Shay A

9.6

WNH event number 3...new world Pinot. Such a treat to experience the many different variations of Pinot!

This, alongside the ‘09 Rivers-Marie Summa OV and the ‘12 Marcassin, were all tied (in my opinion) for WOTN. This is a massive Pinot and benefitted from some air time. Cherry liqueur like enter which then turns darker to a black cherry baked pie, spice, and candied blackberries. There was a sweet, but not rich, note on the mid palate that reminds me of a mixed berry cobbler. Lengthy and flavor packed finish. Just beginning to enter a prime drinking window. Killer bottle from @Shawn R . — 6 years ago

with Mike, David and 5 others

Max Reichwage

9.2

Great balance, finesse, v clean finish, well cellared bottle still in its drinking window — 7 years ago

Keith Fisher

9.5

Fabulous older California Chardonnay. Not much acid left (it had all precipitated out), but still rich and very enjoyable. undoubtedly a but past prime for my palate. I tend to prefer to err on the side of drinking California Chardonnay too young rather than chance them being too old, so I wouldn’t hold it any longer if I had it. On the other hand, I certainly wouldn’t pass up a glass if you are offered this. Not sure how anyone could rate this a lot lower unless they had a flawed bottle, but everyone is entitled to their opinion. Thanks Dan. — 7 years ago

B

10

2005 Domaine Leflaive Bienvenues Batard-Montrachet. Wine charity dinner bought by H&C S, hosted at the house. Drank alongside the '06 Marcassin Vineyard Chardonnay. This was pure honey on the nose. Much deeper yellow color. More minerality. Table was split on preference. I might have preferred this one slightly. — 8 years ago

Robert Cunningham

Wine Educator DeVinimus, Wine Workshop

9.1

Beautiful and elegant. Nearing the end of its balanced harmonious life but showing beautifully. — 8 years ago

Jeffrey Lew

9.7

Pretty much the bomb, the money... Made the Marcassin I brought look like grape juice. Awesome. — 9 years ago

John B

9.2

Inaugural release from this new producer/winemaker of Marcassin fame. Cranberry, pomegranate, sour cherry, a touch of oak. Wonderful balance, with a very long finish. — 9 years ago

Ki Punwar

Owner, California Wine Republic

9.2

Really enjoyable. Full of fruit. Oak is there but does not dominate. Preferred this to Marcassin 3 Sisters by a wide margin — 10 years ago

Will Costello MS

Master Sommelier, Wine Director Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas

9.6

Stone cold stunner. Ripe. Coulda been grand cru or something like marcassin. — 10 years ago

Sarah Mason Pittenger

Partner/Winemaker Gros Ventre Cellars

9.5

Age looks good on her. — 11 years ago

Shay A

9.4

@Benjamin Keator had his hosting at the CC tonight and it was absolutely incredible. What a night of gorgeous wines! All wines are guessed blind.

Out of the 3 whites, I guessed they were all 2012s (they were). I ended up guessing this was Marcassin based on the smoked waxy note I got with this (always get with Marcassin). It wasn’t buttery, but it wasn’t overly sulfuric. It had low acidity too and a fair amount of fruit. This ended up being most (including mine) white of the night. — 6 years ago

with Benjamin, Weston and 1 other

Benjamin Keator

9.2

Everyone thought it was toast, except for me — 7 years ago

with Keith

Justin Wittkopf

9.4

Damn this was nice. Only got a few sips, unfortunately. Love the nose with Pears, boiled apples, lychee fruit, and just the right amount of oak spice. Can tell this winemaker was at Marcassin for so long. Can’t wait to see what this becomes in a few years. Thanks to Antonio for turning me on to this. — 7 years ago

Shay A

9.3

Another 4th Friday for the books! What a variety this month!

At 24yrs old, it’s incredible how this drinks. Obviously past its prime, but by no means a lost bottle. Had never heard of this vineyard. Butterscotch, salted popcorn kernels, and cornbread note too. Still retaining some nice acidity! — 7 years ago

with Mark

Robert Cunningham

Wine Educator DeVinimus, Wine Workshop

8.9

At the end of its life but of great historical interest. Fruit has been displaced but still interesting — 8 years ago

Lamar Hannah

9.4

Rich, full body nice finish. Reminds me of marcassin. Love it #wine — 9 years ago

George Chen

9.4

One of my all time favorite Chards period. Even as high alcohol but balanced by massive frame of acid backbone. It used to remind me of a Mersault but now more a Marcassin Chard with loads of lemon curd, peel, rocky slate envelope evident from the name 'Quarry' in French. High concentration and powerful wine! Not for those who dare Chardonnay made this way. — 9 years ago

Jim Anderson

9.7

Tastes like baby Marcassin, big value here! — 10 years ago

Charlie Beatty

Buyer wineworksonline.com

9.8

Impressive mid wight chard. Tough standing up against other chard Marcassin 2009!! Showing elegant, nice fruit component . Well balanced. — 10 years ago

Charlie Beatty

Buyer wineworksonline.com

9.7

Perfect 100 is this possible ? Taste like Kistler, Marcassin, j Rochioli, and throw in a touch of Aubert... Very impressive winemaking ! I can 't wait to get this great wine in the states and in the East Coast!! WOW! CB — 11 years ago

Paten Hughes

9.9

My favorite :) thinking of my Olga's, Masha's & Irina :) — 11 years ago

with Kevin

Shay A

9.4

Another 4th Friday for the books!

Probably would have guessed Marcassin blind...makes sense since they used to source this fruit. Scorched butterscotch, salted popcorn, grilled lemon peel on the nose. Viscous palate, with toasted vanilla oak, brioche and a distinct Smokey note to finish it off. — 7 years ago

with Jack, Dan and 1 other

Mark Flesher

9.5

What a pinot! For all the nonbelievers about Cali Pinot, they haven't had this one. Bouquet of cherry cola. Entry of cherry cola and herb. Acidic and beautiful together. Finish of herbal red cherry cola. Best aged pinot I have had. Words just cannot describe this one fully, but x 's rating probably will :) — 7 years ago

with Dan, Keith and 1 other

David L

9.3

14’ Arista UV-EL Diablo Vineyard Chardonnay. Old world!?! Burgundian style!?! Needs another year or more!!
Rich & layered. White flowers, white peach, fig, minerality. Light on its feet. Very well-made Chardonnay.

Matt Courtney winemaker, somebody I enjoy following. Matt started up Ferren wines a few years back. EDIT- Your worst fears... last glass was better then the first. WAIT until 2020/21.
He also had an 8/10 year apprenticeship with Helen Turley at Marcassin. — 7 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.3

In comparison to a 2005 Marcassin (that was corked), an 05 Hobbs Chard, and a DuMol 2012 Chard, this one was the white wine of the day. This was the perfect balance between malolactic and "old world" style Chards. I was really quite enamored with this wine from cork pop. The nose did not indicate butter in any way, but the front of this wine surely did. The middle of this wine yielded a dry, stone ground fruit note. The finish of this wine included white pepper and a hint of cinnamon. For me, this one was white wine of the afternoon/night, and not even close to being done yet. — 8 years ago

with Shay and Benjamin

Roman Sukley

9.5

Matt Courtney Chardonnay. Big, buttery, oakey. Great texture; beautiful mouthfeel. Closest thing to Marcassin you'll find. I'll go out on a limb here and say its better than Aubert. I'd like to taste next to Ferren, but I have none as they don't ship to to the Land Of Lincoln (Really?). I also am aware that this style is frowned upon by the minerality, un-oaked crowd, but I'm not a fan of that style. Grab some @Dag Zapatero @Bill Bender let me know what you think. — 9 years ago

Nick Hammerschlag

9.5

About as good as California Pinot gets in my humble opinion! — 10 years ago

Barron Nydam

9.6

This was phenomenal. Reminded me of the 09 Marcassin with a little higher acidity. It was surprisingly developed though. Maybe a slight amount of Premox, but it was in a wonderful spot. The mix of fruit and secondary was impressive. — 10 years ago

conun DRUMS

9.7

Not as great as the 2001 or the 2007, but still fantastic. Bring it on, Screaming Eagle; this can stand right with that, Schaffer, Marcassin, et al. I have 08-09-10 in my cellar still resting... — 10 years ago

Katie Degolia

9.5

I can't rate this wine poorly, but it doesn't hold up against the Marcassin. It's tight, short, needs time. — 11 years ago

with Brian and John