The Wine Advocate Issue 216, December 2014

Robert Parker, Jr., The Wine Advocate Issue 216

2013 Chardonnay CIX Estate Vineyard Sonoma Coast
Score: 96-100 Points

The potentially perfect 2013 Chardonnay CIX Estate comes from a vineyard planted with the Montrachet clone of Chardonnay. It is already showing incredible minerality along with notes of white peach, pineapple, oily citrus, apple blossom and lemon oil. This multidimensional, full-bodied, sensational Chardonnay should drink well for 10+ years.

2013 Chardonnay Eastside Vineyard Sonoma Coast
Score: 98-100 Points

The 2013 Chardonnay Eastside comes from a vineyard owned by Ulises Valdez and planted with the Montrachet clone. It is the rockiest site in the Aubert portfolio. Amazingly, it sees 100% new oak, but you would never know that from smelling or tasting the wine. Copious aromas of wet rocks, almond paste, honeysuckle, pineapple and white peach are followed by a full-bodied, stunningly rich yet crisp, vibrant, zesty Chardonnay that should drink well for a minimum of 10 years.

2013 Chardonnay Larry Hyde & Sons Vineyard Carneros
Score: 92-96 Points

The 2013 Chardonnay Larry Hyde & Sons reveals a greenish hue to its gold color as well as crisp acidity, hints of orange blossom, white peach, white currants and mangoes. This fresh, beautifully fruited, medium to full-bodied, rich wine should drink well for 10-12 years.

2013 Chardonnay Lauren Estate Vineyard Sonoma Coast
Score: 98-100 Points

Named after Mark Aubert’s daughter, the 2013 Chardonnay Lauren Estate is made from Old Wente clones as well as the Mt. Eden clone planted in Goldridge soils. This stony, mineral-laced, crisp yet full-bodied effort comes across as a California version of a Coche-Dury Corton-Charlemagne. Citrus oil, tangerine skin, orange blossom, liquified rock, white flower and quince notes along with great fruit, a full-bodied, stunning texture, and a long finish with no noticeable oak suggest this prodigious Chardonnay will drink well for 10+ years.
At the end of our tasting, Mark Aubert conducted a mini-vertical of the Lauren Estate Chardonnay starting with the 2009 and going back to 2003. At 11 years old, I rated the 2003 96 points, and it remains a lively, exuberant, fresh, stunning wine. All of them were fabulous, with my favorite being the 2007, which I rated 99 points.

2013 Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard Sonoma Coast
Score: 96-98 Points

From Aubert’s oldest vines, the 2013 Chardonnay Ritchie is made from the 40-year-old Chardonnay clone called Old Wente. Candied citrus, wet rocks, Granny Smith apples, white peach and honeysuckle notes are found in this full-bodied, prodigious Chardonnay with crisp acidity buttressing the viscous, full-throttle style. All of these 2013s have at least a decade of aging potential.

2013 Chardonnay Sugar Shack Estate Vineyard Napa Valley
Score: 95-97 Points

The only Napa Valley offering is the 2013 Chardonnay Sugar Shack Estate. A compelling effort, possibly the most powerful of these 2013 Chardonnays at nearly 15.5% alcohol, it comes from a vineyard planted with the Montrachet clone of Chardonnay that was sourced from David Abreu. This vineyard is next to the Dana Estate in Rutherford. Its gold/green color is accompanied by a stunning nose of liquified pebbles, tangerine oil, delicate pineapple, quince and hints of honeysuckle as well as subtle background oak. Full-bodied with terrific minerality as well as a superb, fresh, long finish, it should drink well for 10 years.

2013 Chardonnay UV-SL Vineyard Sonoma Coast
Score: 92-94 Points

The 2013 Chardonnay UV-SL is made from two selections of Old Wente Chardonnay clones planted in classic Goldridge sandy soils. It exhibits the same greenish hue as its siblings, but is slightly more restrained and subdued. Notes of white currants, quince, poached pears, wet rocks and loamy soil nuances emerge from this terroir-driven Chardonnay.

2013 Pinot Noir CIX Estate Vineyard Sonoma Coast
Score: 95+ Points

Made from suitcase clones brought back from Vosne-Romanée and planted in Goldridge soils, the 2013 Pinot Noir Cix Estate displays lots of black raspberry, black cherry, licorice, Asian soy, and spice box notes as well as an intriguing tangerine-like character. Medium to full-bodied with crisp acids, this Pinot Noir should drink well for 10-15 years.

2013 Pinot Noir Ritchie Vineyard Sonoma Coast
Score: 94 Points

The full-bodied, dense ruby-hued 2013 Pinot Noir Ritchie, which comes from the Calera clone of Pinot Noir, reveals plenty of beet root, forest floor, Asian hoisin sauce, plum, blackcurrant and cherry notes, as well as terrific fruit and richness. Drink 2016-2028.

2013 Pinot Noir UV Vineyard Sonoma Coast
Score: 96 Points

The rich, prodigious, full-bodied 2013 Pinot Noir UV, made from the Calera and Vosne-Romanée clones, is a denser, richer wine offering abundant notes of blueberries, blackberries, forest floor and strong hints of Asian hoisin sauce, dark fruits and forest floor. There is not a trace of new oak in this wine, which spent 10 months in 100% new barrels. Like all the 2013 Pinot Noirs, it has a decade or more of aging potential.

2013 Pinot Noir UV-SL Vineyard Sonoma Coast
Score: 94+ Points

The 2013 Pinot Noir UV-SL, primarily made from Calera and Vosne-Romanée clonal material, boasts a dense ruby/purple color as well as a big, sweet nose of blackcurrants, black cherries, forest floor and beet root. The complex aromatics are followed by a full-bodied, intensely concentrated, pure, seamlessly constructed red that should drink well for 10-15+ years.

2012 Chardonnay CIX Estate Vineyard Sonoma Coast
Score: 99 Points

2012 Chardonnay Eastside Vineyard Sonoma Coast
Score: 99 Points

2012 Chardonnay Larry Hyde & Sons Vineyard Carneros
Score: 96 Points

2012 Chardonnay Lauren Vineyard Sonoma Coast
Score: 98+ Points

2012 Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard Sonoma Coast
Score: 95 Points

2012 Chardonnay Sugar Shack Estate Napa Valley
Score: 99 Points

2012 Chardonnay UV-SL Vineyard Sonoma Coast
Score: 96 Points