2014 Gantenbein Chardonnay

Community Tasting Notes (7) Avg Score: 93.7 points

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  3/1/2024 - palfr2 wrote:

  Leaner than 13 - feels more Oxidative than the former

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  11/11/2023 - J_H Likes this wine: 92 Points

  - Expressive nose, pure fruit of ripe apple, citrus, tropical fruit of lychee, then lots of toasting, vanilla. For my taste, too much wood got used here during fermantation, you recognise it more and more with time.
  - Very smooth on the palate, creamy, buttery notes and good acidity, but overpowered by the brioche and buttery notes. Where is the purity and authenticity of the fruit?! Very long on the finish but too little freshness.
  - 92 P

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  8/1/2020 - Peech Likes this wine: 96 Points

  decanted just prior to serving. Beautiful nose with toasty notes that wasn't overwhelming, like roasted corn with butter on top. Creamy and buttery for sure. Good acidity on the palate. Beautiful and opulent. Got more toasty as it opened up.

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  9/28/2019 - ptvie Likes this wine: 95 Points

  95.

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  12/3/2018 - forceberry wrote: 94 Points

  Gantenbein is considered one of the top wine producers in Switzerland. They farm only 6 hectares, of which 5 ha are for Pinot Noir and the rest (approx. 1 ha) is mainly for Chardonnay with a little bit of Riesling as well. The average annual production of this Chardonnay is only 200 cases. 14% alcohol.
  
  Pale lemon yellow color. Very intense, complex and quite concentrated nose with pure aromas of ripe golden apples and nectarine, some creamy richness, a little bit of sweet white peach, light reductive notes of gunpowder smoke, a subtly caramel hint of oak, a touch of pineapple and a green whiff of sappy white fruit. The wine is medium-bodied, very lively and remarkably youthful on the palate with intense, concentrated flavors of ripe citrus fruits and fresh golden apples, steely minerality, some creamy richness, a little bit of sappy green-toned fruit, light star fruit notes, a hint of coconut and a touch of smoky reductive character. The acidity feels very high, which makes the wine feel remarkably fresh and light on its feet despite the concentration. The finish is fresh, crisp and mineral with flavors of tangy green apples, some key lime, a little bit of creamy richness, light sweeter notes of ripe citrus fruits, a hint of toasty oak spice and a touch of sappy white fruit.
  
  A remarkably balanced, intense and almost nervous Chardonnay that feels all too youthful at this point. I've seen Gantenbein Chardonnay likened a few times to Chablis wines that are built like white Grand Cru Burgundies from Côte d'Or, and now - having tasted the wine - I must say that it is an apt comparison. The wine shows the bright minerality, intense green-toned fruit and even smoky reductive one might associate with a Chablis, but the rich, creamy undertones, power and concentration are something one would look for in a Grand Cru Burgundy; this spectacular white manages to combine those characteristics seamlessly into one. The only thing this wine is lacking is age - even at 4 years of age the wine feels all too young and most likely it will require much longer than a decade before it hits its apogee. However, I must say that despite its impressive qualities I still feel that the wine is just too darn expensive at 200 CHF (~185€).

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