Previous notes apply, though this behaved a bit more like a Sauvignon Blanc this time around (especially when it was on the colder side). Linear but hyper-clean pure yellow citrus, flint, and chalk…
Spritely yellow citrus, fresh lemon juice, grass, white stone fruit, bitter unripe pear, and some pumice. A slightly pithy and bitter delivery, with a hint of spritz that further cuts the core fruit…
Yellow citrus, vanilla, honey, and melon. Round and a bit sweet, with a vanilla glycerin-laced finish that stomps on the citrus, taking away some of the energy behind the acid. Drink now.
An outrageously gorgeous example of the varietal. Freshly squeezed lemon juice, Meyer lemon olive oil, Bellini, yellow pear, citrus blossom, cardamom seed, and subtle rock dust. A flick of pineapple…
Crème brûlée, lemon curd, vanilla bean, and yellow pear notes glide across the palate in a wonderfully flowing delivery. The Ma Douce houses it's flavors in a soft and subtle grip, with a more plush…
A bit more expressive than when I last had it in September. With some air, this opened up nicely with some yellow citrus and mineral notes. The lemon note became more prominent and riper over the…
Lemon and glycol-laced alcohol. Some yellow citrus and vanilla flavors swirling around that appear to have promise, but the seamlessness is almost completely absent. Clunky on delivery and a bit…
Creme brûlée all the way! Also gushing with lemon curd, apple pie filling, olive oil, hints of passionfruit/guava, and fresh whipped cream notes. More relaxed on the acid and grip this time around.…
Upon service, and once the wine warmed up to around cellar temperature (initially served at refrigerator temp - too cold/muted for me for the first 15+ minutes), the Ritchie displayed its familiar…
For a Chardonnay that is a decade from vintage, this had a beautifully elongated stretch of flavors that drove across the palate with surprising verve and tension. Showing some age with the slightest…
Ripe lemon citrus, bruised lemon and orange rind, olive oil, golden raisin, and some salted caramel. A ripe, somewhat oxidized style, with an overtly aged profile that fakes you into thinking this…
A migraine Chardonnay all the way through. Steely and astringent alcohol-laced lemon water topped with 9V batteries wrapped in green apple skin. Finishes bitter and hollow.
Initially heavy on the lamp oil, lemontini, and vanilla alcohol flavors, making for an angular entry and less-than-seamless delivery overall. Primary and somewhat hollow yellow citrus and bruised…
Honeyed yellow citrus, vanilla, meringue, yellow pear, lychee, and faint/light butterscotch notes. Medium-to-full front end and mid-palate weight, with a medium-long finish that tails off with a…
Previous notes from March 31, 2018 are still applicable, with special attention to the notion that a little time in bottle has seemingly elevated this wine even further. PnP was fresh, lively, and a…
A broad and primary hit of yellow citrus and petrol on the initial pull gave way to a more relaxed profile after about two hours of air. It took every bit of that time to fan out and find some…
Sonoma County · Green Valley of Russian River Valley
Still kicking out energetic yellow citrus oil and lightly honeyed lemon flavors. Some alcohol and vanilla glycol on the initial pull, making for an angular attack initially. Balanced out much better…
Notes of yellow citrus, apple flesh, lightly honeyed oil, faint grass, white seashell, and subtle minerality. Not a hugely saline-driven or mineral-infused animal, but with enough cut to keep the…
Yellow citrus, peach, yellow apple flesh, lemon oil, honey, vanilla, and some faint hazelnut dust. Well balanced on the front end, with an equally impressive weight distribution on the mid-palate.…
Improving with time (since I last had it in the summer). Previous notes apply, but this was a bit more accessible and giving flavor-wise than before. Promising progression so far. Deeper on the…
Green apple skin, vanilla glycol, and lemon seed on PnP gave way to more unctuous flavors after about 30 minutes of air, with apple pie, poached pear, honeyed lemon oil, vanilla bean, and an enticing…
Lightly buttered yellow citrus, poached pear, pumice, and some green apple flesh. Some olive oil and vanilla also make an appearance. With some swirling in the glass, this opened up nicely and…
An opportunity to administer the "at home" test on this wine to follow it in a more controlled environment and without other wines to fatigue-out or pull away focus on the palate. All eyes on…
The 2016 Morlet Coup de Coeur is the domestic Chardonnay of the vintage. Pure sophistication and ethereal purity in a glass, with a perfectly balanced equilibrium of fresh and focused yellow citrus…
A solid example of Ritchie, showing a deft Morlet-esque restraint that is sometimes overlooked with other more bombastic versions from this site. Focused and precise, with medium-bodied flavors of…
