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DOUBLE-GOLD MEDAL WINNERS
Alpha Omega
2014 Chardonnay
(Napa Valley) $76
Grapes for this wine (100% Chardonnay) were totally barrel-fermented, then aged for 18 months in French oak (60% new).
Aroma: Golden apple, green apple, lemon, lemon peel, citrus, pineapple, coconut, lemon chiffon, flowers, jasmine, honeysuckle, toasty, oats, hay, minerality, wet rocks.
Palate: Lemon, citrus, pineapple, lemon custard, cream, butter, honeycomb, floral, mushroom, leather, wood, oak, bright acidity, structured.
Finish: Vanilla, citrus pith, wood, creamy mouthfeel, sits very well on the palate, round with a bit of fat, somewhat oak-driven, well-balanced, structured, elegant.
Double Gold Medal
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White Oak Vineyards & Winery
2015 Chardonnay
(Russian River Valley) $220
Peach, pineapple, mild citrus, bright citrus peel, tropical, honeysuckle, mineral, earthy, toasty oak, deep toast, smoky, fresh.
Aroma: Peach, pineapple, tropical fruit, coconut, vanilla, vanilla bean, buttery, minerality, mellow oak, smoke, good balance, structured, high-toned.
Palate: Green apple, apple, pear, red grapefruit, lime, honey, creamy, full mouthfeel, high acid.
Finish: Green apple, low acidity, rich, sits well, nice, like an elegant Burgundian.
Double Gold Medal
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The Withers
2015 English Hill Chardonnay
(Sonoma Coast) $55
For this wine, hand-harvested grapes – from a vineyard noted for loamy soil and cool afternoon breezes &ndassh; were fermented in neutral 7-10 year-old French barrels and aged in barrels for 16 months on its lees (wasted yeast).
Aroma: Orchard fruit, pineapple, citrus, lemon, candied lemon peel, chiffon pie, honey, mint.
Palate: Lemon, pineapple, citrus, berries, melon, lemon tart, candied citrus, pralines, yellow flowers, buttery, leather, earthy, oak, acidity.
Finish: Citrus, tropical, mushroom, steady, even, sits well in mouth, great.
Double Gold Medal
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GOLD MEDAL WINNERS:
Alpha Omega
2014 Chardonnay Un-Oaked
(Napa Valley) $44
This 100% Chardonnay was totally fermented in stainless steel tanks and aged for 6 months in stainless steel on its lees (wasted yeast) before bottling.
Aroma: Orchard pear, green apple, melon, pineapple, citrus, lemon peel, honey, creamy, hay, mint, mineral, woody.
Palate: Orchard fruit, apple, pineapple, tropical fruit, grapefruit, sour lemon, lemon peel, crisp.
Finish: Peach, citrus, oaky, earthy, clean.
Gold Medal
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Alyris Vineyards
2014 The Audition Carneros Chardonnay
(Napa Valley) $55
For this wine, premium grapes – sourced from vineyards that experience cool temperatures from their proximity to San Pablo Bay – were fermented and aged for 10 months in 100% French oak barrels (50% new).
Aroma: Green pear, tropical fruit, lychee, butterscotch, cream, vanilla, floral, wild flowers, lavender, herbaceous, wood, oak.
Palate: Sweet strawberry, apple juice, citrus, vanilla, brioche, toasty, minerality, woodsy, pine, oaky, bright acidity, balanced, yum.
Finish: Good fruit, wood, oak, balanced, great finish.
Gold Medal
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Grgich Hills Estate
2013 Chardonnay
(Napa Valley) $43
Grapes for this wine (100% Chardonnay) were sourced from vineyards in American Canyon and Carneros. Following fermentation using indigenous yeast, the wine was aged for 10 months in French oak barrels (60% neutral & 40% new).
Aroma: Green apple, citrus, verbena, lemon oil, green grass, vegetal, forest floor, earthy, butter, wood.
Palate: Orchard fruit, citrus, pleasant mushroom, crisp, slight -bodied.
Finish: Melon, citrus, nice fruit, peppery, acidity, well-balanced, elegant.
Gold Medal
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Bonterra
2015 Chardonnay
Organic (Mendocino) $13
For this wine, organic grapes from Mendocino were fermented in a combination of French and American oak (70%) or stainless steel (30%). Aging of most of the wine (84%) took place in neutral oak with the remainder in new oak.
Aroma: Lemon, citrus, treacle, vanilla, butter, soft flowers, herbaceous, mineral, wet rocks, wood.
Palate: Lime, grapefruit, citrus, citrus peel, tropical fruit, vanilla, creamy, vegetal, dill, grassy, hay, popcorn, wet rocks, strong woodiness, oaky, bright acidity, rich.
