Reviews

Domaine des Malandes Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos

A tick or two behind the 2017 Les Clos, this 2016 impresses for its purity and a nice even-keeled balance of grip and flavor. Lighter mid-palate, with higher register and somewhat lighter weighted…

Domaine des Malandes Chablis 1er Cru Montmains Vieilles Vignes

So if you want a back-the-truck-up type of wine that way over delivers for its price point, this is the one. Beautifully pure and clean flavors of wonderful yellow citrus, fresh squeezed lemon juice,…

Domaine des Malandes Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos

Lemon and lime zest, quince, lychee, and some faint minerality on the tail end. The citrus zest undulates throughout the delivery, finishing with a gentle clamp on the back of the jaw. Well balanced,…

Domaine A Préhy Chablis Sainte Céline

White peach, lemon curd, honeycomb, and a hint of limestone. Medium-bodied with a well-weighted mid-palate and a nicely round and enveloping finish. Simple, but hot-damn for $12.99 at Trader Joe's,…

Sine Qua Non Entre Chien et Loup

Certainly a worthy comparison to a strong white Rhone, with a deeply pitched and viscous mouthfeel that makes for a full-throttle (at times, a bit heavy) delivery. It's a weighty white to be sure,…

Domaine Christian Moreau Père et Fils Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos Clos des Hospices dans Les Clos

On the nose, a lively array of citrus zest and citrus blossom aromas rush to the scene. Truly a "taste first with your nose" kind if wine. The palate follows suit, with vibrant lemon flavors…

Domaine Louis Michel Chablis Grand Cru Vaudésir

PnP was near SB-esque, with wired-tight lemon juice, chalk, lychee, white melon, and quince notes. Decanted for over three hours and this monkey started to move ever so slightly into the realm of…

Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Grand Cru Bougros

Green apple, lychee, honeydew, pear, chalk and some limestone. No hard edges, but nice subtle tension keeping it from becoming too round. Finishes with white melon rind, wet travertine, and faint…

Arkenstone Sauvignon Blanc

Green apple, guava, yellow and green citrus rind, and subtle grass. The Arkenstone impresses for its flavor-push of tasty intensity and drive, while all the while maintaining a sense of direction and…

Maxem Chardonnay UV Vineyard

A Chardonnay with exquisite balance and poise, while also pushing out party-ready flavors of Meyer lemon juice, yellow pear, green apple, and hints of tropical fruit. Just as pure and alluring as it…

Domaine Dampt Frères Chablis Grand Cru Bougros

Very agreeable Bougros, with a sway toward the riper end of the yellow fruit spectrum, but also with enough acidity to keep it all in line. Ripe lemon and white melon dominate. Some pumice and slight…

Vice Versa Chardonnay Platt Vineyard

A much more complete animal than the barrel sample I had back in November. Initially, the first sips were certainly youthfully linear and hyper-focused. A massive cut and acid blast that was…

Domaine Vacheron Sancerre

Very well balanced. No fireworks, but well crafted and perhaps a bit rounder than I prefer in my SB. Missing elevated energy and cut. Verve was medium. It was a "nice" date, and would serve well as a…

Vice Versa Chardonnay Platt Vineyard

I know, I know... it's another 100 point Chardonnay from me. But pop a pill and hear me out on this......

Rivers-Marie Chardonnay Platt Vineyard

This poor little gawky ogre is still in a bit of a tug-of-war mode with its vanilla-glycol-alcohol versus grilled pineapple-lemon flavors all competing for center stage in Thunderdome. More of a…

Aubert Chardonnay Eastside Vineyard

Almost a year since my last note, with the Eastside coming along quite nicely. More fruit and unctuous flavor expansion this go-around. However, some if the typical Aubert glycol peeking through and…

Morlet Family Vineyards La Proportion Dorée

Refer to previous notes. Continue to hold, though this is offering gorgeous and pure yellow citrus fruit flavors, with an exquisite balance and a near-flawless glide. Worth keeping in the cellar for…

Rivers-Marie Chardonnay Sonoma Coast

Same as before. I know others think time in bottle will help this wine, and I hope they are correct. For me, I'm not confident time in bottle will help. It stands to smooth out a bit and shake off…

Kistler Chardonnay Les Noisetiers

A noteworthy "restaurant" Chardonnay at La Bicyclette in Carmel. Carries an agreeable smoothness that houses the ripe fruit in a smooth but firm scaffolding. A balanced non-astringent acid frame…

J. Rochioli Sauvignon Blanc

Light and a little tart on first PnP. With air, it completely woke up. Alluring notes of grass, yellow citrus, honeydew, quince, hints of pumice, and slightest tinge of alkaline, but then a beautiful…

Aubert Chardonnay UV-SL Vineyard

Currently angular and slightly abrasive, this iteration of UV-SL offers yellow citrus and alcohol, with some imitation vanilla extract and popcorn notes. Missing texture and seamlessness. A tad empty…

Frank Family Vineyards Chardonnay Carneros

Plump, plush, round, sweet, ripe, ripe, ripe lemon curd, lemon tart, custard, buttered popcorn, and yellow cupcake batter with vanilla frosting. An obese amount of oak influence made for a super…

Far Niente Chardonnay

Yellow citrus, popcorn, vanilla glycol, meringue, marshmallow, and custard. Heavy on the oak influence, with ripe and round yellow citrus enveloped by the sweet vanilla flavors. Little sophistication…

Wren Hop Chardonnay Ritchie by Proxy

Similar to all of my other notes. Needed an hour or so to start delivering a less manipulated and confectioned advancement of flavors. Lemon meringue and curd, vanilla, and mojito dominated the…

Aubert Chardonnay Lauren Estate Vineyard

A definite contrast from the Magnum I had of this a year ago. This bottle was (as others have noted) somewhat muted in the fruit department. In fact, the fruit seemed somewhat progressed and…