Clear medium gold; clean medium plus nose of butter, brioche, lemon curd, light caramel and ripe mango; dry; medium plus acidity; medium plus alcohol; full body; medium plus flavour intensity; pfn with addition of burnt caramel and fruit payoff; medium plus finish; drink now; well balanced and elegant
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Clear medium gold; clean medium plus nose of ripe lemon, butter and croissant; dry; medium plus acidity; medium plus alcohol; medium plus body; medium plus flavour intensity; pfn with a little caramel; medium plus finish; drink now; very respectable, okay Chardonnay
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Clear golden straw color with a floral and citrus nose. Tart up front with a cool minerality that jumps out early for a Chardonnay with these characteristics. Lemony tartness transitions quickly to a rich and buttery mouthfeel with layers of peach, pineapple, and papaya. If what I'm enjoying is consistent with when this vintage is cellared properly, I'd argue that crowd-think has resulted in lower than deserved recent reviews. There isn't much more aging potential, maybe another year, but it's still delicious now.
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"Most of the fruit comes from warmer Chard vyds on the Wahluke slope & from our Cold Creek Vyd. Ripe grapes were lightly pressed & inoculated with yeast designed for accentuated, fruit-forward flavors. 100% sur lie aged for 6 mos; Barrel aged in 35% new AM & FR oak barrels; Malolactic fermentation also took place to add softness, balance, & depth. 13.5% ABV, 0.59 g/100 ml T.A., & 3.49 pH;" 137,000 cases made.
N: An intriguing melding of funk/butter, then the latter with undertones of lemons
P: Med body; RNDISH entry with ALMOST swtish OAK/frt met by crisp acidity which becomes the driving force into & through the LONG, poss very, VERY slightly bitterish finish with a deft tangy/swtness. Drink now & into EARLY Summer '20 'fore the oak on this wood-driven wine potentially goes beserk. My VG+, *poss* EXC- *if* QPR @ this tasted price is the focus. 90 pts WS, & 88, then 86, WE @ $17. [This vendor's (closeout?) $8.99 is 1/2 outliers @ that price, everyone else on wine-searcher being at LEAST $3 > !]
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A totally non offensive Chard unless you eschew any indication of buttery oak. Lacks acidic zing and fruit. For $13.99 there are better choices, Columbia Crest Grand Estates if you want buttery cream and Foxglove for a more French Chablis experience. We personally like Monterey county Chard, lots of grapefruit and pineapple. Hahn has a decent entry level. September 13 drinks second bottle. Same result. Will not repurchase this.
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funnel cake, apple and peach scents, holds a crispness, shows lovely vanilla, apple pie, tropical fruit and lemon tart hints over a full bodied and broad palate, balanced is achieved at the acidic level, expressive and nicely priced
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Yikes! My impression is completely different from many of the other reviewers. This is the oakiest, butteriest Chardonnay that I have had in recent memory. No honey, pineapple, berry, apple, etc. If you like butter (diacetyl) bombs, then this is for you. If you like French style Chardonnays (flinty, austere), then steer clear of this wine. Note that one reviewer noted "not too much oak", but another tasted "too much oak". Go figure.... I agree with the latter opinion.
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Well done. Nice fruit, good acidity, and not too much oak. We are usually white burg fans, but this was good for the price. Lacks a little je ne sais quois?
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I like this for not usually being a chardonnay guy. Nice acidity with sweet fruit. I'm picking up very little oak, which is a good thing. The finish is rich and it begs you to take another sip.
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6/14/2020 - Brent25 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Clear medium gold; clean medium plus nose of butter, brioche, lemon curd, light caramel and ripe mango; dry; medium plus acidity; medium plus alcohol; full body; medium plus flavour intensity; pfn with addition of burnt caramel and fruit payoff; medium plus finish; drink now; well balanced and elegant
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5/23/2020 - Brent25 Likes this wine: 88 Points
Clear medium gold; clean medium plus nose of ripe lemon, butter and croissant; dry; medium plus acidity; medium plus alcohol; medium plus body; medium plus flavour intensity; pfn with a little caramel; medium plus finish; drink now; very respectable, okay Chardonnay
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5/18/2020 - Minne Lusa Likes this wine: 88 Points
Clear golden straw color with a floral and citrus nose. Tart up front with a cool minerality that jumps out early for a Chardonnay with these characteristics. Lemony tartness transitions quickly to a rich and buttery mouthfeel with layers of peach, pineapple, and papaya. If what I'm enjoying is consistent with when this vintage is cellared properly, I'd argue that crowd-think has resulted in lower than deserved recent reviews. There isn't much more aging potential, maybe another year, but it's still delicious now.