Finish: Lemon, lemon zest, light slate, butter, cedar, oak.
Gold Medal
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The Withers
2015 Peters Vineyard Chardonnay
(Sonoma Coast) $38
Grapes for this wine were hand-picked from a Sebastopol vineyard noted for cool afternoon breezes from the nearby Pacific Ocean. Fermentation took place in 7-10 year-old neutral French barrels and aged in barrels for 16 months on its lees (wasted yeast).
Aroma: Lemon, grapefruit, citrus, apple, berries, honey, honeycomb, honeysuckle, vanilla, caramel, butterscotch, wet rocks, fresh.
Palate: Peach, pear, apple, citrus, fresh lemonade, vanilla, honey, honeysuckle, minerality, bright.
Finish: Apple, lemon, butter, Chablis-like, good acidity, very bright.
Gold Medal
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Harken
2015 Barrel Fermented Chardonnay
(California) $13
Grapes used to produce this wine hailed from the Arroyo Seco AVA of Salinas Valley. Following 100% barrel fermentation, the wine was aged for 7 months in oak (80% American & 20% French).
Aroma: Lemon, pineapple, over-ripe orchard fruit, honey, creamy, vanilla, floral, earthy, stone, slate.
Palate: Lemon, lime, grapefruit, orange, apple, over-ripe orchard fruit, honey, toffee, creamy, vanilla, brioche, spices, earthy, sweet oak, cedar.
Finish: Lemon, honey, oaky, even finish, nice, clean, smooth.
Gold Medal
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ROAR
2015 Sierra Mar Vineyard Chardonnay
Organic (Santa Lucia Highlands) $45
This wine went through 100% malolactic fermentation in barrels and was aged for 11 months in French oak barrels (30% new) before bottling.
Aroma: Very ripe orchard fruit, tangerine, lemon, grapefruit, lemongrass, lemon meringue pie, buttery, caramel, toasted vanilla, Lucky Charms cereal, toasty, oaky, cedar.
Palate: Very ripe orchard fruit, tropical fruit, lemon, citrus peel, marshmallow, creamy, buttery, cardamom, cinnamon, peppery, toast, burnt oak, oak, acidity, well-balanced.
Finish: Strawberry, tart lemon, baked fruit, marshmallow, heavy oak, light acidity, sits nicely, beautiful.
Gold Medal
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Alpha Omega
2014 Chardonnay Reserve
(Napa County) $100
Only 400 cases of this 100% barrel fermented 100% Chardonnay were produced. The wine was aged for 18 months in French oak (60% new) plus 3 months in stainless steel.
Aroma: Apple, lemon, grapefruit, citrus, honey, buttery, butterscotch, toasty, yeasty, minerality, wet rocks.
Palate: Green apple, apples, pears, ripe orchard fruit, melon, citrus, lime, round lemon drops, apple pie, vanilla, herbal, oak, very bright, nice fruit and balance.
Finish: Baked brioche, oak, nice, clean fresh finish.
Gold Medal
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Celani Family Vineyards
2014 Chardonnay
(Napa Valley) $40
To fashion this wine, estate grown Chardonnay grapes were fermented in either new French oak (40%) and aged on its lees (wasted yeast) or fermented and aged in an egg-shaped concrete vessel.
Aroma: Pineapple, citrus, tropical fruit, baked apple pie, candy, caramel, slight muscat, spring flowers, honeysuckle, cardamom, nutmeg, burnt toast.
Palate: Juicy golden apples, pineapple, lemon peel, butterscotch, buttery, toffee, café au lait, honeysuckle, wheat, herbs, white tea, spice, cinnamon, wet flint, wood, toasty oak, clean, good acidity.
Finish: Peppery, mineral, wet flint.
Gold Medal
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Cakebread Cellars
2014 Chardonnay Reserve, Family Vineyards
(Napa Valley) $56
Grapes for this wine (100% Carneros Chardonnay) were harvested at night (to maintain freshness) and fermented and aged for 15 months on its lees (wasted yeast) in French oak barrels (30% new).
Aroma: Pineapple, citrus, tropical fruit, baked apple pie, candy, caramel, slight muscat, spring flowers, honeysuckle, cardamom, nutmeg, burnt toast.
Palate: Juicy golden apples, pineapple, lemon peel, butterscotch, buttery, toffee, café au lait, honeysuckle, wheat, herbs, white tea, spice, cinnamon, wet flint, wood, toasty oak, clean, good acidity.
Finish: Peppery, mineral, wet flint.
