Navarro Vineyards
Mendocino Chardonnay
Mendocino, North Coast, California, USA
Yellow, brilliant clarity. Tropical fruit - guava - and a touch of sulfite in the nose. Orchard fruit - pear, lemon and pineapple in mouth. Largely dry. Slightly lactic and citric finish, maybe some wood.
Yellow, brilliant clarity. Tropical fruit - guava - and a touch of sulfite in the nose. Orchard fruit - pear, lemon and pineapple in mouth. Largely dry. Slightly lactic and citric finish, maybe some wood.
Mar 6th, 2021New vintage for me, no new wood in this, according to their website. Yellow in color, excellent clarity. Apple notes in nose. Peach, apple and lemon flavors with hints of mineral and malolactic on the finish. Lingering malic-apple aftertaste, ever so slightly tart throughout. A superior Chardonnay, blessedly free of new oak, and all the more refreshing and delightful because of it. Well made, and almost convinced me that my avoidance of Chardonnays is all about their high price, but not, in this case, because of a lack of quality. Good stuff
New vintage for me, no new wood in this, according to their website. Yellow in color, excellent clarity. Apple notes in nose. Peach, apple and lemon flavors with hints of mineral and malolactic on the finish. Lingering malic-apple aftertaste, ever so slightly tart throughout. A superior Chardonnay, blessedly free of new oak, and all the more refreshing and delightful because of it. Well made, and almost convinced me that my avoidance of Chardonnays is all about their high price, but not, in this case, because of a lack of quality. Good stuff
Oct 13th, 2020Flawed cork with some mold growth in the interior surface and pits; I haven’t seen that in years. No discernible effect on wine quality, however. Sulfite nose initially. Pale white, excellent clarity. Pineapple, lemon and apple flavors, lactic drying finish. Appears to be bone dry. Slight peach flavor emerges after 30 minutes. Solid acidity, a good food wine, though I’d imagine there’s not much aging potential left in this wine.
Flawed cork with some mold growth in the interior surface and pits; I haven’t seen that in years. No discernible effect on wine quality, however. Sulfite nose initially. Pale white, excellent clarity. Pineapple, lemon and apple flavors, lactic drying finish. Appears to be bone dry. Slight peach flavor emerges after 30 minutes. Solid acidity, a good food wine, though I’d imagine there’s not much aging potential left in this wine.
Jun 11th, 2020Pale golden yellow. Tropical notes in nose. Pineapple, lemon, stone and orchard fruit flavors in mouth. Slight skin astringency in finish. Well balanced. Lemon citrusy and later peachy aftertaste. No discernible wood, just grape goodness with maybe a touch of malolactic. Paired with my seasonal pizza, a Sicilian cauliflower.
Pale golden yellow. Tropical notes in nose. Pineapple, lemon, stone and orchard fruit flavors in mouth. Slight skin astringency in finish. Well balanced. Lemon citrusy and later peachy aftertaste. No discernible wood, just grape goodness with maybe a touch of malolactic. Paired with my seasonal pizza, a Sicilian cauliflower.
Jan 28th, 2019
Orange blossom honey, minty cedar, camomile tea and phyllo nose. Pineapple, baked, yellow apple, clove, yellow raisin, baklava, sweet curry, mango chutney and pear tartlet. For a late harvest, this still surprisingly maintains a delicate side and doesn't get too viscous or sticky. #riesling #californiangold #andersonvalley #mendocinowine #mendocino #lateharvest #dessertwine #cawine #Navarrovineyards
Orange blossom honey, minty cedar, camomile tea and phyllo nose. Pineapple, baked, yellow apple, clove, yellow raisin, baklava, sweet curry, mango chutney and pear tartlet. For a late harvest, this still surprisingly maintains a delicate side and doesn't get too viscous or sticky. #riesling #californiangold #andersonvalley #mendocinowine #mendocino #lateharvest #dessertwine #cawine #Navarrovineyards
Jun 21st, 2017The other bottle I had months ago was wayy corked. Apricot, apple, and honeysuckle dominate with oak and vanilla as a secondary, barely present element. Props to Navarro for defying convention.
The other bottle I had months ago was wayy corked. Apricot, apple, and honeysuckle dominate with oak and vanilla as a secondary, barely present element. Props to Navarro for defying convention.
Jan 8th, 2017
Incredible. And I'm not a huge Chardonnay fan!
Incredible. And I'm not a huge Chardonnay fan!
Nov 1st, 2016My reaction to this chard was visceral. I do not like the taste and especially do not like the nose. It seems so dominated by pear that I cannot taste anything else. Maybe a bit of apricot. The wine is not badly made...it just happened to hit on two of my pet peeves. I do give it credit for staying away from the creamy, oaky extravaganza of most California chardonnays.
My reaction to this chard was visceral. I do not like the taste and especially do not like the nose. It seems so dominated by pear that I cannot taste anything else. Maybe a bit of apricot. The wine is not badly made...it just happened to hit on two of my pet peeves. I do give it credit for staying away from the creamy, oaky extravaganza of most California chardonnays.
Apr 24th, 2016An excellent Chardonnay...not too over oaked and nice earthy overtones and tartness...
An excellent Chardonnay...not too over oaked and nice earthy overtones and tartness...
Apr 13th, 2016Hey, Delectable, this is Chardonnay. And a perfect one for a late summer lunch.
Hey, Delectable, this is Chardonnay. And a perfect one for a late summer lunch.
Sep 19th, 2015