Wine Doctrine
Every tasting note

Reviews

1,229 notes

2015

Fait-Main Chardonnay Penhoet Toyon Farm

California · Napa Valley

Same as all previous notes. Light and crisp, with good acidity and an overall breadth of flavor that still has its domestic roots in place. This had the most drive compared to the other five whites…

Reviewed 13 January 2018
2015

Aubert Chardonnay Hudson Vineyard

Napa / Sonoma · Carneros

A beautiful bottle of wine. A little more melted honey, lemon curd, and clarified butter flavors than some of the other more exacting and mineral driven Auberts (i.e.: Eastside). Slightly round on…

Reviewed 10 January 2018
2014

Donelan Chardonnay Nancie

California · Sonoma County

Ripe and inviting, with some savory lemon curd and sweet, ripe citrus notes in full display; enough acid to keep it from being too plush and round. A lovely, silky texture provided a beautiful glide…

Reviewed 6 January 2018
2015

Bacigalupi Vineyards Chardonnay

Sonoma County · Russian River Valley

Drinking great now. Previous notes apply. PnP was perfect. Served at around 54+ degrees. Beautiful texture. Drink now and over the next year.

Reviewed 4 January 2018
2013

Rivers-Marie Chardonnay B. Thieriot Vineyard

Sonoma County · Sonoma Coast

My other previous notes still apply. This is in a good drinking window right out of the gate on PnP. No reason to delay gratification on this, as I personally believe it is operating at/close to its…

Reviewed 2 January 2018
2014

Rivers-Marie Chardonnay Sonoma Coast

Sonoma County · Sonoma Coast

Same as before. 92-93 points. Developed a faint sweetness on the attack that I don't recall having been there before. Not necessarily distracting, but noticeable among a number of us. I liked it; I…

Reviewed 25 December 2017
2015

Morlet Family Vineyards Chardonnay Coup de Coeur

California · Sonoma County

2015 Aubert CIX vs. 2015 Morlet Coup de Coeur - Two RP 100 point domestic Chardonnays side-by-side. Served with homemade pasta and lobster with a white wine and thyme reduction sauce/lobster jus.

Reviewed 24 December 2017
2015

Aubert Chardonnay CIX Estate Vineyard

Sonoma County · Sonoma Coast

2015 Aubert CIX vs. 2015 Morlet Coup de Coeur - Two RP 100 point domestic Chardonnays side-by-side. Served with homemade pasta and lobster with a white wine and thyme reduction sauce/lobster jus.

Reviewed 24 December 2017
2015

Del Dotto Chardonnay Cinghiale Vineyard

Sonoma County · Fort Ross - Seaview

Same as previous notes, except this time it came off a little buttery. A rounder profile than I recall, but the fruit still seemed of good quality. A nice sipper, though I was searching for a bit…

Reviewed 20 December 2017
2016

Vice Versa Chardonnay Platt Vineyard

Sonoma County · Sonoma Coast

A stunningly phenomenal Chardonnay with a captivating precision and focus that is rarely found in any domestic version of the varietal. Still giving in the core fruit department, but with a…

Reviewed 15 December 2017
2008

Salinia Chardonnay Heintz Ranch

Sonoma County · Sonoma Coast

All previous notes apply. Reductive and very Sherry-like. Just know what you're getting into. Drink now.

Reviewed 12 December 2017
2015

D.R. Stephens Chardonnay Star Vineyard

Napa Valley · Rutherford

PnP with beautiful notes of yellow citrus, lemon curd, vanilla bean, white bread center, and light honey. Creamy and giving, with an immediate accessibility that draws you in with each sip. Medium…

Reviewed 11 December 2017
2014

J Vineyards & Winery Chardonnay Estate

Sonoma County · Russian River Valley

Simple and somewhat harsh. No finesse or sense of sophistication at all. Little depth, with an edgy bite and astringency that screams cheap Chard. Pass.

Reviewed 9 December 2017
2014

Argot Chardonnay Simpatico Ranch

Sonoma County · Bennett Valley

Previous notes apply. Last minute cellar pull. Needs another year to fan out its flavors. Super focused with a chiseled delivery of yellow citrus fruit. It kinda shows like a hyper-skilled math…

Reviewed 7 December 2017
2014

Schramsberg Vineyards Blanc de Blancs

California · North Coast

Crisp and refreshing, with a frothy, brioche note on the back end that carried the light yellow citrus fruit on through the finish. Nothing super enticing or complex, but paired well with a spicy and…

Reviewed 30 November 2017
2013

Bevan Cellars Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard

Sonoma County · Russian River Valley

Much better showing than last year. Time in bottle certainly helped. However, this is still a bit of a brute and built more like a Cabernet than a Chardonnay. After about two hours of air, it…

Reviewed 24 November 2017
2013

Rivers-Marie Chardonnay Sonoma Coast

Sonoma County · Sonoma Coast

Drink now. This is performing very well, with the perfect amount of energy, grip, and flavor. A medium delivery of core yellow citrus fruit, with an encompassing mouthfeel that coats the palate…

Reviewed 24 November 2017
2012

TOR Chardonnay Cuvée Torchiana

California · Napa Valley

Same as last year. 91-92? points. Decent flavors with added depth, but still just middle of the road in terms of complexity. Cork back in the bottle and awaiting results 24 hours later.

Reviewed 22 November 2017
2015

Fait-Main Chardonnay Penhoet Toyon Farm

California · Napa Valley

Same as my previous note. 94-95+ points this time around. I'm going to try to lie down remaining bottles for another 6-12 months. Great tension and grip for a domestic Chardonnay.

Reviewed 18 November 2017
2016

Ironstone Vineyards Chardonnay

Central Valley · Lodi

Alkaline, watery lemon, sour green apple, soapy bath water. Flat and completely hollow. One of the worst Chardonnays I've ever had. One sip...instant sourpuss face...done.

Reviewed 28 October 2017
2015

Williams Selyem Chardonnay Lewis MacGregor Estate Vineyard

Sonoma County · Russian River Valley

Creamy and succulent notes of vanilla bean-laced lemon curd, honeycomb, light yellow citrus, ripe yellow Bartlett pear, and hints of clarified butter. The richness of the vanilla dominates on the…

Reviewed 22 October 2017
2014

Bernardus Winery Chardonnay Rosella's Vineyard

Central Coast · Santa Lucia Highlands

Same as my previous notes, except that this got a little too warm (room temp), which flattened it out considerably on the back end. The flavors were decent, but the frame lost tension and grip…

Reviewed 13 October 2017
2013

Aubert Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard

Sonoma County · Sonoma Coast

Same as my previous notes 8 months ago. Drinking extremely smooth but with a push that really drives the flavors forward through the mid-palate and on to a beautifully suave finish. A very balanced…

Reviewed 10 October 2017
2013

Lewis Cellars Chardonnay Reserve

California · Napa Valley

Previous notes apply. Big, voluptuous, and plush. Dominated by viscous lemon curd and vanilla notes. Quality fruit indeed, but nearing levels of coming across a little over-processed and devoid of…

Reviewed 5 October 2017