point lower than last time I tried it, maybe just a phase it's going through. Obviously mature and ready to drink...looooooong finish...stays with you forever.
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Plenty of life remaining in this wine, as it was equally drinkable on the second day. I am very happy to have been offered an allocation of this wine, given its prices in the secondary market!
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Judgement of Eagan (Jason P's, St. Paul, MN): Light medium gold color. PNP, drank a glass over an hour plus. Perfumed on the nose, with candied pear, tropical notes, orange and lemon, orange blossoms. On the palate this decadent and rich, soft texture, pear, white pepper, savory, citrus, voluminous, and long. This was excellent, but not quite as good as a couple other even more memorable bottles from recent memory. Big stylistic differences, and I like both a lot, but the nod for me tonight clearly goes to the '10 Bonneau du Martray CC. Group vote was 5-4 for the Bonneau.
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Cracking the whip; 10/16/2023-10/23/2023 (Eagan, MN): N: The yellow fruits on this Marcassin are deeper and rounder having it next to the Corton, a touch of deep honey without weighing it down, and dried hay.
P: A pleasantly waxy note, yellow and white fruits, a core of honied fruits with the emphasis on the fruits. The honey tastes slightly intense but allows the fruit to still shine. Gorgeous.
I definitely enjoyed this closer to cellar temp as it provided more freshness. It got a little too heavy as it came to room temperature.
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Judgement of Eagan Wine Tasting (Jason's House): PnP....What can I say....Marcassin is my favorite Chardonnay producer. I still cannot pay secondary market prices for it, but Marcassin does totally rock!
This flight paired this wine against a 2010 Bonneau du Martray Corton Charlemagne. Both wines were stellar, and favorites likely came down to individual palates. For me, Marcassin was the better wine, but it was pretty even for the group, with the 2013 Marcassin edging out the 2010 Bonneau du Martray Corton Charlemagne.
The nuts and bolts: Creamy mouthfeel, with baked pear, apple and some citrus and stone fruit, coupled with hints of saline, butterscotch and toasted oak. Always a pleasure to drink and never disappoints! 97+ tonight!
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Judgement of Eagan (Jason's house): Very similar to a bottle a year ago, just a touch subdued this time around. Maybe because it was paired with a 2010 Bonneau du Martray Corton Charlemagne. This really was fantastic in a full-bodied california chardonnay well. Unctuous mouthfeel, spicy complexity and enough lime/acid to keep it balanced.
This is as close to perfection as it gets. Rich, luxurious, palate drenching with legs that go on forever. Opened 30 minutes before drinking and it improved significantly over the next 2 hours. Lived up to its reputation in every way, our guests were visibly, verbally and absolutely floored.
Has some gold to the color. Nuts, bread and vanilla on the nose. This is a big wine, though it’s very well made and is quite tasty for what it is. My initial thought was that this should probably be drunk up, but it did hold up very well over three nights.
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Delicious notes of buttered popcorn, sweet orchard fruit, and a hint of honey. Moderate acid and finish. The 2013 Chard doesn't have the complexity, vibrancy, and length that the 2013 Pinot has, so my preference will still be for their reds. However, it was a real joy to finally try this.
Le nez est hallucinant de complexité et d’aromatique, beurre, miel, très riche, la bouche est ample et riche aussi bien sur, un peu chaud et alcooleux en finale. J’ai préféré la bouche du 2012 mais le nez du 2013.
Tasted 2012 and 2013, prefered the palate of 2012 but the nose of 2013. Which was extremely aromatic, even buttery and with lots of honey but it was so special, the palate followed suit and was a little warm on the finish though.
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Yup, this is still great and drinking at peak. Deep, folded and rich. Liquified crème brûlée and mineral. Sometime you need something lean and sometime nothing will do but opulence. Drink now of in the next five.
Outstanding rich and concentrated aromas and flavors easily recognizable as chardonnay. Mouth-coating, buttery style. Long aftertaste. Drink up, though. Ric
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A fair amount of reduction given the age but it blew off nicely. Quite taut and complex in style with a lighter-body than expected with lovely flavors of tropical fruits and a whisp of smoke. There is plenty of acidity and the texture is unctuous but also lively. The finish is grippy and complex with notes of minerals and smoked apple. Ready but youthful. Drunk with Russell Bevan at his home in Napa.
Though not my very favorite style, this was still one of the best New World Chardonnays I've had. Pear, melon, honeysuckle, citrus, some minerality but not intense. Really hit its stride after 30 minutes in glass. Smooth, rich, and lengthy.
This was a real hit with the group especially the ladies but I was less impressed. The concentration of intense yellow fruit was obvious and attractive accompanied by a rich mouth feel and substantial length. What bothered me was the high level of phenols which made the mid palate quite bitter all the way to the finish. I like to think that more bottle aging will give it better balance since Marcassin Chardonnay has a reputation of aging very well, maybe better than their Pinots.
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Very good, but for my style preferences, not the ultimate in Chardonnay or anything close to 100 points. Nearly all of Aubert's bottlings appeal to me more.
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1982 Bordeaux (Jason's house): This wine is so aromatic. The nose is lively with ripe peach, melon and tropical fruit (pineapple stands out) in the foreground. This really was fantastic in a full-bodied california chardonnay well. Unctuous mouthfeel, spicy complexity and enough lime/acid to keep it balanced.
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P: Deep, intense, moderately dark yellow fruits, similar tropical fruits from the nose, deep bitter minerals and deep earth.
The wine is very full in terms of flavor and body without being big. There is an amazing bitterness of minerals that displays a beautiful contrast against the dark and deep yellow fruits. The fruits aren’t big and ripe but rather big and unsweetened, and yet still so good. If given more time in the glass, I believe this would have blossomed even more.
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Guy's Night: 1982 Bordeaux -- One for the Books (Jason P's, St. Paul, MN): Light medium gold color. Drank a glass over an hour plus. The nose is wafting wet stones, more tropical this time; pineapple, pear, lemon peel, spice cake. The palate is full bodied, less tropical, pear, candied lemon, lemon peel, less mineral definition than the nose or the previous bottle, and there's a sweet dulce de leche note right before the spicy oak notes on the back end. I found the nose a notch better than the palate tonight.
