Chardonnay

Whether you like this wine comes down to style.  It is well made in the "classic" new world style with rich, opulent tropical fruit, butter and oak.  It does seem to be a bit past its prime so drinking sooner than later is called for.  Golden in color.  The nose has butterscotch, spice, mango and butter.  On the palate, this has a voluptuous texture.  Decent acidity certainly helps it work with food.  The buttery and spice notes are predominant on the palate but there is some tropical fruit quality.  This is not my preferred style of Chardonnay but it is certainly better than many in the ca

Sadly Ulises Valdez has passed away too young.  This bottle was opened for a time when tasted (I believe for 24 hours), so take that into account.  It is drinking very well though.  Golden in color with a bit of straw.  On the nose, this is nice with slight green apples, some hay and some butterscotch.  On the palate, this is full bodied.  There is some depth here.  Drinking very well with some lemon/citrus and a nice minerality.  Good finish.  Worked well with some appetizers as we stood around talking.  

This is a nice value in 1er Cru Champagne.  It drinks very well right now.  Light golden in color with a nice head of small bubbles.  The nose is nice with a green apple note along with some faint toast qualities.  In general, this is more on the austere side of Champagne which is not a bad thing.  Plenty of acidity.  Long finish.  This was served to friends at the start of the evening along side some roasted chick peas and that proved a fine pairing a great start to the evening.  I don't think this will improve and these bottles, purchased in the last year, should be drunk in the next year

Opened to celebrate my son's 23rd birthday.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The mousse is thick with lots of tiny bubbles.  On the nose, this is mostly mineral driven but there are some green apples and slight toast.  On the palate, this veers toward the leaner side but not all the way.  Green apple fruit with a nice minerality.  Good acid.  Long finish.  Went great with a shaved mushroom with lemon juice salad.  

Another spectacular Chardonnay from Rhys.  This is probably my favorite bottling.  Opened to celebrate a friend's 40th and finished the rest on the following night.  It was great both nights but a bit better on night 2.  Light golden in color.  The nose is sensational.  Yes, there is some oak showing but the nose is so pretty and enticing with lemon cream and vanilla.  On the palate, this has a slightly soft texture, with great lemon fruit.  Some vanilla as well.  Great acidity.  Plenty of depth.  Long finish.  This is not a fruit bomb but it does have a big personality.  It will go with al

Rhys Chardonnay's are some of the best anywhere.  Some say they have a Burgundian quality to them, and that may be true, but they are also clearly from California.  Sunshine and ripeness.  This one was gorgeous.  Light golden in color.  The nose has a great minerality with nice minerals and lemon cream.  On the palate, it is delicious but lean.  Great acidity.  Nice lemony notes.  Long finish.  Sometimes these wines can shut down after a few years, so this should be drunk soon, or put it away for another five years or more.  

Excellent wine that really needs some time.  Lots of upside potential here.  Light golden in color.  The nose is fat (for Chablis) with red fugi apples over a nice chalky base.  On the palate, this has a soft texture with good if not great acidity.  It is delicious.  Lots going on with tight layers of complexity.  Long finish.  Perhaps not a classic sort of Chablis, yet, it is an outstanding chardonnay.  

This is an outstanding Chablis that shows the vintage very well.  Lean yet, powerful.  Light silvery/gold in color.  The nose is classic with green apples.  Nice minerality too.  On the palate, this broadens across the palate, yet has nice green apple notes with good acidity.  An underlying minerality too.  It presents almost as two styles at the same time.  Delicious though.  Will work with lighter foods, seafood and poultry dishes.  Still young and has some upside.  

This is a project from the owners of Domaine Serene in Oregon.  Light green/gold in color.  The nose is chalky with slight vanilla and slight lemons.  On the palate, this is a big and fruity Chardonnay.  Quite tasty.  Lemony with a slightly sweet-tart candied note which is nice.  Big and long finish.  Perhaps a bit atypical for the vintage but a very nice wine that would go with a wide variety of lighter and medium weight foods.  

Silvery gold in color.  This has a really great nose.  Clean with just a touch of oak showing.  Salinity and ref apples.  With air, some citrus emerges.  On the palate, the apples come thru.  There is underlying minerality.  While the wine has a rich fat texture, it has enough acidity to work with.  Good finish but there is a touch of oak/harshness.  The wine seems to be drinking quite well right now, but may (or not) get a bit better.  Still, it seems prudent to drink these younger.  It will match well with sea food and lighter fare.