Billy L.

9.7

Oakville Harbison Vineyard! Cheers 🍇🍷 — 9 months ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

I have a thing for Davis Estates Chardonnay. It’s the quality & the $36 price point that does it. We like it even better with Jasper Hill Farms Harbison soft white cheese. We never seem to tire of it.

This is a Chardonnay that you want to enjoy at a temperature slightly cooler than standard room temperature. 60-64 degrees.

The nose shows reveals; honeysuckle, green & golden apple, slightly sour lemons, overripe pineapple, lime zest, underripe green melon, marmalade, honeycomb, vanilla, overripe stone fruit, melted, brown butter, gentle white spice & chalky volcanic minerals, just a whiff of eucalyptus, salted & melted caramel, limestone, almond skin, hints of the good parts of Lemon Pledge, with candied, yellow lilies/flowers, jasmine & mixed floral greens.

The body is full, waxy, touch gluey with nice viscosity. Beautiful mouthfeel & texture. Honeysuckle, green & golden apple, slightly sour lemons, overripe pineapple, lime zest to candy, apple Jolly Rancher, underripe green melon, marmalade, honeycomb, overripe stone fruit, melted, brown butter, vanilla, gentle white spice & chalky volcanic minerals, touch of the good parts of Lemon Pledge, just a whiff of eucalyptus, salted & melted caramel, limestone, almond skin, fresh Provence herbs, gentle application of oak giving it soft barrel shavings, with candied, yellow lilies/flowers, jasmine & mixed floral greens. Big phat, round, beautiful acidity. The long, full, round, lush, waxy, well balanced & polished finish glides gently and long sets with mid intensity spice & minerality on the long set.

Photos of; their tasting room with kitchen in the back, signage as you come up the driveway with either barn or guest house behind it, Harbison cheese and the Estate as view from their terrace balcony. — 4 years ago

Rob Brobst III

9.5

Wow! McGah, Tench, Tin Box, Showket, Wildfoote, Harbison all in one bottle!!!! @Jacqueline @Neal Schaffer @Terri Walker @Neal Schaffer @Stanley Barrios @Jim Trobaugh @Vanessa D @leon egozi @Carl Fischer @Connor McMahon @Mike Smith @Martin G Rivard @David L @Doug Davidson @Ian Blackburn — 6 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.0

This is hard to beat at $25.

White cheese starter.

Copying over & updating earlier notes...

The nose reveals; waxy, sweet & sour lemons, the light, good/softer aspects of lemon pledge, lime zest, green & golden apple, overripe pineapple, honeysuckle, apricots, white peach, orange rind, grapefruit w/ pith, tree bark, flintiness, notes of roasted caramel, vanillin, beautifully, elegant, grey volcanics, salty, powdery, even slightly floral chalkiness, white to lightly brown spices, sea spray, oyster notes, limestone/sandstone, fruit blossoms, yellow lilies framed in a field of spring flowers.

The body is thick, rich, lush and nicely rounded. If you like viscosity, no issues here. It guides over the palate presenting no mouth arguments. Waxy, sweet & sour lemons, the light, good/softer notes of lemon pledge, green & some golden apple with skin, lime zest, overripe pineapple, honeysuckle, apricots, white peach, orange rind, tropicals green melon, tree bark, notes of roasted caramel, beautifully, elegant, grey volcanics, salty, powdery, even slightly floral chalkiness, white to lightly brown spices with some medium palate heat, sea spray, oyster notes, sulfur/flintiness, limestone/sandstone, fruit blossoms, yellow lilies framed in a field of spring flowers. The acidity is near dead on...like a gentle cool stream. The long finish is, gorgeous & sexy, elegant, rich, good balance all around and persists gently for minutes.

Just gets better & better as it warms & opens up in the glass. This Bourgogne will add another point or two when I open my next bottle in 2-3 years. Except now, I own a bunch more of this 2018. Have some to enjoy early.

Excellent with our soft, white cheese...Jasper Hill Farms-Harbison. If you can find this cheese, it gets one of my highest recommendations. Bought it at Whole Foods but, you can always check JasperHillFarms.com if N/A where you shop.

Photos of; Masion Henri Boillot, Owner/Winemaker Henri Boillot, tasting room that looks into the barrel room and his Bonnes Mares Vineyard. — 4 years ago

DL

8.9

Very sweet, intense smell, kind of musty. Reminded me of Harbison cheese. Tastes sweet, pretty thin, low tannins. Charles liked it — 6 years ago

with C

David L

9.2

12’ Love Jim Clendenen wines. Almost impossible to find a good Pinot Noir for $40 in Russian River Valley. For the money all of his wines are tough to beat. Except the overpriced Harbison wines that he produces. ( Russell Bevan makes Harbison Cabernets & Jim makes the others) IMO. Edit- Find a 2012 (at this price)that’s drinking this nice from the same area? This has many years left in the bottle! — 6 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

I actually enjoy this more than the technical score I give it...helps the price point is around $35.

Need to save some of the Davies Estates Chardonnay for more Harbison tomorrow night.

The Laurent Perrier La Cuvée with carry us through the rest of the cheese course. Picks up the dry Lattebusche Piave Vecchio white cheese better than the Davis Estate Chardonnay, as it should! Gives the night both side one & side two of our cheese LP.

I will let my previous notes stand.

Photos of; the House of Laurent Perrier, Grand Cru signage & vines, caves with A framed bottles to be hand worked by Riddlers and another Grand Cru Vineyard. — 4 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

I am not the biggest fan of a lot of CA Chardonnays but, I have come to fully embrace Arnot-Roberts, this vintage & terrior.

This is not a wine you want well chilled...better just under room temperature. When well chilled, it loses too much of its beauty & sheer elegance. Shows more CA Chardonnay structure/backbone with big green apple. When it is cold it does pair better with the Lattebusche Piave Vecchio...a drier, harder cheese. When it warms, the best choice is the Jasper Hill Farms soft, full cream. white, Harbison.

After it has warmed & had about a half-hour of air, the nose is rounded, lush & ruby. Sweet & sour lemon, green & golden apple, overripe pineapple, guava, green melon, kiwi with skin, lime candy, caramel, gentle, white spice, just a glimmer of, herbaceousness, chalk, grey volcanics, melted, brown butter with yellow flowers/lilies, jasmine, spring flowers with mixed greens.

The body is rich, lush and full, a touch gluey with good viscosity. Sweet & sour lemon, green & golden apple, overripe pineapple, guava, green melon, kiwi with skin, tangerine, lime candy, honeysuckle, caramel, cream, gentle, white spice, just a glimmer of, herbaceousness, chalk, grey volcanics, limestone, melted, brown butter with yellow flowers/lilies, jasmine, spring flowers with mixed greens. The acidity is phat, round and really well done. The rich, well balanced, elegant, long finish is delicious, settling into persistent, delicate white spice.

Just misses 94.

Photos of; Arnot-Roberts vineyard, staff at harvest and Duncan Arnot Meyers (left) and Nathan Roberts in their vineyard in Forestville, where they have Trousseau planted. — 4 years ago

Michael Park

9.3

Always awesome. Montrachet with less structure and acid — 7 years ago

Kevin Ortzman

9.5

Adam's contribution to the Collectors dinner and it sure didn't disappoint. Yet another big wine from Russell Bevan. Full of fruit and awesome! — 7 years ago

with ADAM