Guys Night - 1982 Bordeaux! (Jason's House): PnP - Similar to previous notes.....Marcassin just makes world class Chardonnay! Nose showed plenty of stone fruit and some citrus with notes of spice and herbs and some bread, chalk and baked pie notes. The wine has a creamy mouthfeel and the palate shows equally as well! I typically don't repeat wines so soon, but a friend was in town who never tasted Marcassin, and I wanted to share the experience....it definitely did not disappoint! Remains my benchmark Chardonnay. along with the 2009 and 2010 vintage!
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was not showing like I expected. a bit flat with short finish. fist of 12. so hopefully it was just bottle variation.. will update when I drink another..
Really stunning bottle of chardonnay. Thick, rich, bursting with flavor while remaining totally in balance with interesting complexity. Plenty of fruit and acidity, with substantial alcohol, but nothing is overwhelming. Wonderful wine.
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Not many domestic chardonnay are going to rival this one. I prefer 2012, but this bottle was really excellent. Decanted for an hour or so and drank over 1-2 hours.
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Stood upright for several days then PnP. Medium deep gold. Tropical and citrus fruits on the nose. Magnificent on the palate; great depth of honeyed fruit, butterscotch and vanilla, deep and viscous, then with a line of laser sharp acidity. The finish lasts for at least a minute. Awesome wine; better perhaps than the 2008 and certainly more recent bottlings except 2012 which I haven't tasted (yet). This manages to balance the fruit and acidity and doesn't have the alcohol burn that Auberts often do). Great bottle.
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Took about an hour to start singing and boy did it ever; my first bottle was corked so this was a welcomed improvement . Intense cirtus, yellow apple, honey suckle, butter scotch, salty minterality, silky texture with perfect balance. This is incredible and next to the 2013 Judge it was noticeable better at this stage. The Jusge seemed just past it’s prime while the Marcassin was at or almost at its peak.’ Great stuff.
Not quite up to the 2012 at this early stage, but excellent — and huge promise for the future. Delicious, rich and complex, would have liked just a bit more acidity to sharpen it up a bit, but truly a nit pic. Look forward to the next every few years for the next twenty.
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The wine was decanted in a Grassl Carafe at 55 degrees in a U-Line U-Chill for approximately 90 minutes. The wine was then returned to a cleaned bottle and placed in the U-Chill with the cork out for the remainder of the night. The stemware used was Zalto Den'Art Burgundy. Consumed over approximately 5 hours at a steady 55 upon pour and warmed up to approximately 60 degrees by final sip of each glass.
The color was a medium to darker gold. The nose was of citrus, orchard fruits with some minerality. The palate was of slightly over ripe/baked citrus fruit/oranges and orchard tree fruits. There was good minerality of seashell and crushed gravel. There was a light streak of honey and nuts. There was a slight buttery oak finish but definitely didn't come across as being over oaked. The body was full with an oily mouthfeel that may be attributed to high glycerin and medium to low acidity in the wine. The wine was balanced and well rounded.
This wine started out Good at the 90 minute mark but ended Exceptional with my last glass approximately after 5 hours. It gained in complexity throughout the night and the wine kept showing a new nuance after time continued to pass.
When I pop the cork on my next bottle, I may decide to double decant for several hours, taste it and then decide if i want to decant for the final hour. The wine definitely requires air but if left in a decanter for many hours I'd be concerned of it losing some aromas and may be some of the nuances I tasted at the end of the bottle.
If rating my 1st glass, it would have been around a 95 but it blossomed considerably over the hours of consumption, ultimately leaving me with an impression of the best Northern California Chardonnay I've ever tasted.
More or less consistent with our previous (and first) bottle, just not as transcendent an experience as that one - a bit higher on the acidity, a bit less effusive on the aromatics - which is damning with faint praise, since this remains an exceptional bottle of wine.
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This wine is a YOUNGSTER. Full bodied but probably a bit astringent. Brought BYOB to an insane Valentine's Day menu at Ellerbe Fine Foods in Ft Worth. This wine was a little complicated. This is on a short list of white wines that I would (and did) decant. No sediment in the bottle. Poured a honeyed amber into the decanter. The nose was herbal yellow fruits, brioche and honey. It smells like it is going to be more oxidative in style. In the first hour, the palate kind of fell into a hole. It required beating it up in the decanter to bring it to life. After that? Yellow fruit front, peaches and pears, hint of white wildflowers and honey. Middle retained great structure but acidity built to a white pepper finish and started to show the great structure and balance that these wines are so famous for having. If you are going to open this up, it needs to be done FAR ahead of dinner. Like, 8 hours ahead. It went well with a Bibb and mushroom salad, potato soup, fish, shrimp, spiced filet, and the dessert that had some raspberry and tangerine components (it clashed ever so slightly with the red velvet and chocolate). This wine needs time, and food, to bring it to life. But the thing this wine needs most is probably 3-5 years in bottle.
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This is a tough one for me. I definitely found the wine attractive. However, it seemed a bit too reductive and viscous. Bordering on premox. Much more leaning toward the pit fruit tones rather than a more balanced approach which included citrus elements. At the margin am thinking this may have been a somewhat flawed wine despite coming direct from the winery. This bore little resemblance to the wine I had a year earlier. N.B. I have had two subsequent bottles which were reflective of my prior notes from 2021. This bottle was definitely flawed.
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Wine is just beautiful! So elegant and powerful at the same time. Would compare this to many of the great white burgs anytime. Drinking beautiful now, but will last a decade or more (at a min). Enjoy!
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Pop and pour. I want to say that was unfair to the wine, but given the performance, I'm not at all sure. In the glass, almost clear and colorless at the rim, shading to slightly cloudy pale gold at the core. On the nose, an initial note of lemon, which is quickly supplemented by a mix of spices (clove, nutmeg, cardamom). On the palate, a silky, almost oily texture, paired with Meyer lemon, grapefruit, green apples, the aforementioned spices, and other spice and mineral notes weaving in and out of the background, with a long finish that deposits lingering floral and spice elements on the palate, and leaves you wanting more. I don't say this lightly - the single best dry white wine I've had to date. Stunning. The 2012 was outstanding, but this is just that little bit more.
