The Twin Cities Wine Club did a Blind Chardonnay Tasting last night and it was interesting to say the least. Wines that had higher cellar tracker averages and better scores from critics did not perform that well and that is why I love the blind tasting format. Here are the results.
2016 Sea Slopes Fort Ross Winery Chardonnay – USA, California, Sonoma County, Fort Ross – Seaview
Starter wine to the tasting. Minerals, apple, spice and shells. Medium plus finish and good acidity. This tends to be one of my top whites under $20 for 2018. Excellent value. Will sample on day 2. (90 pts.)
2012 Joseph Drouhin Puligny-Montrachet – France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Puligny-Montrachet
Drinking at peak right now. Floral, orange peel, sea shells and spices. This is balanced and delivers the classic Burgundy experience. Medium finish. Drink now or hold for only a few years. Don’t wait. (91 pts.)
2013 Ridge Chardonnay Monte Bello – USA, California, San Francisco Bay, Santa Cruz Mountains
Blind Tasting Wine 1: This is why I love blind tastings. This was my wine. It featured lemon, spice, apple and oak. Short to medium finish. Nothing wrong with this wine but nothing great. I guessed Raymond LVE but it was Ridge. None of the six guests guessed right.
Day 2: A little better but not much. This lacks the focus of previous vintages for me. Nothing wrong with the wine just not that exciting. 90 points (89 pts.)
2015 Raymond Vineyard & Cellar Chardonnay LVE Collection – USA, California, Napa Valley
Blind Tasting Wine 2: On paper this would have finished dead last. For me it was the second best wine of the night. Lemon, spices, floral and sour apples. Multilayered finish and medium to long. More personality than the Ridge prior to it. I guessed the 2015 Patrick Javillier due to the lack of oak. (91 pts.)
2013 Miner Family Chardonnay Hudson Vineyard Carneros – USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros
Blind Wine 3: On par with the Ridge score wise. Lemon, spices, some oak and medium finish. Nothing bad about this wine but nothing great either. Guessed Ridge but it was Miner. (89 pts.)
2015 Domaine Patrick Javillier Meursault Les Tillets – France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Meursault
Blind Wine 4: My third favorite of the night. Orange peel, minerals, spices and sulfur. This adds some match stick on the medium plus finish. Nice wine and balanced overall. Guessed Miner but it was Javillier. (90 pts.)
2012 Far Niente Chardonnay – USA, California, Napa Valley
Blind Tasting Wine 6: Oak!!! Fruit tried to show through but too much oak. Some lemon and spices but oak. I would drink tis but not the most balanced wine. Medium finish. Guessed Far Niente and it was Far Niente. (88 pts.)
2014 SIXTO Chardonnay Uncovered – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley
Bonus wine in our blind tasting. Heavy oak, lemon, spices and cardboard. Not bad but not good. Lacks personality and overpriced. I would rather drink a Columbia Crest H3.
Day 2: Better as I would expect. Lemon, subtle spices, minerals, orange peel and oak has laid down a bit. Pretty complex wine and much better. This is why I love doing 3 day wine reviewing. 89 points (89 pts.)
2013 Leeuwin Estate Chardonnay Art Series – Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River
Blind Wine Five: Spice, floral, Carmel and lemon. Biggest wine of the night and longest finish. Excellent wine drinking well right now. This Art Series has one Chard tastings before and was all six drinkers wine of the night!!! Old reliable and congrats Gary. 92 plus. (92 pts.)