More Chardonnay Than I Realized
I drink Chardonnay from California and while I have bought bottles of Kendall-Jackson, Vintners Reserve from a famous DC merchant, other wines in the $20-$30 range can offer an engaging experience. Recently both Jenn and I have been enjoying bottle after bottle of 2012 The Ojai Vineyard, Chardonnay, Santa Barbara County. If the name Ojai sounds familiar that could be due to all the press it received as a result of the Wine Writers Symposium, check out Robert Parker Responds to Jon Bonne. I think this wine will hit its peak towards the end of the year but right now offers up a nice blend of fruit, acidity, oak influence, and presence. The 2012 Elizabeth Spencer, Special Cuvee, Chardonnay, Mendocino had lots of verve and remained lively for days. It was a young wine that could use half a year in the cellar but I was attracted to the acidity and tannin combination. I enjoy tannins in a white wine. The 2010 Brewer-Clifton, Chardonnay, Santa Rita Hills may at first seem austere but reveals itself to be a careful combination of the savory, tang, acidity, and smoke. More reflective than quenching but I enjoyed it. Both Jenn and I liked the 2011 Antica, Chardonnay, Napa Valley on the first night when it had yellow fruit, salivating acidity, and stones but then it kind of fell apart the next night. Be sure to drink it in one sitting. The 2012 Crossbarn by Paul Hobbs, Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast had yellow tropical fruit, lively acidity, spices, and perhaps a little too much intention for my preference. I believe there is good diversity in the wines below so try one that sounds most attractive to you. These wines were purchased at MacArthur Beverages.
2012 The Ojai Vineyard, Chardonnay, Santa Barbara County – $25
Alcohol 14%. The color was a medium golden-straw with a nose of Chardonnay and some toast. In the mouth there was controlled ripeness complemented by nice spices and texture. With air it took on yellow, juicy fruit, and a vein of baking spices. There was acidity on the tongue tip and increasing texture that left a persistent aftertaste. *** Now-2017.
2012 Elizabeth Spencer, Special Cuvee, Chardonnay, Mendocino – $25
Alcohol 14.1%. The color was a very light straw. The nose remained subtle with tropical notes and sweet nuts (yup). The finely textured fruit in the mouth had a core of acidity and pleasing tannins which were ripe and built on the cheeks. It was somewhat compact to start with but over several days built some roundness to the firm white fruit. Had lots of verve. *** Now-2018.
2010 Brewer-Clifton, Chardonnay, Santa Rita Hills – $28
Alcohol 14.0%. There was a little smoke to the yellow fruit aromas. In the mouth the wine had some savory weight, acidity, and grip from the start. It had tang and freshness combined with weight and an expansive aftertaste. There was a chalky finish before the acidity hit the back of the throat and the smoke return in the aftertaste. Deliberate. *** Now – 2015.
2011 Antica, Chardonnay, Napa Valley – $30
This wine is 100% Chardonnay which was fermented in 30% new French oak then aged for six months on the lees. Alcohol 13.8%. The color was a light golden yellow. The nose was fresh with yellow fruit and underlying toast. In the mouth the fresh acidity balanced the white and yellow fruit. The wine showed some density with salivating acidity and some stone notes. It was best on the first night. *** Now.
2012 Crossbarn by Paul Hobbs, Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast – $25
This wine is 100% Chardonnay which was fermented in stainless steel, underwent malolactic fermentation, then 12-15% saw oak. Alcohol 14.1%. The nose bore yellow, tropical aromas that mixed with some toast. In the mouth was a slightly textured start with a crisp start of yellow fruit that was felt on the tongue tip. It was round in the mouth, lively on the tongue, with ripe spices in the finish. It ended more lush with a tropical hint to the flavors. ** Now-2015.
2012 Melville, Chardonnay Estate, Santa Rita Hills – $26
Alcohol 14.5%. This was the most forward with rounder, softer flavors and toast notes. Not my style. * Now.
Leave a Reply Cancel reply
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Recent Posts
- Anatomy of a Madeira Letter – Back Stamp
- Anatomy of a Madeira Letter – Receipt Docketing
- Anatomy of a Madeira Letter – Rates
- Anatomy of a Madeira Letter – Recipient’s Address
- “We were in time favored with your letter”: Anatomy of a Madeira letter
- Cruikshank’s “Oxford Transports” from 1824
- A Good Bottle of 1985 Warre’s, Vintage Port
Top Posts & Pages
- The Dutch Wine Glasses of Pieter Claesz
- A Brief History of the Halle aux Vins in Paris
- The Surprisingly Good 1993 Ochoa, Navarra Gran Reserva
- Two Spanish Wines To Taste In My Hotel Room
- A lively 1964 Luigi Nervi, Spanna
- A closer look at two different bottlings of 1811 Malvasia Candida
- Two Amazing Bottles: Charvin and Inglenook
- A tasting of Château Léoville Poyferré 2015-1990
- 2009 Domaine Leon Barral, Jadis and Valiniere
- 1997 and 1999 Bois de Boursan CdP
History of Wine
Archives
- October 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019
- November 2019
- October 2019
- September 2019
- August 2019
- July 2019
- June 2019
- May 2019
- April 2019
- March 2019
- February 2019
- January 2019
- December 2018
- November 2018
- October 2018
- September 2018
- August 2018
- July 2018
- June 2018
- May 2018
- April 2018
- March 2018
- February 2018
- January 2018
- December 2017
- November 2017
- October 2017
- September 2017
- August 2017
- July 2017
- June 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- December 2016
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- July 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016
- April 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- December 2015
- November 2015
- October 2015
- September 2015
- August 2015
- July 2015
- June 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- December 2014
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- May 2014
- April 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- October 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- October 2010
- March 2010
- September 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- February 2009
- December 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- December 2007
- February 2006
- January 2006
- December 2005
- November 2005
- April 1993
- March 1993
- February 1993
- December 1992
- November 1992
- October 1992
Copyright
All original writings and all original images are copyrighted 1992-2019 by Aaron Nix-Gomez (Hogsheadwine).
Tasting notes may be reproduced for commercial reasons, as ‘fair use’, provided suitable credit to Aaron Nix-Gomez or the Hogsheadwine website URL (www.hogsheadwine.com) is given. Otherwise all rights are reserved, and no other part of this web site may be reproduced, stored or transmitted by any means, electronic or otherwise, without the prior permission of Aaron Nix-Gomez.
Interesting notes – you are lucky to have such a range to taste from.