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Wow. Special wine. A bit restrained at first; a bit too cold. Decanted, opened up. Elegant. Very integrated with nose of apple tart, lemon curd. Beautiful elegant mouth feel and finish.
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A fantastic Chardonnay that has aged very well. Velvety smooth texture on the mouth feel and light notes of Asian pear, lychee and white flowers. It’s remarkable how little oak you get on the palate. This wine will easily age another decade but I would definitely open one now and save the rest for the future.
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Guys Night Out - Holiday Edition!: This reminded me so much of the 2010 Marcassin, I had to score it the same! So now I have two benchmark Chardonnays, 2010 and 2013 Marcassin. So creamy and elegant and light in the mouth. Flavors of poached pear, apple, Meyers lemon and tangerine cream, followed by sea shell and hints of salinity and oak. Just a delight to drink, with each sip begging you take another.
I will need to do a side by side with a 2010 and see how they compare (even though this is younger). 97+ to 98 and squarely in my wheelhouse!
Guys Night Out: One to Remember - Heavy Hitters (Jason P's, St. Paul, MN): Light medium gold color. Drank a glass plus over an hour plus. Thoroughly impressive across the board, this boasts a nose of white flowers, Anjou pear, butterscotch and savory spices, cinnamon and nutmeg, and then later adding in sea spray minerality. The palate is beautiful and rich, layered yet lifted and not weighty, very creamy with a delightful tangerine creme creme brulee core, savory spice, pear, butter brickle, and slivered almond. This is already well integrated and shows modest oak. Very long and stimulating on the finish. If there's anything to nitpick there could be a little more acidity, but this is a stunner already. 95+ to 96pts.
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A front-end push of wet wood and bruised lemon rind notes makes for an initial entry that is clasped in a scabbard of brusque bark and pungently developed citrus flavors. Coalescing into a caramelized, brûléed, poached, marmaladed, and nutty profile, the flavors showcase their explicit adjectival additives on blast: the lemon is undeniably grilled; the pear is undeniably poached; the almonds are undeniably roasted. It’s a mouthful that grabs your attention mostly for its unique expression of the varietal. There is an aged white Rhone contour to the core, further adding wonderment (or perhaps stupefaction?) to the palate. Finishes with a bit of a bite, but with enough fruit to swathe the back end with dark and honeyed yellow citrus, olive oil, grilled plantain, and ripe yellow pear notes.
This is a serious, serious wine, as in Christian Bale in the Machinist. I kept having these visions of a bunch of cartoon Chablis bottles hanging out in a room enjoying themselves, only to have the Marcassin party-crash the joint and start shoving a Les Clos in the face demanding its lunch money or slapping a little Mont de Milieu just for looking at the Marcassin a little squirrely eyed. I appreciate the high accolades, but I also wonder what is driving that exactly (beyond the obvious cult attachment and the fact that it would cost any John or Jane north of $500 to heist this on the aftermarket). There is requisite freshness here, but I don’t find it necessarily refreshing. There is a push of ample energy, but essences of brilliance and purity seem traded for more stern visages. I mean, if I was fixin’ to down a Brontosaurus Burger with a side of deep-fried mayonnaise balls while contending with a phat case of the Narcissisms, and the pairing choice was between a Caymus and a Marcassin Chardonnay, I’d choose the latter just because it has more fortitude.
I found it interesting how the narrative in a hundo-point “pro” review mentions no evidence of any oak. Well, I gotta call poppycock all day long on that. To what degree you are a fan of lumber in your Chardonnay is a preference thing of course and is a separate discussion, but here the wood is definitely, unequivocally, without question, under no uncertain terms smack right there, here, and everywhere. I mean, Turley and Co. uses 100% new oak and 100% heavy toast. No evidence of wood? Come on now. I’m not mad about it, but let’s call it what it is. Now I know I’m likely making myself a dartboard here for casting any semblance of shade on this inexplicably enigmatic “wild boar” producer, so sharpen your flechettes and have at it. I get it.
The Marcassin was served side-by-side with a vibrant 2013 Droin Les Clos Chablis, which further added to the juxtaposition of differing profiles. The Marcassin was generously donated by a friend. Over the course of a few days, I followed some of the remaining spoils of the bottle that were left behind, which pretty much remained unchanged, then becoming understandably oxidized over time in-bottle with no gassing nor attempts by me to limit the O2 occupying the bottle. I would be drinking these sooner than later. I was reading some musings that spoke to this wine lasting for decades. I’m gonna go with a solid “Nope” on that, unless by “lasting” you mean not entirely turned into turpentine by 2040; so, I guess that’s possible. But, to each their own of course. Numeric-wise here, I’ll choose a conservative middle of the road, with full disclosure that my palate preference veers toward less manipulation and ripeness in exchange for more pronounced acidity, brightness, and freshness.
It’s been a year since my last one of these and it surprisingly has really evolved. I’d like to call this a butterscotch bomb but there is certainly more than that going on in the background (mineral, white flower, lemon…). Lighter colored than other vintages but still full bodied plus. Opened in the bottle for a few hours and likely needs an hour plus decant. Still some upside here but close to peak.
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Phil in Town; 6/25/2021-6/26/2021 (Matts House): I will not rate this as this is just too damn young. Decanted for 3-4 hours and it was so over the top powerful(I know this is the style of the wine) but the 2006 and 2007 vintage were my back to back WOTY. This has all the beautiful note to a Marcassin Chard, so plush, polished, rich but still has massive fruit backbone. But this needs 3-6 more years, at least for my tastes.
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I am on their mailing list as well and just received my 2013 allocation. the offer letter says the Pinot is coming next. When have I heard this before.
I’m also on the Marcassin mailing list and still waiting for my allocation. Had this for dinner last night at a restaurant in NYC. Just my luck only one bottle left for our party of 5. Simply exquisite. Just beautiful. Wonderful tropical fruit on the palette with great viscosity, energy and tension. Dazzling finish. One of the greatest California Chardonnay’s I have had over the last 25 years. Agree with Parker on this one. Even better than the 2012 Marcassin which he also rated 100 points. This is a full bodied Chardonnay which for me was simply perfect.
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Very heavy and decadent with no acid and a good amount of exposed alcohol. Butterscotch, lemon bar, white flower and chlorine/minerals??? It’s certainly enjoyable but maybe needs a long decant which this did not get. Did improve with time and food.
