Aubert
CIX Vineyards Chardonnay
Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, California, USA
I normally don’t buy a lot of CA Chardonnay as I prefer White Burgundy. Also, I don’t spend at this price point on a bottle of CA Chardonnay. However, the CIX Vineyard is planted from Montrachet clones. I was curious to see how a Montrachet clone would perform in the hands of a revered Sonoma producer.
While this is an excellent CA Chardonnay, I find the strong structure and heavier (not heavy) wood use not in my wheel house. Especially, at this price point. I like the Davis Estates Chardonnay nearly as much and find the Aubert style in it for $36 member price & $48 non-member price. Night and day in terms of price point but, not so much in terms of quality. However, I will say again, this CIX is better, just not the QPR.
It is also a shade hot on the palate & the back of the throat. We’ll see how the other two bottles evolve in successive 2-3 year increments over this bottle tonight.
The nose reveals; Meyer lemon- curd/meringue, lime candy, green apple, underripe, green melon, notes of kiwi, remembrance of lemon pledge, honey, beeswax, honeycomb, vanilla, light caramel, butter, cream, white spice, touch of white pepper, saline, waxiness, limestone minerals, strong powdery chalkiness, herbaceous notes, spring flowers, jasmine, fruit blossoms, yellow lilies with mixed greens.
The body is quite full, thick & waxy. It’s beautifully elegant over the palate. The structure, tension, length and balance are just starting to ascend. Still needs another 2-3 years to show its better self. But, if you have multiple bottles now is a good time to try one. Meyer lemon- curd/meringue, lime candy, green apple, underripe, green melon, very ripe pineapple, notes of kiwi, hints here & there of white peach, buttered popcorn, as it warms near room temperature, add butterscotch, cream, honey, beeswax, honeycomb, vanilla, light caramel, white spice with heat, touch of white pepper, saline, sea spray to sea fossils, waxiness, grassy notes, dry straw, limestone minerals, strong powdery chalkiness, herbaceous notes, spring flowers, jasmine, fruit blossoms, yellow lilies with mixed greens. The acidity is beautiful...round & phat. The long finish is; rich, lush, ripe, elegant, well balanced and persists for several minutes.
If not for the alcohol heat, it would make 94 with a possible 95-96 down the road.
Photos of; Aubert Vineyard at sunset, the rootstock of the CIX Vineyard, Owner-Winemaker, Mark Aubert and I think the CIX Vineyard but, not positive.
I normally don’t buy a lot of CA Chardonnay as I prefer White Burgundy. Also, I don’t spend at this price point on a bottle of CA Chardonnay. However, the CIX Vineyard is planted from Montrachet clones. I was curious to see how a Montrachet clone would perform in the hands of a revered Sonoma producer.
While this is an excellent CA Chardonnay, I find the strong structure and heavier (not heavy) wood use not in my wheel house. Especially, at this price point. I like the Davis Estates Chardonnay nearly as much and find the Aubert style in it for $36 member price & $48 non-member price. Night and day in terms of price point but, not so much in terms of quality. However, I will say again, this CIX is better, just not the QPR.
It is also a shade hot on the palate & the back of the throat. We’ll see how the other two bottles evolve in successive 2-3 year increments over this bottle tonight.
The nose reveals; Meyer lemon- curd/meringue, lime candy, green apple, underripe, green melon, notes of kiwi, remembrance of lemon pledge, honey, beeswax, honeycomb, vanilla, light caramel, butter, cream, white spice, touch of white pepper, saline, waxiness, limestone minerals, strong powdery chalkiness, herbaceous notes, spring flowers, jasmine, fruit blossoms, yellow lilies with mixed greens.
The body is quite full, thick & waxy. It’s beautifully elegant over the palate. The structure, tension, length and balance are just starting to ascend. Still needs another 2-3 years to show its better self. But, if you have multiple bottles now is a good time to try one. Meyer lemon- curd/meringue, lime candy, green apple, underripe, green melon, very ripe pineapple, notes of kiwi, hints here & there of white peach, buttered popcorn, as it warms near room temperature, add butterscotch, cream, honey, beeswax, honeycomb, vanilla, light caramel, white spice with heat, touch of white pepper, saline, sea spray to sea fossils, waxiness, grassy notes, dry straw, limestone minerals, strong powdery chalkiness, herbaceous notes, spring flowers, jasmine, fruit blossoms, yellow lilies with mixed greens. The acidity is beautiful...round & phat. The long finish is; rich, lush, ripe, elegant, well balanced and persists for several minutes.
If not for the alcohol heat, it would make 94 with a possible 95-96 down the road.
Photos of; Aubert Vineyard at sunset, the rootstock of the CIX Vineyard, Owner-Winemaker, Mark Aubert and I think the CIX Vineyard but, not positive.