The Wine Independent – September 2023 – Location, Location, Location

Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Independent

As fans know, Mark Aubert is a Chardonnay specialist and among the best producers of this variety worldwide. Since the beginning, Mark has been upfront and unwavering about his expression of Sonoma and Napa Chardonnay, delivering full-bodied, concentrated, textural wines…

2022 Chardonnay CIX Estate Vineyard Sonoma Coast
Score: 96-98 Points

The 2022 CIX Estate Chardonnay was tasted as a barrel sample. It comes bounding out of the glass with notes of freshly squeezed lemons, Granny Smith apples, freshly shaved ginger, and chalk dust, leading to wafts of coriander seed and white pepper. The full-bodied palate is tight-knit and racy with a chalky undercurrent to the citrus flavors, finishing long and minerally.

2022 Chardonnay Eastside Vineyard Russian River
Score: 97-99 Points

The 2022 Eastside Chardonnay was tasted as a barrel sample. Notes of chalk and crushed rocks open out to a core of ripe pears, yellow apples, and white pepper plus a hint of marzipan. The full-bodied palate has super tension with a silky texture framing the tight-knit apple and pear layers, finishing long and chalky.

2022 Chardonnay Larry Hyde & Sons Vineyard Carneros
Score: 97-99 Points

The 2022 Larry Hyde & Sons Chardonnay, tasted as a barrel sample, rockets from the glass with intense notes of grapefruit essence, juicy white peaches, and fresh pineapple leading to touches of orange blossoms, candied ginger, and chopped cashews with a hint of honeycomb. The full-bodied palate bursts with concentrated stone and tropical fruit layers, supported by a refreshing backbone and creamy texture, leading to a lingering ginger ale note on the finish of this delicious wine.

2022 Chardonnay Lauren Estate Vineyard Sonoma Coast
Score: 98-100 Points

The 2022 Chardonnay Lauren Estate was tasted as a barrel sample. Wow — you could just smell this all day, notes of candied orange peel, lemon tart, lime zest, pink grapefruit, and ginger tea emanate from the glass with hints of baker’s years, Marcona almonds, and crushed rocks. The full-bodied palate has beautiful tension and so much energy that it vibrates with citrus and mineral layers, finishing with long, lingering ginger and orange peel notes.

2022 Chardonnay Park Avenue Estate Vineyard Sonoma Coast
Score: 96-98 Points

The 2022 Park Avenue Chardonnay, tasted as a barrel sample, wows as it wafts out with a gorgeous perfume of citron blossoms, yuzu, spiced apples, and ripe apricots, opening out to touches of nutmeg, almond croissant, and Earl Grey tea. The full-bodied palate explodes with citrus and spice fireworks, framed by a satiny texture and a racy line, finishing long and savory.

2022 Chardonnay Powder House Estate Vineyard Sonoma Coast
Score: 96-98+ Points

The 2022 Powder House Chardonnay, tasted as a barrel sample, is a bit shy to begin, needing a little shaking to wake up notes of tarte au citron, lime cordial, peach preserves, and baking bread, plus hints of wet slate and sea spray. The full-bodied palate is tense and intense, featuring a crisp backbone to define the citrus and mineral layers, finishing on a lingering marzipan note.

2022 Chardonnay Sugar Shack Estate Vineyard Napa Valley
Score: 97-99 Points

The 2022 Sugar Shack was tasted as a barrel sample. Wow — the nose pops with citrus notes of lime cordial, lemon curd, and kumquat giving way to hints of shaved almonds, jasmine tea, and beeswax with a touch of sea spray. The full-bodied palate delivers beautiful tension and a satiny texture, with tightly wound citrus and mineral layers, finishing long and chalky.

2022 Chardonnay UV-SL Vineyard Sonoma Coast
Score: 97-99 Points

The 2022 UV-SL Vineyards Chardonnay was tasted as a barrel sample. Super intense notes of lime leaves, green mango, and green apples jump from the glass with hints of wet pebbles, honeysuckle, and allspice. The full-bodied palate is so light on its feet, with vibrant citrus and mineral sparks and a lively backbone to lift the long zesty finish.

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2022 Pinot Noir CIX Estate Vineyard Sonoma Coast
Score: 97 Points

Deep ruby-purple in color, the 2022 CIX Estate Pinot Noir needs a swirl or two to coax out notes of kirsch, boysenberries, redcurrant jelly, and iris bulb, giving way to notions of red roses, sandalwood, clove oil, damp soil, and underbrush. The full-bodied palate is beautifully rich and opulent, with seamless freshness and velvety tannins, finishing long with loads of exotic spices hints.

