Sonoma Coast

Light ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose is lovely with cherries, cinnamon, and slight spice notes.  Medium to full bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, cherries, some rhubarb and slight cloves.  Long finish.  This has some depth and complexity.  Still on the younger side of peak but getting there.  Nice on its own but better with food.  Cheese worked well, but this would be nice with roasted duck or chicken.  Drink over the next eight to twelve years. 

A couple  of steps up from the basic Sonoma Coast Chardonnay.  Light golden in color with some silvery hues, clear and bright.  The nose is great with lemon curd, slight pear, vanilla and spice.  Medium to full bodied.  Crisp acidity.  On the palate, this is concentrated but has some elegance.  Lemons, slight vanilla, a bit of toast and spice.  Complex.  Long finish.  For my tastes, one of the top Chardonnays out there.  It should easily drink well for ten to fifteen more years.  Great on its own, but better with food.  This would be excellent with grilled Salmon.  

Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The  nose is nice with limes, vanilla, and spice.  It has a leaner texture with crisp acidity.  On the palate, more lemon than lime along with a nice minerality and spice.  Clean finish.  This sees no new oak but certainly has a perception of some oak which is interesting.  It should work well with seafood or vegetarian fare.  Pad Thai would might be nice.  Drink over the next five to eight years.  

Deep golden in color and cloudy but bright.  That is typical appearance for Aubert.  The nose is a bit different with pineapples, baked apples, lemon curd and vanilla bean.  Full bodied.  Good acidity.  On the palate, there is a lot going on.  The pineapple carries thru along with apples, slight vanilla, spice and some lemon curd on the long finish. This is complex and deep.  It is great/contemplative on its own but will work well with food.  It went very well with Veggie Flat Breads, but would also be great with clams.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  

Probably my favorite in the excellent lineup of Rivers Marie Chardonnays and this vintage is no exception.  Light golden/silver/green in color, clear and bright.  The nose is deep and strong with green apples, lemon peel, minerality with slight chalk, slight spice and vanilla.  Full bodied.  Crisp but rounded edges.  Great racy texture.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Flavors of green apples, lemon juice and minerals.  Long finish.  This is drinking beautifully, if young on its own but will work well with the right food.  Calamari would be a great choice.  Drink over the next ten to fif

This is their basic offering (not a single vineyard) that is supposed to be a bit more approachable in its youth.  Light golden in color with some green hues, clear and bright.  The nose has apples, slight lemon citrus, spice and salinity.  Nice texture.  Good balance.  On the palate, this is round with no hard edges.  Good minerality.  Apples with some spice.  Good finish.  It is drinking well now and should be for another seven to ten more years.  Good on its own, this would be nice with baked Trout.  

A terrific Pinot considering the price, this affordable wine showcases the rustic quality of Sonoma Coast fruit. Obvious strawberry, red raspberry, light pomegranate, and plum fill the palate. The weather along the Sonoma Coast also produces a brambly quality, more macerated deeper and richer red fruits along with an ideal acidity and moderate tannins. Winemaker Heidi Bridenhagen wisely chose to keep the oak treatment minimal, using only 30% new French oak with reduced toast levels. These choices make this great with food - a delicate Pinot Noir that offers some heft and swagger.

This is 100% Carricante grape grown 12 miles from the Pacific Ocean on the Sonoma Coast.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose takes some time to open and then shows peach, minerality, slight lemon, floral notes and salinity.  Medium bodied.  Round but with acidity.  On the palate, this is deep.  It really works better with food.  It went nicely with a vegetarian Hungarian Vegetable Stew.  Drink over the next five to ten years.  

First time trying this Chard.  Yellow/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose is pretty with nice minerality along with lemons and a bit of peach.  Lovely oily texture.  Good acidity.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, this is deep.  It is very young of course, but should really develop over time.  Lemon cream notes.  Very long finish.  This is a rounder wine (in a good way) than I had been expecting and seems of California.  There is some oak but seems in balance.  Probably worth holding for a year or two and then drink for seven to ten after that.  This would be nice with sea food

For years MacRostie has had much success with Chardonnay and this latest offering is no exception. Pulling fruit from three distinct vineyards – all of which produce exceptional fruit on their own - this offers a taut acidity with light notes of green melon, citrus, star fruit, honeysuckle, lemon meringue, resin, guava and floral wildflower notes – a palette of tropical fruits. The combination of these vineyard sources shows how a wine can be better than the sum of its parts, and The Key is a harmonious, lovely, enjoyable wine.