Gold Medal
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Barnett Vineyards
2015 Sangiacomo Vineyard Chardonnay
(Carneros) $36
Grapes for this wine were totally fermented in oak barrels and aged for 10 months in French oak (20% new & 80% used) prior to bottling.
Aroma: Golden delicious apples, ripe orchard fruit, mango, lemon, grapefruit, mushroom, earthy, light wood.
Palate: Pear, lemon, grapefruit, citrus, pineapple, honey, dill, mint, baking spice, malo, minerality.
Finish: Peach, lemon, lemon tart, honey, vanilla, oak, big finish.
Gold Medal
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Kenwood Vineyards
2015 Six Ridges Chardonnay
(Russian River Valley) $26
This wine was produced from 100% hand-harvested Chardonnay grapes that hailed from the Russian River Valley. Fermentation and aging for 8 months on its lees (wasted yeast) took place in French oak barrels.
Aroma: Lemon, pineapple, papaya, herbal, toast, earthy, oak.
Palate: Yellow peach, apple, orchard fruit, pineapple, light citrus, creamy, oats, honeysuckle, yellow flowers, smooth wood, oaky.
Finish: Lemon, lemonade, tropical fruit, honey, vanilla, frosting, crisp.
Gold Medal
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Ron Rubin
2014 Pamela’s Chardonnay Un-Oaked
(Sonoma County) $14
Grapes for this wine were sourced from a combination of Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma Carneros and Russian River Valley. Cold-fermentation and aging took place in stainless-steel tanks.
Aroma: Ripe pear, ripe orchard fruit, green apple, grapefruit, citrus, pineapple, honeysuckle, rose, earthy.
Palate: Pear, green apple, orchard fruit, melon, pineapple, lime, citrus, fruit-forward, honey, vanilla, vanilla bean, oak barrel, tart, bright acidity.
Finish: Peach, lemon pith, crisp.
Gold Medal
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Kenwood Vineyards
2015 Chardonnay
(Sonoma County) $13
Grapes used to produce this wine hailed from the Arroyo Seco AVA of Salinas Valley. Following 100% barrel fermentation, the wine was aged for 7 months in oak (80% American & 20% French).
Aroma: Pear, orchard fruit, melon, banana, citrus, lemon, lemon zest, lemon chiffon, baked apple, vanilla, almond, wet rocks, oaky.
Palate: Grapefruit, lemon peel, apple pie, vanilla, crème brulee, buttery, creamy, hibiscus tea, oaky, malo, smoky, bright acidity, rich, structured, elegant.
Finish: Herbaceous, dill, hay, mineral, earthy, smoky, woody, oaky, good acidity, smooth, round, very well-balanced, big yet elegant.
Gold Medal
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Fetzer
2015 Sundial Chardonnay
(California) $9
Following harvest, grapes for this wine were either barrel or tank fermented then aged for 9 months (50% in tanks and 50% in either American or Hungarian oak).
Aroma: Red delicious apple, green apple, star fruit, very ripe orchard fruit, pineapple, guava, lemon, grapefruit, lavender.
Palate: Peach, pineapple, guava, citrus, lemon, honeysuckle, bright, slight spritz, good fruit, nice balance.
Finish: Lemon, floral, baking spice, molasses, brioche, nice, fresh, clean, crisp.
Gold Medal
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Lobo
2015 Wulff Vineyards Chardonnay
(Napa Valley) $60
To fashion this wine, grapes from a single vineyard in Napa’s Oak Knoll district were fermented and aged in French oak (75% new).
Aroma: Ripe orchard fruit, tropical fruit, “mezcal” pineapple, caramel, burnt butter, toast, cereal, mint, smoky, oak, barrique.
Palate: Ripe orchard fruit, pineapple, lemon, grapefruit, citrus, honey, molasses, butterscotch, sweet cream, malo, toast, cereal, herbs, heavy wood, oak.
Finish: Honey, caramel, vanilla, popcorn, oak, wet flint, crisp, nice acidity.
Gold Medal
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ROAR
2015 Soberanes Vineyard Chardonnay
(Santa Lucia Highlands) $45
This wine went through complete malolactic fermentation in barrels and was aged for 11 months in French oak barrels (30% new) prior to bottling.
Aroma: Ripe orchard fruit, pineapple, lemon, apple pie, vanilla, butter, crème brulee, maple, leather, pine, slight oak, terrific.
Palate: Lemon, lime, melon, apple pie, vanilla, caramel, leather, pine, oak, bright, structured, nice acidity and fruit.
Finish: Melon, tropical fruit, oak, structured, bright, perfectly balanced.
Gold Medal
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