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8/24/2019 - srh Likes this wine:
Taste OR & WA Wines (San Diego Wine Co.): WAY too cold
"Most of the fruit comes from warmer Chard vyds on the Wahluke slope & from our Cold Creek Vyd. Ripe grapes were lightly pressed & inoculated with yeast designed for accentuated, fruit-forward flavors. 100% sur lie aged for 6 mos; Barrel aged in 35% new AM & FR oak barrels; Malolactic fermentation also took place to add softness, balance, & depth. 13.5% ABV, 0.59 g/100 ml T.A., & 3.49 pH;" 137,000 cases made.
N: An intriguing melding of funk/butter, then the latter with undertones of lemons
P: Med body; RNDISH entry with ALMOST swtish OAK/frt met by crisp acidity which becomes the driving force into & through the LONG, poss very, VERY slightly bitterish finish with a deft tangy/swtness. Drink now & into EARLY Summer '20 'fore the oak on this wood-driven wine potentially goes beserk. My VG+, *poss* EXC- *if* QPR @ this tasted price is the focus. 90 pts WS, & 88, then 86, WE @ $17. [This vendor's (closeout?) $8.99 is 1/2 outliers @ that price, everyone else on wine-searcher being at LEAST $3 > !]
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8/3/2019 - Wawallawine wrote: 71 Points
Not a huge fan, little harsh initially, fruity, decently smooth finish
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6/28/2019 - Z1nnfull wrote: 86 Points
A totally non offensive Chard unless you eschew any indication of buttery oak. Lacks acidic zing and fruit. For $13.99 there are better
choices, Columbia Crest Grand Estates if you want buttery cream and Foxglove for a more French Chablis experience. We personally like
Monterey county Chard, lots of grapefruit and pineapple. Hahn has a decent entry level. September 13 drinks second bottle. Same result.
Will not repurchase this.
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6/6/2019 - Jchen01854 Likes this wine:
Light golden color. Notes a bit meaty (jerky?) on top of fruit, taste of pear, white grapefruit with light jerky. Interesting!
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3/27/2019 - whits wrote: 88 Points
funnel cake, apple and peach scents, holds a crispness, shows lovely vanilla, apple pie, tropical fruit and lemon tart hints over a full bodied and broad palate, balanced is achieved at the acidic level, expressive and nicely priced
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3/25/2019 - WeAreTheSheldons Likes this wine:
More buttery than I expected, but work a nice balance of oak and acidity. Pretty good for an inexpensive wine.
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1/13/2019 - winedupe wrote: 85 Points
Yikes! My impression is completely different from many of the other reviewers. This is the oakiest, butteriest Chardonnay that I have had in recent memory. No honey, pineapple, berry, apple, etc. If you like butter (diacetyl) bombs, then this is for you. If you like French style Chardonnays (flinty, austere), then steer clear of this wine. Note that one reviewer noted "not too much oak", but another tasted "too much oak". Go figure.... I agree with the latter opinion.
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1/6/2019 - WatkinsWine wrote: 89 Points
Light straw in color. Nose of pineapple, berry and honey. Smells like a sweet wine, but this is a dry wine and is delicious. It is a great Chardonnay.
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12/5/2018 - marcellevi Likes this wine: 87 Points
Really nice sharp and light-medium Chard and super value, typical for CSM.
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10/1/2018 - tastark Likes this wine:
Well done. Nice fruit, good acidity, and not too much oak. We are usually white burg fans, but this was good for the price. Lacks a little je ne sais quois?
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9/25/2018 - dwaynelm Likes this wine: 87 Points
Green apple and ML. Good acidity but too much oak.
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6/9/2018 - Gscwinecellar Likes this wine: 89 Points
I like this for not usually being a chardonnay guy. Nice acidity with sweet fruit. I'm picking up very little oak, which is a good thing. The finish is rich and it begs you to take another sip.
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