Richard Adams

9.9

Fantastic wine. — a month ago

with Beau

Gilbert Van Hassel

9.3

Good birthday dinner with outstanding wines. 2014 Cristal, 2013 marcassin chardonay, cos d’estournel 1982, figeac 1990, 2019 nuits St. George’s clos de la marechale mugnier. Cos unfortunately corked. — 2 years ago

Shay A

9.5

One of the birthday bottles I opened for my 33rd. Aubert chardonnays, for me, are the total package. Aside from Marcassin (and even then, it’s not fair because the 2013 hasn’t been officially released yet), there is no other new world producer of Chardonnay I’d rather have. I opened this Eastside because it was in the home cellar and I didn’t feel like traveling to storage...good and bad scenario!

Opening their single vineyard chards this young (aside from Hudson), is normally a crime, but I read a lot of reviews of how good this was young and WOW are they right. Aromatically it sports Aubert’s signature lemon cream, ginger, honey roasted cashews and a slight reductive note. The palate shows plenty of lemon cream, marzipan, smoked lemon, and stone fruit like guava...what makes this a standout (like other Aubert chards), is the acidity and structure. Normally this would make a chard flabby or over the top, but it wears this profile so well. I could have polished this off with a straw.

My almost two-year old’s card in the background. 👌🏼 — 5 years ago

Rob Brobst III

9.7

Better than Kistler, Marcassin and Corton-Charlemagne.... sorry just sayin — 6 years ago

Shay A

9.2

Trying this next to the ‘11 Marcassin was quite interesting. This was borderline reductive in profile. More Chablis like than typical Cali chard. At 9yrs though, the bright fruit has darkened a bit...golden pear, kumquat, sea spray aromatics. Tart on the palate with oyster shell and bruised Granny Smith apple. — 7 years ago

with joe, Benjamin and 1 other

Mark Flesher

9.2

Obviously compared to the 2003 Marcassin Three Sisters Pinot, this one has more youth. This one did seem to be a little more unidimensional. Had a lot of good raspberry on the nose and up front. But the middle of this wine finds an herbal stride and finishes rather acidic. I am not sure if this one needs two more years in the cellar or should have been consumed two years PRIOR to now. But, it is actually quite delicious but lacking a bit of complexity. — 7 years ago

with Dan, Bradley and 1 other

Mark Flesher

9.3

Now definitely more inclined to believe the CT 93+ ratings and the Delectable 94's. This is a very nice pinot. Nose of underripe black cherry. Sweet. I will dare say this has a Marcassin nose. Sweeter fruit on the front. Quite delicious. Black cherry and herb. Finishes strong. Still has plenty of life left. Never would have guessed this was a 2012. — 8 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.6

2008 vintage. Yeah, some wackoid(s) gave this 100 points. Whatevs. Arrived at 70-72 degrees. Zero chill. Immediately plunged into an ice bath. Used a Durand to open but the über-dry cork just laughed at it and decided to pixelate into small, broken safety glass-styled fragments. Not the sign I was looking for. Here comes the funnel + screen + decanter to save the day. That screen needs a raise come review time. Put the decanter atop the ice bath with a protective serviette between and gave it another 5-6 mins in the chill. Color not quite yellow Chartreuse but pretty close. Tasted at approx 58-59 degrees. Like a trip to the confectionery + bakery. Whoa! Medium/medium-heavy body and this was popping. Splashes and suggestions of fruits, bread products and baking spices without an overriding, final boss. Phenomenal. Can’t give it a Wilt but it did not suck and should drink as such for at least another half-decade. Have had plenty of Marcassin whites and reds and this was the best of the lot. Transcendent. For all that…? 9.6. Soviet…er…Russian judge mode deployed. 3.6.25. — 4 months ago

Shay A

9.4

Every time I have a Morlet Chardonnay, I wonder why I don’t enjoy them more often.

Pop and pour and 100% open for business. It has this unique toasted marshmallow aromatic that I always associate with Marcassin (funny enough, this vineyard isn’t too far from Marcassin in Fort Ross Seaview), along with such sweet, juicy tropical fruit like peach and guava, as well as honey roasted cashews. Up front is seems like it’s going to coat the entire mouth, but it fans out in a really elegant profile (sea salt dusted lemon scone, yellow fruits, honeysuckle) with a nice zip of acidity on the finish. Absolutely delicious right now, and I don’t see this getting much (if any) better. — 4 years ago

Rob N

9.2

2018. I really enjoyed this wine, nearly as much as the more-expensive Marcassin. It was slightly brighter/less harsh than the Marcassin actually. — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

Charles strikes again.

I said weeks ago, I’d rather drink Charles Hendricks Pinot in futures @ $75 vs. the 09 Marcassin we had two weeks back @ $150+ winery or $225+ on the secondary market. This 14, while still young, proves that point and will only continue to get better.

It’s about as luxurious as Ca Pinot gets. Just supple, soft & elegant as body gets. Candied, floral fruits of ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, blue fruits, lean purple fruits, dry cranberries, strawberries, plums, delicate but darks spices, cinnamon stick, vanillin, nutmeg & touch clove, salted caramel, mocha powder, limestone & grey volcanics, dry crushed rocks hints of peppered grilled meats, fresh & dry tobacco, dry stems/twigs, sage dominated dry Provence herbs, splash of mint/eucalyptus, tree sap with bright candied, fresh & slightly withering florals of; dark, red, purple, blue set in a field of violets & some lavender. The acidity is perfect. The long finish is; extremely well balanced & polished, elegant, fresh, just the right amount of candied with a long, dark spice finish in the long set.

The 14 really started to excel after an hour plus in the decanter.

Photos of; the outside of the Hope & Grace tasting room in downtown Yountville where you will find Charles Hendricks wines. He makes Hope & Grace wines as well. One of my favorite paintings that used to sit behind their tasting bar but, is now in Charles house. It is very Pollock like! Winemaker/Co-owner Charles Hendricks and a vineyard in region of the Santa Lucia Highlands. — 6 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.4

Lucky to go up the Sugar Shack ladder once again. Great salinity on this. Great notes of honeydew, mango, banana pudding, dried herbs on the nose and entry of the wine. The middle explodes here, showing a wonderful white flower with herb and yellow fruits. Full throttle. This was the best chard on the table, and that's saying something with a 13 Pahlmeyer Faire, 12 Marcassin Marcassin, and two 11 Kistlers ALSO on the table. — 7 years ago

with Dan and Shay

Alex Lallos

Owner No Limit Fine Wines, Private Wine Consultant

9.3

Has everyone tasted these wines? Stupid good. It's like white Burgundy meets California. I love the ripe but pure fruit. Mandarin orange, quince, lemon oil. It is nicely framed by oak but in now way dominated. It is just pure pure pure. Minerally and precise but richness that you find in Peter michael, kistler and Aubert. Lots of dry extract and a bit of reduction to boot. Serious Chardonnay. The single vineyards are even better. Message me for some at a killer price but also get on this list before it turns into a waiting list. Winemaker is a former marcassin alumn and it shows — 7 years ago

Norman

9.1

Better after it opened. Time to drink. Should have earlier. — 5 months ago

Shay A

9.3

I’ve opened a few Ferren Frei Rd chards (normally in the 4-5yr range) and have enjoyed them, but this was my first Lancel Creek. With the release coming up in a few weeks, I wanted to check in and figure out the profile. I’m between a 93-94 here.

Made by Matt Courtney (formerly at Marcassin, also winemaker at Arista). Beautiful straw colored in the glass with maybe a tinge of green, the aromatics are honeysuckle, sweet lemon, and sea salted almonds. I found this to be very similar to the Frei Rd in regards to acidity. So nervy all the way through. Totally coastal, but with a soft touch of rich fruit. Also similar to the Frei Rd, this is lemon everything (fresh squeezed lemon, lemon cream, lemon scone) but the mineral profile is more enhanced here. There’s a stone/slate vibe toward the finish that keeps this light on its feet. Oak is soft and plays a contributing role, not a dominating one.

I enjoyed this at pop and pour, then revisited 2-3hrs later and found the acidity had calmed down a bit. Definitely give this a decant now if possible, or hold a few more years. — 4 years ago

Tom Garland

9.4

Polished off the 08 Marcassin, knocked back the 1990 Margaux, final b-day bottle to quaff down is a 2012 Screaming Eagle 2nd Flight and cake.

1 hour decant(surprisingly little sediment). A bewitching inky dark red wine with little signs of aging. On the nose: Jumping from the glass are cherries, semi sweet chocolate, cedar, metallic, dried herbs, vanilla wafers. Taste: A rich, lush mouthfeel with cherries and more cherries, pencil lead, pepper, charcoal, and a bitter sweet chocolate cedar long finish....drinking well, but I imagine better things with even more time! — 6 years ago

with Brenda

Shay A

9.5

Lots of fun bottles were popped at Al’s hosting this past weekend for his birthday celebration. All were served blind. 1 sparkler, 2 whites, 6 reds and 1 dessert wine.

This was en mag. WOW. Slightly cloudy in the glass. My first guess when looking at it was Marcassin, but it wasn’t waxy enough on the palate. Smelled of rich lemon cream, powdered lemon bars and juicy fruit (that should always be my key to guessing PM). A powerhouse on the palate with juicy tropical fruits, marshmallow, and sweet marzipan. Gorgeous stuff. I called this 2012 Aubert Ritchie. — 7 years ago

with joe, Dan and 2 others

Mark Flesher

9.1

Definitely not sub 90. Does it have that backbone and full throttle complexity of a Marcassin, Peter Michael, Aubert or Kistler chard? No. But, as far as Chardonnay goes this one is a pleaser at the $40 price point. Nose of basil and rosemary and limestone, honey and pear. Entry is rounded up front, entry with surprising acidity. Honey, peach, white wildflowers, honeysuckle, mango. Gets more mineral rich in the middle and finish. Impressive chard. I'd say this can hold 5 to 10 years easily. — 7 years ago

Keith Fisher

9.8

Always the most interesting champagne on the table and today was WOTN (IMO slightly edging out Dan’s ‘96 Marcassin Chardonnay). How do you balance lively and oxidative in champagne? I don’t know, but Selosse clearly does. Thanks Joe Leatherwood. Very generous as always. — 7 years ago

Mike Evans

9.3

Great weight and texture, lush without being overbearing, lemon curd fruit with a touch of vanilla, a little flabby but drinking very well. I’m not a huge fan of the producer but this one was very appealing. — 8 years ago