4/16/2024 - Minnesota wrote: 90 Points
Boy, this is not our style of chardonnay. Deep yellow with butterscotch, caramel, rich vanilla nose more reminiscent of dessert. Forced myself to continue drinking though did improve -- a bit -- over time. This is not the Marcassin of 90s and 00s.
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4/13/2024 - bsumoba Likes this wine: 94 Points
Pegged easily as domestic white, most likely from Napa. Dark, rich and tropical. Interesting wine in the lineup.
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4/13/2024 - WineBurrowingWombat Likes this wine: 95 Points
Eyes Wide Shut - Day 1 (A quiet place): Nose: Dark gold pineapples, deep fruitful grass, and subtle hay.
Palate: Rich fruits of deep pineapples with a bit of guava, providing a bit of unripe prickliness in a good way. While rich, this has a bit of elegance and good acidity to keep this moving. Spiced oak gets pronounced with a bit more time.
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4/13/2024 - MN Wine Junkie Likes this wine: 97 Points
The Blind Side - no, not football! (Chateau Simms): This was opened for about an hour prior to tasting.
It was in a line up of Chardonnays served blind (including some Burgundies):
1. 2013 Marcassin
2. 2019 Domaine Henri Boillot Puligny-Montrachet Clos de la Mouchère
3. 2018 Kongsgaard Chardonnay The Judge
4. 2021 Faiveley Bâtard-Montrachet
5. 2022 Walter Scott Chardonnay X-Novo Vineyard
6. 2020 Henri Boillot Corton-Charlemagne
2013 Marcassin - The wine was easily identified as CA Chardonnay by everyone. The wine was rich, buttery, with nice minerality (saline and chalk), citrus and pear notes and some oak and butterscotch on the finish. At 11 years old, this wine is nicely integrated and drinking quite well. Should hold up quite a bit longer, so no hurry on these! Solid 97 for me, and I feel that may be conservative. This is one of my all time favorite Chardonnays from anywhere, and my favorite American Chardonnay. I wish they would get to their next release!
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3/25/2024 - daved Likes this wine: 96 Points
extraordinary
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2/11/2024 - jshufelt wrote: 96 Points
Pop and pour into a decanter - 30-60 minutes would have been preferable, but this was a last-minute decision to add to the evening's lineup. In the decanter, slightly cloudy pale gold; in the glass, clear pale gold. On the nose, Meyer lemon, followed by a shifting mix of spices - nutmeg, cardamom, thyme, and a hint of clove. On the palate, a mouth-filling oily texture, delivering a foundation of fruit (more Meyer lemon, apples), upon which the spices and herbs come in and out of focus. Class.
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1/27/2024 - krhaugh Likes this wine: 98 Points
Decanted about 30 minutes but drank slowly over the next hour or so. Did a blind side by side with a 13 Domaine Serene Recolte. In the glass, a beautiful medium yellow going towards fresh hay. The Recolte was much darker. On the nose, plenty of oak, lemon and tropical notes that continued to evolve with time in the glass. Beautiful juice and a long delicious finish. One of the best Chardonnay's I have ever had.
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1/14/2024 - hanasowner wrote: 98 Points
Decanted for two hours...an absolute stunner...pale to medium yellow in color...lemon, vanilla, buttered popcorn (?) on the nose...smooth...great finish.
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1/13/2024 - MLwine Likes this wine: 97 Points
Just a phenomenal wine. Consistent with prior notes.
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1/12/2024 - CWilliam wrote:
Served with appetizers (cheese / olives). Gold color with no real sediment. On nose, butter, lemon, floral and vanilla - not overdone. On palate, similar flavor profile to nose ex. vanilla. Medium body/acidity and no noticeable tannins (as expected). Long finish. Has aged beautifully. At this price point I'd prefer a Grand Cru Burgundy but this is a very nice bottle of wine. 93+/-
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12/29/2023 - jshufelt wrote: 95 Points
Consistent with previous tasting notes - we did the wine no favors by serving it with boldly seasoned vegetables and fish. Still clearly a wine of class, but, if I had to do it again, and having experienced this wine when it shows at its peak, I'd pair it with something milder, so that the full spectrum of floral, herbal, and spice aromatics and flavors present themselves clearly.
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12/23/2023 - beezer6 wrote: 95 Points
Johnny brought into Olio.
So good. Round and elegant, rich but not overdone. Lovely baking spice notes.
Long finish. Fantastic wine.
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12/21/2023 - Benoit Hardy Likes this wine: 95 Points
Helen Turley is undoubtedly the reference in California when we talk about chardonnay or pinot noir.
Incredibly rich nose of pear, beeswax, vanilla and hazelnut.
The mouth is exuberant. It’s a sort of Meursault on steroids. We take the Murisalian boldness and add Californian exuberance. This gives an obviously rich wine but its acidic structure gives spring to a kaleidoscopic whole which becomes almost ethereal. It is glycerinated, wet stone, candied pear, citrus, vanilla and honey. Everything is based on an impressive structure. Finish both glycerinated and saline with a length propelled by an acidic touch.
An impressive wine, an experience in itself for me who struggles to find happiness in white outside France.
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11/24/2023 - scott@asrestaurant.com Likes this wine: 94 Points
2013 vintage. Overtly decadent, überripe and spent when tasting just after decanting. No sediment. Initial temp tasted was at about 60 degrees F. Rated an 8.8/88. Beyond golden color in the decanter. Prepared an ice bucket ice bath with double linen napkins atop the remaining ice and placed the decanter roughly 25% into the ice bath. Let sit for 20-25 mins. Retasted. Wine temp was closer to 45 degrees F. Completely different wine. Tasted like a top-notch, 10 year old Meursault with ridiculous amounts of vanilla bean and crème brûlée. Slight undercurrent of acidity wove the entire endeavor together. Now? A 9.4/94. Not my style but it didn't suck. 11.15.23.
