ABC
No, not "Anything But Chardonnay", but "All Bottles Chardonnay". Last week, friends came over for a clam bake. What better wine to drink than chardonnay - especially with lobster and buttered corn?
N.V. Larmandier-Bernier Champagne 'Tradition' ($42): OK, so it's only half chardonnay (and the other half pinot noir), but Larmandier-Bernier is a Côte de Blancs producer, and we didn't get the Blanc de Blancs in until later. I love this producer - so terroir-y, so vivid - farmer fizz [PDF file] at its best. Champagne is wine, and wine is food. We have it in stock.
Walter Hansel Russian River Valley Chardonnay 'Cuvée Alyce' 2000 (~$25 several years ago): Excellent wine, especially after about half an hour. Excellent, small producer. We should carry his wines again.
Leroy Bourgogne Blanc 1996 (~$20 several years ago): Quite reserved, even after a couple of hours. Extremely promising. I should've bought more bottles.
Mountain Eden Vineyards Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay 2000 ($30): The wine of the night. Rich but balanced, nicely evolved, great with the lobster. This wine confirms Mount Eden Vineyards as one of my favroite California producers. Their wines are consistently generous, fun to drink, and resonably priced for the quality. We have the 2002 Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon in stock.
Lafon Meursault A.C. ($81 - thanks to Chad for bringing it): Seriously impressive, but still tightly wound. If I hadn't had the Mount Eden Vineyards first, I probably would've gone gaga over this wine. The Lafon clearly is the superior wine, but right now, the Mount Eden is all smiles. Three to 10 years from now, it will be no contest. We still have a few bottles in the store - cellar keepers, take note.
N.V. Larmandier-Bernier Champagne 'Tradition' ($42): OK, so it's only half chardonnay (and the other half pinot noir), but Larmandier-Bernier is a Côte de Blancs producer, and we didn't get the Blanc de Blancs in until later. I love this producer - so terroir-y, so vivid - farmer fizz [PDF file] at its best. Champagne is wine, and wine is food. We have it in stock.
Walter Hansel Russian River Valley Chardonnay 'Cuvée Alyce' 2000 (~$25 several years ago): Excellent wine, especially after about half an hour. Excellent, small producer. We should carry his wines again.
Leroy Bourgogne Blanc 1996 (~$20 several years ago): Quite reserved, even after a couple of hours. Extremely promising. I should've bought more bottles.
Mountain Eden Vineyards Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay 2000 ($30): The wine of the night. Rich but balanced, nicely evolved, great with the lobster. This wine confirms Mount Eden Vineyards as one of my favroite California producers. Their wines are consistently generous, fun to drink, and resonably priced for the quality. We have the 2002 Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon in stock.
Lafon Meursault A.C. ($81 - thanks to Chad for bringing it): Seriously impressive, but still tightly wound. If I hadn't had the Mount Eden Vineyards first, I probably would've gone gaga over this wine. The Lafon clearly is the superior wine, but right now, the Mount Eden is all smiles. Three to 10 years from now, it will be no contest. We still have a few bottles in the store - cellar keepers, take note.
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