The nose is pretty in your face with graham crackers, melon, and creamy pineapple, which ques a rich CaliChard in your mind, but the palate is driven by mineral infused lemons, fat ones, that are simultaneously plush, refreshing, and satisfying. The oak has receded in the past 18 months without any loss of fruit, so this is in a better place, but it is not the best vintage of Seascape. 91 now, perhaps better in 1-2 more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Leslie Fisher Hits the East Bay: 90 Ravenswood, Copain, Niepoort, etc.. (Rockridge, CA (Oakland)): This is one of my favorite Chardonnays and one of the last vintages made by Mike Sullivan (Currently winemaker at Benovia). Just terrific balance of everything...fruit, structure, finish, texture. Hazelnut, citrus, a hint of crushed stone, stone fruits all in a gorgeously balanced package. Glad to have 3 more of these and gotta keep Traci from getting to them...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Still wound up and not showing clearly. Lots of flavors, effusive aromas, nice length, "well-made", but the whole is somewhat less than the sum of its potential parts. Oak is in the way. Better with air, food, and served not too cool. Hold.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The oak program for the Seascape bottling seems to have changed, because this year's version has more buttered toast than 03 or 04. The fruit is still lip-smacking delicious and there is some minerality underneath it all, but this is more like an entry level Kistler and thus maybe an unwelome style shift.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Hartford makes some of the greatest wines in the Russian River AVA, and this is no exception. Rich without being 'oily' as soooo many California Chards are these days. A lovely white.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
7/28/2010 - silton wrote: 91 Points
The nose is pretty in your face with graham crackers, melon, and creamy pineapple, which ques a rich CaliChard in your mind, but the palate is driven by mineral infused lemons, fat ones, that are simultaneously plush, refreshing, and satisfying. The oak has receded in the past 18 months without any loss of fruit, so this is in a better place, but it is not the best vintage of Seascape. 91 now, perhaps better in 1-2 more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/29/2009 - 8trigram wrote: 90 Points
Aged really quickly. Stellar and full of potential in the tasting room, but has mellowed too quickly
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/4/2009 - rjonwine@gmail.com wrote: 89 Points
Light yellow color with green tinge; big lemony, lemon chiffon, vanilla nose; tangy, solid lemon, lemon chiffon palate; short-medium finish
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/24/2009 - tonyvelebil wrote:
Leslie Fisher Hits the East Bay: 90 Ravenswood, Copain, Niepoort, etc.. (Rockridge, CA (Oakland)): This is one of my favorite Chardonnays and one of the last vintages made by Mike Sullivan (Currently winemaker at Benovia). Just terrific balance of everything...fruit, structure, finish, texture. Hazelnut, citrus, a hint of crushed stone, stone fruits all in a gorgeously balanced package. Glad to have 3 more of these and gotta keep Traci from getting to them...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/22/2009 - silton wrote: 90 Points
Still wound up and not showing clearly. Lots of flavors, effusive aromas, nice length, "well-made", but the whole is somewhat less than the sum of its potential parts. Oak is in the way. Better with air, food, and served not too cool. Hold.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/10/2008 - silton wrote: 92 Points
The oak program for the Seascape bottling seems to have changed, because this year's version has more buttered toast than 03 or 04. The fruit is still lip-smacking delicious and there is some minerality underneath it all, but this is more like an entry level Kistler and thus maybe an unwelome style shift.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/5/2008 - greening wrote: 85 Points
Very nice white with huge amounts of vanilla, but a tad too 'buttery' for my taste.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/19/2008 - greening wrote: 92 Points
Hartford makes some of the greatest wines in the Russian River AVA, and this is no exception. Rich without being 'oily' as soooo many California Chards are these days. A lovely white.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment