Reviews

Maxem Chardonnay UV Vineyard

Followed over two days. Same notes as earlier in the month. This passed the "at home" test with flying colors. A more cerebral Chardonnay than some others in this category in that it shows refinement…

Louis Latour Chardonnay Grand Ardèche

Extremely light and thin (more anorexic), with some watery lemon and white stone fruit notes, with a bit of pumice and wood. Next-to-no finish. Paired barely ok with Mahi Mahi and spinach.

Aubert Chardonnay Lauren Estate Vineyard

Previous notes from last year apply. A stunning Chardonnay, and likely one that will merit a perfect score in another year or so. Just some subtle hits of sulphur that need some time to blow off.…

Maxem Chardonnay UV Vineyard

An ultra clean, highly polished version of the varietal, with the UV site represented with sophisticated and stylish purpose. With a yellow citrus core flanked by a lovely white stone minerality, the…

Donelan Chardonnay Genevieve's Block DeVoto Vineyard

Previous notes apply. Given some time to open up in the glass, it exhibited some nice lemon grass and quince notes that added interest. Probably best to continue to hold on this. Certainly more…

Wren Hop Chardonnay Ritchie by Proxy

PnP was all about green apple skin on the front end, but after about 15-20 minutes of air, cinnamon and cardamom flavors peeked out, creating a warm apple crust effect; some vanilla also showed its…

Rivers-Marie Chardonnay Bearwallow Vineyard Anderson Valley

Much like the 2016 Rivers Marie Joy Road I had the other day, this Bearwallow serves up healthy doses of vanilla oak and glycol before you get any sense of the lemon curd and lemon oil trying its…

Rivers-Marie Chardonnay Joy Road Vineyard

Vanilla oak and glycol currently take up the lion's share of the flavor profile on this wine, with some lemony lamp oil and lemon drop martini notes also rushing up to flank the primary attack. At…

Hanzell Chardonnay

A pleasant and easygoing Chardonnay, with lovely lemon and yellow/white citrus flavors dominating. An extremely clean entry, with a purity of fruit that was notable. Youthfully linear mid-palate, but…

Aubert Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard

Not as memorable as the last few times I've had it. Medium in drive and length. A bit less intensity than I remember from that beginning of the year. Still a great bottle of Chardonnay, with lovely…

Martinelli Chardonnay Sea Ridge Meadow Three Sisters Vineyard

Vibrant and focused, the Three Sisters delivered its yellow citrus and white stone fruit flavors with notable purpose. More exacting and Burgundian than the rounder 2014 Lolita served before it; the…

Martinelli Chardonnay Lolita Ranch

Plush, round, ripe, and fruity, the 2014 Lolita delivers all the goods up front with a straightforward hit of ripe yellow citrus, lemon curd, lemon butter, glycol, and vanilla notes. A little simple…

Wren Hop Chardonnay Ritchie by Proxy

The 2016 Wren Hop Ritchie by Proxy opens up with a straight-lined, attentive attack of sprightly yellow citrus, lemon crud, lemon zest, lemon grass, ripe green apple pulp and skin, and some subtle…

Hartford / Hartford Court Chardonnay Far Coast Vineyard

Previous notes apply, though this wine started to make more sense to me tonight. Decanted and put back in the refrigerator to keep cool (but not overly cold). Probably served at around 50 degrees…

Launois Pere et Fils Champagne Grand Cru Veuve Clemence Brut Blanc de Blancs

Bubbles faded fast in coupe stemware. A blasted-out white winey effect occurred almost immediately. More air equated to a quick decline in tension and effervescence. Not a fan this time around. Some…

Aubert Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard

Yellow citrus, yellow pear, lemon and orange zest, candied/honey lemon, white stone, and hints of buttered popcorn and glycol. A fortified flavor burst of energy on the front end, but still holding…

Rivers-Marie Chardonnay Sonoma Coast

A little better than when I last had it a couple of months ago. When given the chance to air out a bit, it showed some nice yellow citrus flavors. Fairly agreeable, pairing well with salmon over a…

Addax Chardonnay

Yellow citrus core. Lemon curd and zest, lemon olive oil, lightly buttered popcorn, vanilla, glycol, and subtle grass. Medium-to full in weight; a nice drive with a balanced push of flavors evenly…

Rivers-Marie Chardonnay B. Thieriot Vineyard

Similar to previous notes. One of the finer examples of this particular wine. Lemon citrus, lemon zest, vanilla glycol, pumice, and hints of hay. Somewhat straightforward, but flavorful and balanced.…

Ultramarine Blanc de Blancs Heintz Vineyard Sonoma Coast

White stone and high-pitched yellow citrus core fruit. More linear in its delivery when compared to the 2010 Ultramarine served next to it. A little bit of the usual saline funk I associate with this…

Ultramarine Blanc de Blancs Heintz Vineyard Sonoma Coast

Funky yellow citrus, quince, chalk, seaweed, bruised lemon rind, and some wet hay. An interesting display of flavors across the palate, offering a unique complexity certainly not seen with domestic…

Aubert Chardonnay Lauren Estate Vineyard

From Magnum. A phenomenal showing this time around. After about two hours of air and some vigorous swirling in the decanter, this absolutely gorgeous wine kicked-out all sorts of seductive and…

Revana Chardonnay

Much improved from when I last had it earlier in the year. This was a PnP so it was surely much fresher and more energetic than the flattened-out boo-boo lipped version from my last note.

Aubert Chardonnay Hudson Vineyard

My previous note from the beginning of the year still applies. Buttery citrus, poached pear, honey, and subtle butterscotch. A sultry Chardonnay all the way through. A melts in your mouth kind of…

Château Boswell Chardonnay True Course

A beautiful Chardonnay, with a complexity of silky and sexy flavors that is hard to come by in most domestic Chards. Much richer and viscous than the Ritchie Chard served before it, this True Course…