H invited to a tasting dinner with a Chardonnay theme. We were told that it would be USA dominated with some dark horses. We had a great evening!
All wines tasted double blind.
Flight I
2014 Sta Rita Hills White Hill Chardonnay, Liquid Farm
A cool, high nose with notes of shellfish, lemon zest, grass, flint and some fresh herbs. Very, very good.
The taste is tight and a bit warmer than the nose leads you to believe. Fine notes of lemon cream, dried apricot and hay. A fine length.
90p (tasted 2021/11)
2016 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay, Kutch
A handsome nose with notes of lemon cream, grilled lemons, fudge and some oak notes.
The taste is stony and fine with notes of elderberries, lemon cream and crushed rocks. Very, very good.
88p (tasted 2021/11)
2016 Sonoma Coast Marema Chardonnay, Ceritas
A tight, fresh nose with notes of star fruit, scallops, chives and sun warm rocks. After some time in the glass scents of ripe lemons. Very fine.
The taste is refined and tight with a fine salty note, lemon zest, flint and steel. Laid back and very fine. 5+ years.
91p (tasted 2021/11)
2015 Sta Rita Hills Juliet Chardonnay, Domaine de la Cote
An open, creamy nose with notes of dry fudge, cool mango, flint, red basil and red apples. Just lovely.
The taste is steady and structured with notes of ripe oranges, flint, lemon fudge and sandelwood. Very long. Very fine.
94p (tasted 2021/11)
2017 Sta Rita Hills Sandford & Benedict Chardonnay, Sandhi
A cool, elegant nose with notes of lime peel, fish skin, grey pears and warm grass. Complex and fine.
The taste is tight and seedy with notes of lemon peel, hay, ripe pears and a fine salty note. Very fine.
92p (tasted 2021/11)
Flight II
2018 Russian River Valley Peugh Vineyard Chardonnay, Anthill Farms
A high, pure nose with notes of warm grass, ripening oranges, grape and sweet minerals. Very fine.
The taste is tight and refined with notes of lemon peel, grass, oyster juice and a fine salty note. High and fine.
93p (tasted 2021/11)
2016 Santa Cruz Mountains Trout Gulch Vineyard Chardonnay, Ceritas
A very deep nose with notes of apple juice, sand, grass and a slight metallic scent. Handsome in a strict way.
The taste is tight and seedy with a very high acidity that almost takes over the fruit, but it is there in the shape of ripe lemons and yellow apples. 4+ years.
90p (tasted 2021/11)
2016 Bien Nacido Vineyard Chardonnay, Chanin
A deep, spicy nose with notes of yellow apples, lemon licorice, lemon candy and minerals. Very fine.
The taste is racy and focused with notes of ripe lemons, sweet minerals, licorice fudge and warm sand. A great mouthfeel with a cleansing acidity. Lovely.
94p (tasted 2021/11)
2011 Puligny-Montrachet Champs Canet, Jacques Carillon
A cat amongst the ermines, or the other way around... A cool, pure nose with notes of dry butter biscuits, birch leaves, lemon cream and crushed rocks. Very, very good.
The taste is tight and nicely concentrated with notes of ripe lemons, dry fudge, minerals and warm grass. Long and very fine. Did anyone spot this as a non USA Chard..., well no.
92p (tasted 2021/11)
2019 Santa Cruz Mountains Trout Gulch Vineyard Chardonnay, Arnot-Roberts
A tight, stony nose with notes of grass, iron, ripening lemons and a metallic scent.
The taste is cool and dry with notes of lemon cream, iron, sand and minerals. Very dry in the finish. Fine fruit in a anemic way. Needs time, 4+ years.
88p (tasted 2021/11)
Flight III
2018 Seven Strings Vineyard Chardonnay, Walter Scott
A stony, herbal nose with notes of dried orange peel, chive, freshly washed clothes and spices. Very, very good.
The taste is cool and elegant with notes of sweet/sour lemons, almond paste, herbs and chalk. Tight and fine. 5+ years.
91p (tasted 2021/11)
2011 Corton-Charlemagne, Henri Boillot
A fine, smoky nose with notes of grilled lemons, dry fudge, yellow apples and chrushed rocks. Deep and fine.
The taste is crisp and tight with notes of tangerines, grilled lemons, grass and minerals. A very fine acidity. Still on the young side of things. Nobody pegged this as a Burgundy...
91p (tasted 2021/11)
2015 Sta Rita Hills Four Chardonnay, Liquid Farm
A beauty. A deep, taut, complex nose with notes of ripe oranges, smoke, butter cookies, fried scallops and almonds. Just lovely.
The taste is firm and focused with notes of oranges, grape, cap gun smoke, freshly cut grass and sweet minerals. Very long and distinct. Gorgeous now and gorgeous in 10 years.
95p (tasted 2021/11)
A large scaled, tight nose with notes of grilled lemons, smoke, tangerines and wet earth. Very deep and fine.
The taste is tight and concentrated with notes of grilled lemons, orange juice, quince and sweet minerals. Very long. A tight, structured acidity. Not for the weak hearted.
93p (tasted 2021/11)
2014 Horseshoe Vineyard Chardonnay, Rhys
A deep, open nose with notes of dried up orange jam, chalk, dry fudge and lots of sweet minerals. Very fine.
The taste is dry and tight with notes of dried oranges, gravel and chalk. Odd in a fascinating way. A high acidity. Stunning.
93p (tasted 2021/11)
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