Premier USA Chardonnay Tasting on July 18th

 

 

 

 

1-Aubert 2016 Chardonnay Eastside Vineyard Russian River Valley California
Jeb Dunnuck 100 Rating
Another perfect wine is the 2016 Chardonnay Eastside Vineyard, which comes from a site on the east side of the Russian River Valley. All from a suitcase clone from Montrachet, it has a perfumed, vibrant bouquet of caramelized green citrus, crushed rocks, orange blossom, and candied ginger. While it’s a full-bodied, powerful wine, it has an incredible sense of freshness and purity, with more saline/oyster shell notes developing as it sat in the glass. It’s another tour de force from Mark Aubert! SP32-1

 

2-Hartford Court 2017 Seascape Vineyard Chardonnay Sonoma Coast California
Jeb Dunnuck 99 Rating
Coming from a site on a panoramic ridgetop located at 1150 feet in elevation, west of the town of Occidental and facing Bodega Bay, the 2017 Chardonnay Seascape Vineyard is another magical effort from this estate and is a quintessential Sonoma Coast Chardonnay. White flowers, salty minerality, apple blossom, and tart pineapple all emerge from the glass, and it’s medium to full-bodied and has a wonderful purity, bright (almost racy) acidity, and a great finish. Brought up in 42% new French oak, it shows almost no trace of its élevage, and while tight and slightly closed on the palate, it’s nevertheless insanely good. Give bottles another year and enjoy over the following decade. R32-6

 

3-Brewer-Clifton 2018 Chardonnay 3D Santa Rita Hills California
Jeb Dunnuck 99 Rating
My favorite of the Chardonnay releases is the 2018 Chardonnay 3D, and this beauty has everything you could want from a Sta. Rita Hills release. Medium gold-hued, with a stunning nose of stone fruits, white currants, crushed stone, toasted bread, and a hints of green almonds, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a seamless, elegant texture, flawless balance, and a great, great finish. It's one of the finest Chardonnays in this report. SPA3-2

 

4-Tyler 2019 Mae Estate Chardonnay Santa Rita Hills California
Wine Advocate 97 Rating
Mae Estate is brand new cuvée from Tyler. “This place came on the market in 2014,” explains winemaker Justin Tyler Willett. “We had contemplated buying a place, so we will break ground here in 2022 on a new winery.” Located in the Sta. Rita Hills appellation on marine sediment soils, the Mae Estate will become the new home for Tyler wines. The 2019 Chardonnay Mae Estate is a beautiful first iteration. The nose features creamy panna cotta, lemon peel and pastry aromas streaked with sweet spice, and the palate has a unique satiny texture that coats the mouth and draws out its plush, creamy citrus and apricot layers. Don't hesitate to try this promising new cuvée from Tyler. R30-4

 

5-Sea Smoke 2020 Chardonnay Santa Rita Hills Santa Barbara County
Decanter Magazine 96 Rating
Just a shade riper and richer in tone than Sea Smoke’s 2021 Chardonnay, this is a sumptuously peachy, blossomy wine with a luscious, lactic creaminess that lingers long through the finish. Still, it shares Sea Smoke’s calibrated style – its a rich, powerful wine with freshness and precision. Pure fruit anchored by a salty, crystalline minerality, it wears its French oak hues (10 months in French oak, 24% new) with delicacy and grace. Delicious now but structured enough to hold. R37-2

 

6-Summer Dreams 2023 The Sun Also Rises Chardonnay Sonoma Coast California
Decanter Magazine 95 Rating
In 2023, the wine is wonderfully expressive, showing notes of ginger and toasty oak with spectacular richness. Tropical fruit, white pepper and ripe apricot interplay in a complex, luxurious composition. ‘It’s a luxury wine,’ says Jayson Woodbridge, ‘for people who want richness and gorgeousness without anything too heavy—it’s elegance and opulence in perfect balance, threading a bright acid needle.’ The moment the wine was made public, Woodbridge immediately locked down the copyright to Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises. He also purchased Peterson Ranch on the West Sonoma Coast, a west-facing hillside site farmed by Jim Barbour, which is the source of this wine. R31-2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Questions? Text me at 941-404-9685