Very nice showing for this wine. Deep salmon pink with some orange swirls in color. The nose has strawberries, some active yeast aromas, and a bot of cherries. A nice mousse with small bubbles. On the palate, this has nice cherries with some orange and an interesting milk chocolate note. This has a nice complexity. Good acidity. Drinking well now; it has a nice verve and freshness that won't last. It probably should be consumed in the next coup,e of years. This went well with crackers and olives but would really go with just about anything.
This is a sparkling wine from California. Oddly enough, I tasted it while stopping for lunch in Napa at the Oakville Grocer. A couple seated next to me had ordered a bottle for lunch but only finished two thirds of it, and offered us the rest. Who am I to refuse such a generous invitation. The wine itself was very good and indeed, better than I had expected. It is a blend of 64% Pinot Noir and 36% Chardonnay grown. It is a pale pink/orange color, clear and bright with a good amount of smaller bubbles. The nose is nice with strawberries, raspberries and a touch of yeast. On the palat
Consistently one of the best Chardonnay's coming from Napa. It is a hypothetical cross in style between a fatter Burgundy and a racier California Chardonnay. It is a bit tropical and definitely shows some oak, but used deftly. Always a hit when a bottle is opened. Pale golden in color. The nose has vanilla, lemons and minerals. Complex. On the palate, this is round but with enough acidity to make it work. Vanilla and lemon cream. Long finish. This keeps unwinding in the glass. Not a baby but not yet at peak depending how you like your Chards. This will work great on its own or
Golden in color, with slight green tinges to it. The nose has slight vanilla and slight fresh oak along with some lemons. Overall though, it is still quite tight. On the palate, this has a nice mouth feel. Vanilla, lemons and oak. It opens with some air but is still very young. It is very good but should continue to improve over the next few years. It makes some sense to hold these if you have good storage. It drinks well on its own and will go with heavier sea food dishes or even salads or lighter fowl dishes.
It is always a pleasure to drink Chablis Even more Grand Cru from a great vintage. These are some of the best expressions of Chardonnay. This was my second time being lucky enough to try this one. It was pretty consistent, This one was no exception, Green/gold in color. Shimmering bright. The nose has plenty of green apples with a nice chalk/sea shell quality. On the palate, this is ripe and broad. It has a slightly oily texture which is a good thing. More red apple with underlying chalk. Good acidity. Nice finish. This is still young and though ageing white Burgundies can b
Holy smokes. I love this wine, but this was the best showing for it yet. Light golden/green in color. Lemon cream, vanilla and slight smoke on the nose. On the palate, this has a slightly oily texture which is great. Crisp acidity. The lemon and vanilla come thru over a slight charred wood quality. Deep and complex, this is the most developed bottle I have had although certainly not old. Layers of fruit, wood and char. Long finish. Went great with roasted Shihitto peppers. If this is a glimpse where this is heading then patience will be rewarded but no harm in opening now.
Opened for my birthday dinner. This is 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay. It has a deep amber color although clear and bright. A good amount of small-ish bubbles. On the nose this has some strawberries, slight hay, dried floral notes and a slightly nutty quality. On the palate, the strawberries come thru with some light cherries. There is a touch of oxidation here. Nice acidity. It worked better with a bit of food. This is probably not a long term ager and should be drink in the next few years. Wen well with some Shihito peppers.
Of course, 100% Chardonnay. Another great showing from this bottle. Really firing on all levels with just a bit of air. Light green/gold in color, clear and bright. A lot of very small bubbles. On the nose, this has smoke and lemons. With air, a bit of chalkiness comes out. On the palate, this has a nice bite of acidity. It is, however, full bodied and round with no sharp edges. The lemons carry thru along with a bit of yeast. This is starting to show some age on it although it easily has another ten and probably twenty years at peak. It will go with almost any food. One of the
