93 2011 Ridge Estate Chardonnay (Santa Cruz Mtns) 8/25/13 ($40)
14.1% alc
Color: Medium gold. (3.0) Bouquet: Honeysuckle and tart pear fruit and piney oak meld beautifully with elegance and brasing minerality. (3.5) Body: Light heavyweight with excellent fruit, acidity and outstanding minerality. Rich mouthfeel, but not at all heavy. (3.5) Flavor: Parallels bouquet with ginger-like spice and green apple in the mix. Delicious! (3.5) Finish: Not quite as expressive as the flavor and some bitterness from oak and minerals lingers. (3.0)
Overall: Elegant and intense at the same time. This particularly cool vintage gives it finesse that one might expect from a white Burgundy, but is rarely seen in CA. The honeysuckle/pear fruit and piney oak, which are typical of this wine, are complemented by lively acidity and minerality. Rich in the mouth without being heavy. Outstanding now and should reach full maturity in 5-8 years. My favorite vintage of this since the '05, although in a totally different style. Somewhat like the '03 in weight and balance, but more elegant due to the cooler vintage. (16.5)
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