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11/22/2023 - zimmy07 Likes this wine: 93 Points
This is good, no where near the best Marcassin Chard I have had. started off orangish and after 2 hours brilliant gold, this needs time. I agree served cold or room temp changes this wine dramatically. At the end all the richness, butter and oak from a classic Maracassin but too damn flabby. No other way to say it. I like the leaner style and that is usually with vintage, but this was so over the top not the biggest fan
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10/29/2023 - smurfmacaw Likes this wine: 98 Points
Extremely nice. Very pure fruit with almost no oak evident and some tannins. Some caramel notes...Very pure fruit but not a fruit bomb. Everything you would expect from a boutique, high end California chardonnay. Not sure why I rated it a point lower than last time I tried it, maybe just a phase it's going through. Obviously mature and ready to drink...looooooong finish...stays with you forever.
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10/20/2023 - bsbrown05 Likes this wine: 99 Points
Plenty of life remaining in this wine, as it was equally drinkable on the second day. I am very happy to have been offered an allocation of this wine, given its prices in the secondary market!
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10/19/2023 - rocknroller wrote: 94 Points
Judgement of Eagan (Jason P's, St. Paul, MN): Light medium gold color. PNP, drank a glass over an hour plus. Perfumed on the nose, with candied pear, tropical notes, orange and lemon, orange blossoms. On the palate this decadent and rich, soft texture, pear, white pepper, savory, citrus, voluminous, and long. This was excellent, but not quite as good as a couple other even more memorable bottles from recent memory. Big stylistic differences, and I like both a lot, but the nod for me tonight clearly goes to the '10 Bonneau du Martray CC. Group vote was 5-4 for the Bonneau.
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10/19/2023 - WineBurrowingWombat Likes this wine: 95 Points
Cracking the whip; 10/16/2023-10/23/2023 (Eagan, MN): N: The yellow fruits on this Marcassin are deeper and rounder having it next to the Corton, a touch of deep honey without weighing it down, and dried hay.
P: A pleasantly waxy note, yellow and white fruits, a core of honied fruits with the emphasis on the fruits. The honey tastes slightly intense but allows the fruit to still shine. Gorgeous.
I definitely enjoyed this closer to cellar temp as it provided more freshness. It got a little too heavy as it came to room temperature.
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10/19/2023 - I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine: 97 Points
Judgement of Eagan Wine Tasting (Jason's House): PnP....What can I say....Marcassin is my favorite Chardonnay producer. I still cannot pay secondary market prices for it, but Marcassin does totally rock!
This flight paired this wine against a 2010 Bonneau du Martray Corton Charlemagne. Both wines were stellar, and favorites likely came down to individual palates. For me, Marcassin was the better wine, but it was pretty even for the group, with the 2013 Marcassin edging out the 2010 Bonneau du Martray Corton Charlemagne.
The nuts and bolts: Creamy mouthfeel, with baked pear, apple and some citrus and stone fruit, coupled with hints of saline, butterscotch and toasted oak. Always a pleasure to drink and never disappoints!
97+ tonight!
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10/19/2023 - galewskj wrote: 96 Points
Judgement of Eagan (Jason's house): Very similar to a bottle a year ago, just a touch subdued this time around. Maybe because it was paired with a 2010 Bonneau du Martray Corton Charlemagne. This really was fantastic in a full-bodied california chardonnay well. Unctuous mouthfeel, spicy complexity and enough lime/acid to keep it balanced.
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10/5/2023 - Sonoma-W Likes this wine: 94 Points
Excellent! Great Burgundian taste. A bit cloudy. Very complex.
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9/18/2023 - daved Likes this wine: 97 Points
Scrumptious
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9/2/2023 - RJWallis Likes this wine: 99 Points
This is as close to perfection as it gets. Rich, luxurious, palate drenching with legs that go on forever. Opened 30 minutes before drinking and it improved significantly over the next 2 hours. Lived up to its reputation in every way, our guests were visibly, verbally and absolutely floored.
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8/22/2023 - B Paul wrote:
Has some gold to the color. Nuts, bread and vanilla on the nose. This is a big wine, though it’s very well made and is quite tasty for what it is. My initial thought was that this should probably be drunk up, but it did hold up very well over three nights.
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8/3/2023 - Satoshi Nakamoto Likes this wine: 93 Points
Delicious notes of buttered popcorn, sweet orchard fruit, and a hint of honey. Moderate acid and finish. The 2013 Chard doesn't have the complexity, vibrancy, and length that the 2013 Pinot has, so my preference will still be for their reds. However, it was a real joy to finally try this.
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7/11/2023 - jshufelt wrote: 96 Points
Consistent with our previous bottles - a special example of chardonnay.
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7/8/2023 - Mario17 Likes this wine:
Le nez est hallucinant de complexité et d’aromatique, beurre, miel, très riche, la bouche est ample et riche aussi bien sur, un peu chaud et alcooleux en finale. J’ai préféré la bouche du 2012 mais le nez du 2013.
Tasted 2012 and 2013, prefered the palate of 2012 but the nose of 2013. Which was extremely aromatic, even buttery and with lots of honey but it was so special, the palate followed suit and was a little warm on the finish though.
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7/4/2023 - MAXIMUM SATISFACTION wrote: 99 Points
Yup, this is still great and drinking at peak. Deep, folded and rich. Liquified crème brûlée and mineral. Sometime you need something lean and sometime nothing will do but opulence. Drink now of in the next five.
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5/21/2023 - Ex-Ray wrote: 96 Points
Outstanding rich and concentrated aromas and flavors easily recognizable as chardonnay. Mouth-coating, buttery style. Long aftertaste. Drink up, though.
Ric
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4/27/2023 - dream Likes this wine: 94 Points
A fair amount of reduction given the age but it blew off nicely. Quite taut and complex in style with a lighter-body than expected with lovely flavors of tropical fruits and a whisp of smoke. There is plenty of acidity and the texture is unctuous but also lively. The finish is grippy and complex with notes of minerals and smoked apple. Ready but youthful. Drunk with Russell Bevan at his home in Napa.
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4/19/2023 - Montesquieu Likes this wine: 97 Points
Though not my very favorite style, this was still one of the best New World Chardonnays I've had. Pear, melon, honeysuckle, citrus, some minerality but not intense. Really hit its stride after 30 minutes in glass. Smooth, rich, and lengthy.
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12/27/2022 - jeffmudd Likes this wine: 99 Points
Simply put, is there a better American Chardonnay made.... I don't think so.
