Ratings and Reviews
MOUNTAIN ESTATE, CHARDONNAY
Sonoma County
| Vintage | Rating | Publication |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 91 Points | Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar |
| Bright greenish yellow. Ripe pear and peach on the nose, with hints of smoky lees and toasted grain adding complexity. Rich, marrowy orchard fruit flavors stain the palate, braced by zesty mineral and citrus qualities. Offers a suave blend of richness and vivacity and finishes with excellent clarity and mineral-driven persistence. | ||
| 2007 | 90-92 Points | Robert Parker's Wine Advocate |
| The 2007 Chardonnay Mountain Estate Vineyard displays fresh white currant, quince, nectarine, orange blossom, and white peach aromas and flavors. Medium to full-bodied with admirable fruit purity and good acidity, this fresh, lively, substantial Chardonnay is both powerful and elegant. Consume it over the next 3-4 years. | ||
| 2006 | 90 Points | Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar |
| Pale yellow-gold. Leesy aromas of spices and citrus fruits; with aeration this smelled more like a pina colada. At once sweet and bright, with moderately thick stone fruit and citrus flavors nicely framed by harmonious acidity and underlying stoniness. Finishes with very good breadth and length. | ||
| 2005 | 90 - 91 Points | Stephan Tanzer's International Wine Cellar |
| Green-gold. Intensely spicy aromas of vibrant lemon and lime are given depth by hints of sweet butter and vanilla bean. Very stony on the palate, with citrus and green apple flavors braced by racy acidity. The impressively energetic finish features impressive focus and persistence. | ||
| 2005 | 91-94 Points | Robert Parker's Wine Advocate |
| This estate has always accomplished impressive things with Chardonnay. Their newest offering is a Mountain Estate Vineyard Chardonnay fashioned from some of the newer Burgundian Dijon Clones along with California's Old Wente Clone. The 2005 Chardonnay Mountain Estate Vineyard (500 cases), which was put through partial malolactic, exhibits notes of white currants, juicy lemons, honeysuckle, and a hint of minerals. The wine is crisp, medium to full-bodied, and long in the finish. It is another example of just how compelling the 2005 vintage can be for the top Chardonnay producers. | ||
| 2004 | 93 Points | James Laube, The Wine Spectator |
| A big, bold, ripe style, with tiers of earth, pear, apple, and citrus shaded by light toasty oak. Despite its size, it manages to offer a measure of finesse, with creamy vanilla and hazelnut showing on the finish. Drink now through 2009. Tasted twice, with consistant notes. 527 cases made. | ||
| 2003 | 92 Points | Robert Parker's Wine Advocate |
| Twenty-five percent of the outstanding, complex 2003 Chardonnay Mountain Estate Vineyard was put through malolactic. Produced primarily from the old Wente clone and small amounts of Dijon material, this Chardonnay reveals hints of litchi and hazelnuts, orange rinds, and subtle brioche. Impressive fruit on the attack and mid-palate, good underlying acidity, and a delicate touch of oak fill out the wine's personality. This brilliant effort should drink well for 3-4 years. | ||
| 2003 | 94 Points | James Laube, The Wine Spectator |
| Beautifully crafted, rich, opulent and deep, with layers of ripe pear, fig, apricot and melon, this tightly focused young wine benefits from light oak nuances, which gave it a dash of hazelnut and spice. Long and complex finish, with tons of flavor. Drink now through 2008. 450 Cases made. | ||
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