Andrew Cullimore

9.1

Medium gold . Quite rich and decadent on the nose with buttered popcorn , light toasty hints , lemon confit , orange rind , hints of chalk underneath . There is a light nuttiness , too so certainly showing some age . On the palate this has good intensity and grip , slightly advanced perhaps (certainly older than the Chevalier) , with buttered toast , touch of caramel and lemon rind , hint of bitterness on the palate . Quite high bracing acidity and enough freshness on the finish . I would drink this now and over the next few years , though there may be fresher bottles out there . Re released from the domaine in 2019, with wax capsule and Diam cork. — 2 months ago

Paul J

9.3

Nice! Very similar to previous note. A little more acidity and less butter/popcorn. Really good QPR. — 3 years ago

with Brooke

Sam T

9.0

Butter popcorn. Citrus — 4 years ago

Ryan Vento

9.3

Very enjoyable. Lovely nose with lemon custard, candied pineapple, overripe pear, and nuanced buttery popcorn. Great structure and awesome balance. Worthy of buying in bulk. — 6 years ago

with Krystal

Sean Whelan

9.3

The review mentioning movie theater buttered popcorn over a blackberry crumble had me questioning that person’s sanity, then I smelled it again and SHE’S RIGHT DAMMIT. Couldn’t believe it. Anyway this is a great wine. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Lots of sour lemons, lime candy, overripe pineapple, apricots, green & golden apple-more green, beeswax, honeysuckle, butterscotch, thick & a little gluey, white spice with heat, solid structure/backbone, buttered popcorn, cream, lots of chalkiness, volcanic minerals, oak char, limestone with fruit blossoms, jasmine & yellow lilies. The acidity is round & nicely executed. The long round, well balanced, polished finish is delicious and persists for minutes.

Over chilled it, decanted it 40 minutes.

These will benefit from 5-7 years in bottle. Curious about the 17 vintage. Have additional bottles for later.

Thanksgiving part II. — 7 years ago

Byron C Mayes

8.9

Bright yellow gold. Inviting nose of yellow apple ale lightly buttered popcorn. Medium full bodied palate echoes the nose with medium plus acidity. Balance is key. Buttery to be sure, but everything else is there too. If you like the classic California style, this gives it in spades. Pair with lobster, roast chicken, or cream sauces. — 7 years ago

Austin Hohnke

8.9

Consistency. Slivered almond and popcorn kernel. Pair with butter chicken or crab cakes. — 8 months ago

Paul J

9.7

Insanely awesome! Lovely dark gold color. Complex with butter, popcorn, melons, minerality, lemons, and camomile. Huge wine. Great QPR! — 2 years ago

with Brooke

Adam Kincaid

9.4

Completely smitten with this dense, complex, and entirely palatable Chardonnay.

Yellow straw color that hints at minor oak aging. Beautiful and intense aromas of struck match, toasted marshmallow, baked bread, pineapple, and guava. Absolutely no vanillin coming through. Upon cold opening it was much more tropical focused and then warmed up to become more toasty. Was fun to witness the evolution.

Sharp acid edge and medium bodied. Drinks clean and has a buttered popcorn and golden apple dialect.

Gorgeous! — 3 years ago

with Jillian

Matt

9.2

So much SO2 at first, this needed a full day open to blow off. Subtle nose of wet stone, some pomaceous fruit, SO2. You could argue its flawed given the perceptible sulphur. With air and vigorous aeration it slowly unwinded and blew off. Palate is gorgeous though, it is taut with a defined sensibility to it. Lemon peel, orange zest, ripe pear, white peach, orchard blossom, crushed flint and chalk, hazelnut, popcorn, and an ever so slight touch of vanilla and spice on the long finish. A thread of reduction no surprise there. Plenty of top-of-the slope character with racy acid and mineral backbone. I find it rather finessed all in all. Would love to revisit in 5-8 years. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

The nose reveals; green apple, candle wax, lime candy, pineapple, tropical melons, cream, some buttered popcorn, white peach, honeycomb, dry & fresh herbs, soft, powdery chalkiness, saline, limestone minerals, volcanics, sea fossils, steeliness, vanillin, lanolin, cheese rind with yellow lilies/flowers, jasmine and fruit blossoms.

The mouthfeel is; full, round, lush and gorgeous with high viscosity. Green apple, candle wax, lime candy, very ripe, juicy pineapple flesh, kiwi, tropical melons, cream, some buttered popcorn, white peach, honeysuckle to honey, caramel notes, dry & fresh herbs, soft, powdery chalkiness, saline, hints of dry grass, grippy limestone minerals & grey volcanics, sea fossils, white spice, steeliness, vanillin, lanolin, cheese rind with yellow lilies/flowers, jasmine and fruit blossoms. The acidity is lively and round. The finish is minutes, nicely balanced in fruit & minerality, palate penetrating white spice with some mid intensity heat.

Gets better and better as it warms and opens up.

Photos of; Lalou Bize-Leroy (aka “The Queen of Burgundy”) tending & singing to her vines, one of their amazing vineyards and their 2015 wines aging barrel. — 6 years ago

Severn G

9.5

Dinner with friends tonight, light notes if any.

This bottle is so over the top, and we love it, not even a 1er Cru! Prior notes apply:

Nose is the epitome of pineapple core with buttered popcorn and white flowers sneaking around.

Palate exudes tropical fruits, pineapple, papaya, lychee, light mango...All with low acidity making this so ridiculously enjoyable. — 7 years ago

Andy Hock

9.0

Baked red apple, buttered popcorn, hay. But understated and pretty well balanced with bright citric acid. Very nice structure, a little oxidation from the age, but standing up quite well. — 7 years ago

K L

9.2

Light and lots of popcorn! Very good. — 2 years ago

with Matt

MICHAEL COOPER DipWSET

Owner TomeVinos wine shops, WSET Level 3, Blogger www.spanishwinesandmore.com, blog.tomevinos.com

8.9

Medium lemon color. Pronounced nose. Lemon custard, honey, quince, popcorn, Smokey. Medium+ acidity, high alcohol, medium+ body. The high alcohol and the lees mask the fruit and the resulting sensation is a lack of freshness. — 3 years ago

Matthew Choi

9.1

Brown butter popcorn, but well balanced — 4 years ago

Andrew Schirmer

9.8

Perhaps the best champagne we’ve had this year. Tightly-wound, but many many pleasures to be had. Hazelnut, brioche, and, as it opens, a hedonistic buttered popcorn note. Nothing out of place. Simply fabulous with years to go. ❤️🥂 @Geoff Franz — 4 years ago

with Geoff and Alsu

Lee Pitofsky

9.4

Alive and well showing a beautiful golden color and still packing plenty of richness. No premox here, torched pineapple, buttered popcorn, toasted hazelnuts, damp earth and toasted coconut. Finishes with tremendous length and depth. Drink through 2015? Nah chill. — 6 years ago

Shay A

9.3

I can’t believe I haven’t posted this, especially since I’ve gone through who knows how many this year. For me, Hudson chardonnay fruit is very distinctive aromatically, as I pick up clove and juicy fruit gum notes. Added notes of vanillin, Anjou pears and a touch of marzipan. Certainly rich in style and unmistakably Cali but lots of deep flavor and complexity. Honeyed Passion fruit, sea salted popcorn, and almond pastry on the palate. Good acidity as well. I’ve also found Hudson chardonnay fruit to be best enjoyed on the young side, but that may vary by producer. A consistently delicious chardonnay. — 7 years ago