Chardonnay

Rhys Chard's are among my favorite Chardonnay's anywhere.  They often get tagged as "Burgundian" but I think they are a beautiful expression of the grape as grown in Santa Cruz.  This one was pop and pour and it was singing.  Gold/silver in color with slight green.  The nose is great with a lemon-vanilla cream along with a nice mineral base.  On the palate, this is vibrant with great acidity.  Great bright fruit.  Lemon with some vanilla and a nice minerality.  Long finish.  Great with a potato chowder.  Just a beautiful wine.  I think these age well but perhaps shut down at some point only

Light golden in color.  The nose has spice and lemons.  On the palate, this has a loose/fat texture but at the same time a crisp acidity.  While a bit more precision is nice, the overall package is very pleasing.  Nice lemons notes on the palate.  Good finish.  Clean and very drinkable Chardonnay.  Worked well with food.  

Everyone who tried this had the same reaction - this is interesting.  After that some loved it and some hated it.  More of the later I think.  Certainly not for everyone but I enjoyed it.  Deep golden in color.  High toned and a bit oxidized.  Fascinating nose that had a fleshy note, oranges, cumin and acetone.  On the palate, this is very drying.  Orange peel and lots of minerals.  Depth and lots of things going on.  I guess food neutral would be how I would describe it.  Some acidity but it plays in its own world.  

Alesia is produced by Rhys with their non-estate fruit.  Alder Springs is one of the idiosyncratic vineyards in California.  North of Sonoma and right on the coast, the vineyard can be drastically different from year to year and they grow a host of different varietals.  Truthfully, I wondered if this fruit got ripe enough in 2011, but now worries.  Not a fruity wine, but enough for sure.

A classic Napa Chardonnay.  Light golden in color.  This has seen a lot of the oak integrate over the last year or two which is good.  There is still some vanilla on the nose but also some nice lemon cream.  On the palate, this has good acidity.  Lemon with spice and vanilla.  Decent finish.  This is not their top of the line and is priced accordingly.  As such, it presents some value in the Napa Chard world.  Not a stunner but certainly a wine most people at least enjoy.  There is still some possible room for this to improve with a couple more years of cellaring.  

Light yellow in color.  The nose is gorgeous with lemon cream notes.  Slightly oily texture.  Young but already showing a deep complexity.  Lemon cream notes with an interesting slight mint note on the finish.  There is some oak here, but it is integrated beautifully.  This should age well for a decade, probably two.  There is some upside potential.  

Like many white Rhone varietal wines, this has taken some time to really come around but it is drinking beautifully right now.  Pop and pour.  Light golden in color.  The nose is great.  Initially, there is some vanilla but that gives way to tropical fruits (mango) and some citrus.  Also a nice mineral streak and bits of wax.  On the palate, this is oily which is nice.  Citrus (lemon/orange) and mangoes continue.  Deep and layered.  Worked great with a tomato-fennel soup.  Long finish.  Really drank well but plenty of life left.  

From a 500 ml bottle.  I love this format for a white wine.  Light golden in color.  The nose is great with lemon curd and slight vanilla bean notes.  Just the slightest bit of peach.  On the palate, lemon cream, vanilla and spice.  Great texture.  Young.  Energetic and vibrant fruit.  Great acidity.  Nice finish.  Very food friendly.  Delicious.  

Light golden in color.  The nose is very nice.  Clean with no overt oak showing.  Green apples, slight lemon cream and slight pineapple.  On the palate, this is again clean with plenty of fruit.  Green apples, slightly tart, slight lemon.  An undetrlying minerality  It worked well with a difficult food match (fried pickle poppers).  Nice finish.  Still very youthful, it wiill be interesting to revisit this.  

This has really improved in the last 6 months.  This has some oak on it which may be a question for some, but if you like this style, it is impressive.  Deep golden in color.  The nose has vanilla and lemon cream.  Slight fesh lumber.  On the palate, there is a lovely oily texture.  Very lemony with a bit of sawdust as well as vanilla.  Very nice acidity.  Worked just find with some cheeses.  Still on the young side and plenty of fruit to hold up as the oak integrates.  It is delicious right now.