ChangeMe  
Master of Wine
Posts: 11169
 | | 01-15-2006 03:18 PM |
| We had this wine with friends at dinner last night in NYC. I had read Parker's review of this wine and must agree with his description. I took no notes but my impressions below use a few terms from Parker's review.
The nose was powerful and complex with many different fruit aromas. On the palate, the wine was truly stunning. Parker's description of great minerality and lemon oil were perfect. I believe this is the best Chardonnay I've ever had other than a few Grand Cru Burgundies. It may be better in another year or so, but my 5 remaining bottles will not likely last that long. Parker gave it a 94. I give it a 97. If you can find this, grab it. | | |
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Dave
Wine Connoisseur
Posts: 5747
| | 01-15-2006 03:54 PM |
| | I liked the 2002 version of this one as well. | | | |
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tgenn
Pleasanton, Ca.
Grape Sorter
Posts: 369
| | 01-15-2006 11:24 PM |
| | And ditto with the 2001 version. | | | |
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AlexRed
Northern VA
Wine Thief
Posts: 2652
| | 01-17-2006 09:18 PM |
| | I have no experience with Ramey. I know you have no problem aging wine Board-O but it sounds like you are going to breeze through these.... do you not intend to put a couple of years on them like everyone seems to advise for Kistler et al.? are they made in a significantly different way that you would not suggests waiting? | | | |
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ChangeMe
Master of Wine
Posts: 11169
| | 01-18-2006 03:05 AM |
| | I like my Chardonnays young, even Grand Crus. As far as I'm concerned, the ones that actually improve, rather then just hold, after four years, are a small minority. I'll probably hold one or two to see how they age, but at offlines I'll really want to bring one of these. | | | |
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skwid
Wine Connoisseur
Posts: 5452
| | 01-18-2006 03:21 AM |
| | Board-o DRAB's his white wines and his sweet wines. Only the reds last in his cellar. | | | |
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ChangeMe
Master of Wine
Posts: 11169
| | 01-18-2006 04:02 AM |
| | Guilty as charged. | | | |
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Randy Sloan
St. Helena
Wine Labeler
Posts: 3987
| | 01-18-2006 05:52 AM |
| Okay, okay, okay. You made me order 6. The only other time I've bought 6 bottles of white wine at the same time was for my wedding.
Thanks for the recommendation! | | Randy Sloan
Match Vineyards | |
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ChangeMe
Master of Wine
Posts: 11169
| | 01-18-2006 01:02 PM |
| I'm just hoping my one bottle wasn't an "on-bottle." By that, I mean the opposite of an "off-bottle." On WD, one poster tried the wine and loved it, scoring it a 95. As for me, I've had lots of Chardonnays rated 94 and 95 and this one is clearly much better. We're going to try a new BYO this weekend and I'm going to try another.
One thing maybe I should have mentioned in my tasting note- the BYO we went to last weekend with this wine has poor stemware. I bring stems for the reds but use theirs for the whites, so the wine was tasted out of poor stems, not even the quality of mediocre tasting rooms. | | | |
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calcabs
Grape Fermenter
Posts: 453
| | 01-19-2006 05:30 PM |
| Board-O
Better hope you like out of good stems  | | | |
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Winegeek
San Francisco
Barrel Racker
Posts: 1525
| | 01-19-2006 05:49 PM |
| Quote:
I'm just hoping my one bottle wasn't an "on-bottle."
Not to worry - this is great wine. I've had it twice (full disclosure: I sell it) and it was a "wow" wine both times.
Richard | | | |
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JimmyV
Central Connecticut
Wine Connoisseur
Posts: 5167
| | 01-19-2006 07:33 PM |
| | You guys are evil. As if Board-O's recommendation wasn't enough (we agree 99% of the time on Chardonnays), he gets support from the masses. Look for me in the "Buying Lately" thread! | | | Beta testing a new signature. | |
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ChangeMe
Master of Wine
Posts: 11169
| | 01-19-2006 09:12 PM |
| | What are you waiting for, Jimmy? Taste it while you still might be able to find more. I sincerelyt believe, from the one bottle opened so far, that is the best American Chardonnay I've ever had. | | | |
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ChillyWino
Barrel Racker
Posts: 1745
| | 01-19-2006 10:13 PM |
| Quote:
What are you waiting for, Jimmy? Taste it while you still might be able to find more. I sincerelyt believe, from the one bottle opened so far, that is the best American Chardonnay I've ever had.
Board-O, for a reference can you list your top 5 or so American Chards?? | | | |
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ChangeMe
Master of Wine
Posts: 11169
| | 01-20-2006 12:22 AM |
| | Wow, that's a hard one. I don't know that I can. There's been a whole bunch that I've found in the 93 and 94 area and a couple of 95s. I don't believe I've ever rated an American Chardonnay higher than 95 before this. Up until 5 or 6 years ago, I used to write up almost every wine I tasted but I no longer do that. The ones I remember in the 94 area are various Kistlers, Martinellis, one or two Beringer Sbragias, Melville, Peter Michael. Ranking them at this time is virtually impossible for me. It ranks with some of the finest Grand Cru white Burgundies, and I've had a load of those. | | | |
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ChillyWino
Barrel Racker
Posts: 1745
| | 01-20-2006 04:47 PM |
| Quote:
Wow, that's a hard one. I don't know that I can. There's been a whole bunch that I've found in the 93 and 94 area and a couple of 95s. I don't believe I've ever rated an American Chardonnay higher than 95 before this. Up until 5 or 6 years ago, I used to write up almost every wine I tasted but I no longer do that. The ones I remember in the 94 area are various Kistlers, Martinellis, one or two Beringer Sbragias, Melville, Peter Michael. Ranking them at this time is virtually impossible for me. It ranks with some of the finest Grand Cru white Burgundies, and I've had a load of those.
Board-0, fair enough. I love white Burgs, and if this is in the same ball park I might have to track some done before it's sold out. You've made this a very popular wine!! | | | |
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love_cab_chard
Master of Wine
Posts: 12578
| | 01-21-2006 05:57 PM |
| | I just picked up 8 bottles for $45.00. Though, not all for me. Thanks Jimmy! | | | |
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ChangeMe
Master of Wine
Posts: 11169
| | 01-22-2006 10:03 PM |
| | We had this wine again last night. It was truly an outstanding Chardonnay, just lacking a bit of the spectacular brilliance of the previous bottle, maybe a bit of its viscosity also, but still truly wonderful. 95 | | | |
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mountainman
Mammoth Mountain
Wine Addict
Posts: 6155
| | 01-25-2006 02:03 AM |
| Drinking one in our San Diego hotel before we head off to a David Arthur winemaker dinner in Del Mar. My only gripe is I am getting some sharp oak at the end. Will decant the next one. Bought 3 at Santa Ana Wine Club earlier today for $45 per. Will be better than the David Arthur chards I will be subjected to shortly! mm94
BTW, One of my faves of the last few years was a 2000 Kistler HYDE VINEYARD chard. I believe I put a mm96 on it. | | | |
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ChangeMe
Master of Wine
Posts: 11169
| | 01-25-2006 03:49 AM |
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| I didn't get any sharp oak. I didn't get anything sharp. | | | |
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