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12/24/2022 - jshufelt wrote: 96 Points
Consistent with previous tasting notes - excellent chard.
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12/10/2022 - sdr wrote: 91 Points
This was a real hit with the group especially the ladies but I was less impressed. The concentration of intense yellow fruit was obvious and attractive accompanied by a rich mouth feel and substantial length. What bothered me was the high level of phenols which made the mid palate quite bitter all the way to the finish. I like to think that more bottle aging will give it better balance since Marcassin Chardonnay has a reputation of aging very well, maybe better than their Pinots.
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12/7/2022 - Montesquieu Likes this wine: 94 Points
Very good, but for my style preferences, not the ultimate in Chardonnay or anything close to 100 points. Nearly all of Aubert's bottlings appeal to me more.
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11/26/2022 - jeffmudd Likes this wine: 99 Points
Is there a bottle Chardonnay produced in US, I don’t think so. Thank God I will have another allocation early next year.
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11/24/2022 - JaxChristensen Likes this wine: 100 Points
Best Chardonnay I’ve had. Loved the balance and age. Oak forward
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11/11/2022 - galewskj wrote: 97 Points
1982 Bordeaux (Jason's house): This wine is so aromatic. The nose is lively with ripe peach, melon and tropical fruit (pineapple stands out) in the foreground. This really was fantastic in a full-bodied california chardonnay well. Unctuous mouthfeel, spicy complexity and enough lime/acid to keep it balanced.
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11/10/2022 - WineBurrowingWombat Likes this wine: 96 Points
Wine weekend in the Twin Cities; 11/10/2022-11/12/2022 (Where the frosty air is refreshing.. kind of): N: Deep, rich, intense pineapple skin and flesh, deep and dark honey notes, and grass cuttings. With time, fruits open up and brighten with time, revealing dessert-like fruits: thick honey drizzled on pineapple slices, and creamy fruits without any of the heavy sweetness.
P: Deep, intense, moderately dark yellow fruits, similar tropical fruits from the nose, deep bitter minerals and deep earth.
The wine is very full in terms of flavor and body without being big. There is an amazing bitterness of minerals that displays a beautiful contrast against the dark and deep yellow fruits. The fruits aren’t big and ripe but rather big and unsweetened, and yet still so good. If given more time in the glass, I believe this would have blossomed even more.
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11/10/2022 - rocknroller wrote: 95 Points
Guy's Night: 1982 Bordeaux -- One for the Books (Jason P's, St. Paul, MN): Light medium gold color. Drank a glass over an hour plus. The nose is wafting wet stones, more tropical this time; pineapple, pear, lemon peel, spice cake. The palate is full bodied, less tropical, pear, candied lemon, lemon peel, less mineral definition than the nose or the previous bottle, and there's a sweet dulce de leche note right before the spicy oak notes on the back end. I found the nose a notch better than the palate tonight.
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11/10/2022 - I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine: 98 Points
Guys Night - 1982 Bordeaux! (Jason's House): PnP - Similar to previous notes.....Marcassin just makes world class Chardonnay! Nose showed plenty of stone fruit and some citrus with notes of spice and herbs and some bread, chalk and baked pie notes. The wine has a creamy mouthfeel and the palate shows equally as well! I typically don't repeat wines so soon, but a friend was in town who never tasted Marcassin, and I wanted to share the experience....it definitely did not disappoint! Remains my benchmark Chardonnay. along with the 2009 and 2010 vintage!
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10/9/2022 - madmagnum Likes this wine: 95 Points
was not showing like I expected. a bit flat with short finish. fist of 12. so hopefully it was just bottle variation.. will update when I drink another..
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10/3/2022 - Montesquieu wrote:
Corked. First of six bottles from winery allocation.
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8/12/2022 - jshufelt wrote: 96 Points
Consistent with previous bottles (and notes) - an exceptional wine.
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7/24/2022 - tonyhuang Does not like this wine: 89 Points
Big, ripe, fruity, lots of citrus, but pretty much dominates all other aspects. No mineral, very flat acid structure, no complexity nor elegance.
Tasted along with PM point rouge, Kistler Cathleen, 00 Richard Herman, dead last in the ranking.
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7/4/2022 - jshufelt wrote: 95 Points
Consistent with our previous tasting notes - an amazing chard.
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7/3/2022 - MLwine Likes this wine: 97 Points
Really stunning bottle of chardonnay. Thick, rich, bursting with flavor while remaining totally in balance with interesting complexity. Plenty of fruit and acidity, with substantial alcohol, but nothing is overwhelming. Wonderful wine.
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6/27/2022 - RMundell Likes this wine: 99 Points
The best chardonnay I have had. Pretty much perfect.
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6/27/2022 - BROpus One Likes this wine: 95 Points
Not many domestic chardonnay are going to rival this one. I prefer 2012, but this bottle was really excellent. Decanted for an hour or so and drank over 1-2 hours.
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5/8/2022 - rosenst1 wrote: 98 Points
Stood upright for several days then PnP. Medium deep gold. Tropical and citrus fruits on the nose. Magnificent on the palate; great depth of honeyed fruit, butterscotch and vanilla, deep and viscous, then with a line of laser sharp acidity. The finish lasts for at least a minute. Awesome wine; better perhaps than the 2008 and certainly more recent bottlings except 2012 which I haven't tasted (yet). This manages to balance the fruit and acidity and doesn't have the alcohol burn that Auberts often do). Great bottle.
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5/6/2022 - InVinoVeritas01 wrote:
Broken.
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3/27/2022 - pakabear Likes this wine: 98 Points
Took about an hour to start singing and boy did it ever; my first bottle was corked so this was a welcomed improvement . Intense cirtus, yellow apple, honey suckle, butter scotch, salty minterality, silky texture with perfect balance. This is incredible and next to the 2013 Judge it was noticeable better at this stage. The Jusge seemed just past it’s prime while the Marcassin was at or almost at its peak.’ Great stuff.
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3/26/2022 - cadamson Likes this wine:
Not quite up to the 2012 at this early stage, but excellent — and huge promise for the future. Delicious, rich and complex, would have liked just a bit more acidity to sharpen it up a bit, but truly a nit pic. Look forward to the next every few years for the next twenty.