2022 Pinot Noir UV Vineyard Sonoma Coast
Score: 97 Points

Medium to deep ruby-purple in color, the 2022 UV Pinot Noir rocks up with ready-to-go scents of black cherries, black raspberries, and mulberries, leading to suggestions of hoisin, star anise, and incense with a waft of rose oil. The full-bodied palate delivers fantastic tension, with bags of juicy black berry flavors and a beautiful, fine-grained texture, finishing long and spicy.

2022 Pinot Noir UV-SL Vineyard Sonoma Coast
Score: 98 Points

Deep ruby-purple in color, the 2022 UV-SL Vineyard Pinot Noir gallops out with powerful scents of wild blueberries, fresh blackberries, and pomegranate, leading to suggestions of violets, tar, and tilled soil with a touch of garrigue. The full-bodied palate is bright, energetic, and crunchy, featuring a fantastic backbone of freshness to lift the densely laden black and red berry layers, supported by firm, grainy tannins, finishing with epic length and fabulously fragrant.

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2021 Chardonnay CIX Estate Vineyard Sonoma Coast
Score: 99 Points

The 2021 CIX Estate Chardonnay wows with tropical fruit punch notes bursting from the nose, giving way to fragrant nuances of spice cake, candied ginger, lemongrass, and jasmine tea. The full-bodied palate shimmers with intense tropical fruit and baking spice layers, supported by a satiny texture and racy acidity, finishing long and layered.

2021 Chardonnay Eastside Vineyard Russian River
Score: 98 Points

The 2021 Eastside Chardonnay comes barreling out of the glass with notes of creme brulee, preserved mandarin peel, honeycomb, and pear tart, leading to a core of apple butter and crushed stones. The full-bodied palate is tight-knit and chalky, with loads of citrus and pear layers, finishing long and savory.

2021 Chardonnay Larry Hyde & Sons Vineyard Carneros
Score: 100 Points

The 2021 Larry Hyde & Sons Chardonnay comes roaring out of the glass with explosive notes of lemonade, ginger ale, toasted almonds, brioche, and beeswax, plus a touch of sea spray in the background. The full-bodied palate remains so tight knit with a racy backbone and satiny texture, leading to epic length and a minerally finish to this mind-blowing wine.

2021 Chardonnay Lauren Estate Vineyard Sonoma Coast
Score: 100 Points

The nose on the 2021 Chardonnay Lauren Estate is so intoxicatingly powerful and gorgeous, with notes of orange blossoms, creme brulee, crystallized peel, lime cordial, and allspice, plus suggestions of acacia honey and dried persimmons. The full-bodied palate is magic – sparkling in the mouth with citrus, spice, and mineral accents, finishing with incredible length and depth.

2021 Chardonnay Park Avenue Estate Vineyard Sonoma Coast
Score: 98 Points

Notes of honey-drizzled white peaches, wet pebbles, and grapefruit oil spring from the glass of the 2021 Park Avenue Chardonnay, leading to hints of Marcona almond, allspice, and brioche plus an intriguing waft of matcha. The full-bodied palate is invigorating and uplifting, with bright citrusy sparks and a racy backbone, finishing long and satin-textured.

2021 Chardonnay Powder House Estate Vineyard Sonoma Coast
Score: 97 Points

The 2021 Powder House Chardonnay is a little closed at first, with notes of wet slate and struck flint leading to a core of ripe pears, apple sauce, and fresh ginger with wafts of cashews and candied lemon peel. The full-bodied palate is more savory, with toasty, brioche notes coming through and a crisp line of acidity, finishing long and graceful.

2021 Chardonnay Sugar Shack Estate Vineyard Napa Valley
Score: 99 Points

The 2021 Sugar Shack prances out with flamboyant scents of fresh pineapple, lime blossoms, yuzu, and papaya, plus touches of toasted almonds and spice cake. The full-bodied palate has amazing freshness, giving it a sense of weightlessness and revealing layer upon layer of citrus and mineral flavors, finishing long and vibrant.

2021 Chardonnay UV-SL Vineyard Sonoma Coast
Score: 98 Points

Lime cordial and tarte au citron notes jump from the glass of the 2021 UV-SL Vineyards Chardonnay, leading to suggestions of underbrush, struck flint, and fresh apricots with a hint of brine. The full-bodied palate is bright, tight, and refreshing, with a steeliness to the long, layered finish.