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3/19/2022 - JustBreathe680 Likes this wine: 98 Points
The wine was decanted in a Grassl Carafe at 55 degrees in a U-Line U-Chill for approximately 90 minutes. The wine was then returned to a cleaned bottle and placed in the U-Chill with the cork out for the remainder of the night. The stemware used was Zalto Den'Art Burgundy. Consumed over approximately 5 hours at a steady 55 upon pour and warmed up to approximately 60 degrees by final sip of each glass.
The color was a medium to darker gold. The nose was of citrus, orchard fruits with some minerality. The palate was of slightly over ripe/baked citrus fruit/oranges and orchard tree fruits. There was good minerality of seashell and crushed gravel. There was a light streak of honey and nuts. There was a slight buttery oak finish but definitely didn't come across as being over oaked. The body was full with an oily mouthfeel that may be attributed to high glycerin and medium to low acidity in the wine. The wine was balanced and well rounded.
This wine started out Good at the 90 minute mark but ended Exceptional with my last glass approximately after 5 hours. It gained in complexity throughout the night and the wine kept showing a new nuance after time continued to pass.
When I pop the cork on my next bottle, I may decide to double decant for several hours, taste it and then decide if i want to decant for the final hour. The wine definitely requires air but if left in a decanter for many hours I'd be concerned of it losing some aromas and may be some of the nuances I tasted at the end of the bottle.
If rating my 1st glass, it would have been around a 95 but it blossomed considerably over the hours of consumption, ultimately leaving me with an impression of the best Northern California Chardonnay I've ever tasted.
This wine is a strong contender for WOTY!
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3/12/2022 - fdub Likes this wine: 98 Points
40th Birthday Bash! Great food, wine, family and friends. What more could a guy ask for?!
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2/12/2022 - jshufelt wrote: 95 Points
More or less consistent with our previous (and first) bottle, just not as transcendent an experience as that one - a bit higher on the acidity, a bit less effusive on the aromatics - which is damning with faint praise, since this remains an exceptional bottle of wine.
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2/12/2022 - mflesh wrote:
This wine is a YOUNGSTER. Full bodied but probably a bit astringent. Brought BYOB to an insane Valentine's Day menu at Ellerbe Fine Foods in Ft Worth. This wine was a little complicated. This is on a short list of white wines that I would (and did) decant. No sediment in the bottle. Poured a honeyed amber into the decanter. The nose was herbal yellow fruits, brioche and honey. It smells like it is going to be more oxidative in style. In the first hour, the palate kind of fell into a hole. It required beating it up in the decanter to bring it to life. After that? Yellow fruit front, peaches and pears, hint of white wildflowers and honey. Middle retained great structure but acidity built to a white pepper finish and started to show the great structure and balance that these wines are so famous for having. If you are going to open this up, it needs to be done FAR ahead of dinner. Like, 8 hours ahead. It went well with a Bibb and mushroom salad, potato soup, fish, shrimp, spiced filet, and the dessert that had some raspberry and tangerine components (it clashed ever so slightly with the red velvet and chocolate). This wine needs time, and food, to bring it to life. But the thing this wine needs most is probably 3-5 years in bottle.
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2/11/2022 - Blackiron Likes this wine: 99 Points
Just exceptional!
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2/4/2022 - gocatsnyc wrote: flawed
This is a tough one for me. I definitely found the wine attractive. However, it seemed a bit too reductive and viscous. Bordering on premox. Much more leaning toward the pit fruit tones rather than a more balanced approach which included citrus elements. At the margin am thinking this may have been a somewhat flawed wine despite coming direct from the winery. This bore little resemblance to the wine I had a year earlier. N.B. I have had two subsequent bottles which were reflective of my prior notes from 2021. This bottle was definitely flawed.
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12/25/2021 - Ryan3719 Likes this wine: 98 Points
Wine is just beautiful! So elegant and powerful at the same time. Would compare this to many of the great white burgs anytime. Drinking beautiful now, but will last a decade or more (at a min). Enjoy!
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12/24/2021 - jeffmudd Likes this wine: 98 Points
Simply an amazing wine, hard to not drink every day, other then I only have 3 remaining.
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12/24/2021 - jshufelt wrote: 98 Points
Pop and pour. I want to say that was unfair to the wine, but given the performance, I'm not at all sure. In the glass, almost clear and colorless at the rim, shading to slightly cloudy pale gold at the core. On the nose, an initial note of lemon, which is quickly supplemented by a mix of spices (clove, nutmeg, cardamom). On the palate, a silky, almost oily texture, paired with Meyer lemon, grapefruit, green apples, the aforementioned spices, and other spice and mineral notes weaving in and out of the background, with a long finish that deposits lingering floral and spice elements on the palate, and leaves you wanting more. I don't say this lightly - the single best dry white wine I've had to date. Stunning. The 2012 was outstanding, but this is just that little bit more.
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12/18/2021 - dlcass Likes this wine: 98 Points
Wow. Special wine. A bit restrained at first; a bit too cold. Decanted, opened up. Elegant. Very integrated with nose of apple tart, lemon curd. Beautiful elegant mouth feel and finish.
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12/17/2021 - Optimus Wine Likes this wine: 99 Points
A fantastic Chardonnay that has aged very well. Velvety smooth texture on the mouth feel and light notes of Asian pear, lychee and white flowers. It’s remarkable how little oak you get on the palate. This wine will easily age another decade but I would definitely open one now and save the rest for the future.
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12/16/2021 - I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine: 98 Points
Guys Night Out - Holiday Edition!: This reminded me so much of the 2010 Marcassin, I had to score it the same! So now I have two benchmark Chardonnays, 2010 and 2013 Marcassin. So creamy and elegant and light in the mouth. Flavors of poached pear, apple, Meyers lemon and tangerine cream, followed by sea shell and hints of salinity and oak. Just a delight to drink, with each sip begging you take another.
I will need to do a side by side with a 2010 and see how they compare (even though this is younger). 97+ to 98 and squarely in my wheelhouse!
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12/16/2021 - galewskj wrote: 95 Points
A Guys Night to Remember (Jason's house): Full bodied. Well balanced for the size. Butterscotch, beautifully rich but it doesn't feel weighty.
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12/16/2021 - rocknroller wrote: 96 Points
Guys Night Out: One to Remember - Heavy Hitters (Jason P's, St. Paul, MN): Light medium gold color. Drank a glass plus over an hour plus. Thoroughly impressive across the board, this boasts a nose of white flowers, Anjou pear, butterscotch and savory spices, cinnamon and nutmeg, and then later adding in sea spray minerality. The palate is beautiful and rich, layered yet lifted and not weighty, very creamy with a delightful tangerine creme creme brulee core, savory spice, pear, butter brickle, and slivered almond. This is already well integrated and shows modest oak. Very long and stimulating on the finish. If there's anything to nitpick there could be a little more acidity, but this is a stunner already. 95+ to 96pts.
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12/6/2021 - RMundell Likes this wine: 98 Points
That is worth the wait. Excellent bottle.
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11/30/2021 - csimm wrote: 93 Points
A front-end push of wet wood and bruised lemon rind notes makes for an initial entry that is clasped in a scabbard of brusque bark and pungently developed citrus flavors. Coalescing into a caramelized, brûléed, poached, marmaladed, and nutty profile, the flavors showcase their explicit adjectival additives on blast: the lemon is undeniably grilled; the pear is undeniably poached; the almonds are undeniably roasted. It’s a mouthful that grabs your attention mostly for its unique expression of the varietal. There is an aged white Rhone contour to the core, further adding wonderment (or perhaps stupefaction?) to the palate. Finishes with a bit of a bite, but with enough fruit to swathe the back end with dark and honeyed yellow citrus, olive oil, grilled plantain, and ripe yellow pear notes.
This is a serious, serious wine, as in Christian Bale in the Machinist. I kept having these visions of a bunch of cartoon Chablis bottles hanging out in a room enjoying themselves, only to have the Marcassin party-crash the joint and start shoving a Les Clos in the face demanding its lunch money or slapping a little Mont de Milieu just for looking at the Marcassin a little squirrely eyed. I appreciate the high accolades, but I also wonder what is driving that exactly (beyond the obvious cult attachment and the fact that it would cost any John or Jane north of $500 to heist this on the aftermarket). There is requisite freshness here, but I don’t find it necessarily refreshing. There is a push of ample energy, but essences of brilliance and purity seem traded for more stern visages. I mean, if I was fixin’ to down a Brontosaurus Burger with a side of deep-fried mayonnaise balls while contending with a phat case of the Narcissisms, and the pairing choice was between a Caymus and a Marcassin Chardonnay, I’d choose the latter just because it has more fortitude.
I found it interesting how the narrative in a hundo-point “pro” review mentions no evidence of any oak. Well, I gotta call poppycock all day long on that. To what degree you are a fan of lumber in your Chardonnay is a preference thing of course and is a separate discussion, but here the wood is definitely, unequivocally, without question, under no uncertain terms smack right there, here, and everywhere. I mean, Turley and Co. uses 100% new oak and 100% heavy toast. No evidence of wood? Come on now. I’m not mad about it, but let’s call it what it is. Now I know I’m likely making myself a dartboard here for casting any semblance of shade on this inexplicably enigmatic “wild boar” producer, so sharpen your flechettes and have at it. I get it.
The Marcassin was served side-by-side with a vibrant 2013 Droin Les Clos Chablis, which further added to the juxtaposition of differing profiles. The Marcassin was generously donated by a friend. Over the course of a few days, I followed some of the remaining spoils of the bottle that were left behind, which pretty much remained unchanged, then becoming understandably oxidized over time in-bottle with no gassing nor attempts by me to limit the O2 occupying the bottle. I would be drinking these sooner than later. I was reading some musings that spoke to this wine lasting for decades. I’m gonna go with a solid “Nope” on that, unless by “lasting” you mean not entirely turned into turpentine by 2040; so, I guess that’s possible. But, to each their own of course. Numeric-wise here, I’ll choose a conservative middle of the road, with full disclosure that my palate preference veers toward less manipulation and ripeness in exchange for more pronounced acidity, brightness, and freshness.
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11/13/2021 - pakabear wrote: flawed
Corked, another corked Marcassin, bad luck and they don’t stand behind their product so my loss…
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11/6/2021 - MAXIMUM SATISFACTION wrote: 98 Points
It’s been a year since my last one of these and it surprisingly has really evolved. I’d like to call this a butterscotch bomb but there is certainly more than that going on in the background (mineral, white flower, lemon…). Lighter colored than other vintages but still full bodied plus. Opened in the bottle for a few hours and likely needs an hour plus decant. Still some upside here but close to peak.
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9/1/2021 - Sonoma-W Likes this wine: 97 Points
Outstanding -- more nuanced than expected. Some tropical fruit; stone; minerality. Great long finish.
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6/25/2021 - zimmy07 wrote:
Phil in Town; 6/25/2021-6/26/2021 (Matts House): I will not rate this as this is just too damn young. Decanted for 3-4 hours and it was so over the top powerful(I know this is the style of the wine) but the 2006 and 2007 vintage were my back to back WOTY. This has all the beautiful note to a Marcassin Chard, so plush, polished, rich but still has massive fruit backbone. But this needs 3-6 more years, at least for my tastes.
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5/30/2021 - barryb wrote: 100 Points
I am on their mailing list as well and just received my 2013 allocation. the offer letter says the Pinot is coming next. When have I heard this before.
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2/28/2021 - gocatsnyc Likes this wine: 100 Points
I’m also on the Marcassin mailing list and still waiting for my allocation. Had this for dinner last night at a restaurant in NYC. Just my luck only one bottle left for our party of 5. Simply exquisite. Just beautiful. Wonderful tropical fruit on the palette with great viscosity, energy and tension. Dazzling finish. One of the greatest California Chardonnay’s I have had over the last 25 years. Agree with Parker on this one. Even better than the 2012 Marcassin which he also rated 100 points. This is a full bodied Chardonnay which for me was simply perfect.
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12/30/2020 - MAXIMUM SATISFACTION wrote: 94 Points
Very heavy and decadent with no acid and a good amount of exposed alcohol. Butterscotch, lemon bar, white flower and chlorine/minerals??? It’s certainly enjoyable but maybe needs a long decant which this did not get. Did improve with time and food.
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