The Wine Advocate – July 2024
Reviews of the current Aubert releases by Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, including the perfect-scoring 2021 Lauren Estate Chardonnay.
2022 Chardonnay CIX Estate Vineyard Sonoma Coast
Score: 97 Points
Hints of crushed stone accent ripe, lush notes of white peaches and pineapple. This full-bodied, opulent wine seems a bit lower in acidity than usual, but it still finishes crisp and long, with a delicate hint of mocha on the finish.
2022 Chardonnay Eastside Vineyard Russian River
Score: 96 Points
Scents of toasted hazelnuts, crushed stone, pear and tangerine appear on the nose of the 2022 Chardonnay Eastside. It’s full-bodied, generous and plush without being weighty, then intense and crisp on the lemon-lime finish, with echoes reminiscent of white pepper and ginger.
2022 Chardonnay Larry Hyde & Sons Vineyard Carneros
Score: 94 Points
The 2022 Chardonnay Larry Hyde & Sons delivers aromas of honeyed citrus and complex spice notes—even a hint of ginger—plus notes of melon and pear. It’s medium to full-bodied, plump, generous and expansive on the palate, then pulls itself together and tightens up on the finish.
2022 Chardonnay Lauren Estate Vineyard Sonoma Coast
Score: 98 Points
The 2022 Chardonnay Lauren Estate offers up notes of crushed stone, white peach and barely ripe pineapple. In the mouth, it’s full-bodied yet cool, concentrated but weightless, with a long, mouthwatering finish. Harmonious and elegant, this is really something quite special.
2022 Chardonnay Park Avenue Estate Vineyard Sonoma Coast
Score: 96 Points
Aubert’s 2022 Chardonnay Park Avenue offers up gentle notes of toasted hazelnut, brioche and almond, plus lime, pear and melon. It’s full-bodied, with waves of upfront fruit and generous on the mid-palate, then crisp and focused on the lingering finish.
2022 Chardonnay Powder House Estate Vineyard Sonoma Coast
Score: 97 Points
The 2022 Chardonnay Powder House features attractive notions of crushed stone, citrus oil, hints of tea and perhaps even bergamot. Medium to full-bodied, with great thrust and energy, this is zesty, clean and crisp, with terrific length.
2022 Chardonnay Sugar Shack Estate Vineyard Napa Valley
Score: 96 Points
The 2022 Chardonnay Sugar Shack shows remarkable freshness given the site and vintage conditions. Crushed stone, lime and tangerine notes mark the nose, while the wine is medium to full-bodied in the mouth, lush and almost pillowy in texture, then bright and vibrant on the lingering finish.
2022 Chardonnay UV-SL Vineyard Sonoma Coast
Score: 95 Points
The 2022 Chardonnay UV-SL hints at powder-sugared brioche on the nose, backed by lemon-lime notes and some apple-ish fruit. From multiple rootstocks and clonal selections, it’s full-bodied and expansive on the palate, generous, rich and long. It’s serious stuff.
2021 Chardonnay CIX Estate Vineyard Sonoma Coast
Score: 97 Points
The 2021 Chardonnay CIX Estate is a more classic example than the 2022 version, but there’s a strong familial resemblance. Crushed stone and hints of almond-hazelnut skin appear on the nose, alongside fruitier notes of pineapple and white peach. In the mouth, the wine is full-bodied, generous and rounded, then finishes fresh and vibrant, with a huge whack of energizing lime zest on the finish.
2021 Chardonnay Eastside Vineyard Russian River
Score: 97 Points
The 2021 Chardonnay Eastside features scents of crushed stone and dried herbs, a hint of pastry crust and bright tangerine and lime fruit. Like the rest of Aubert’s Chardonnays, it’s unabashedly rich yet simultaneously cool and structured, with crisp citrus and complex spice notes on the lingering finish.
2021 Chardonnay Larry Hyde & Sons Vineyard Carneros
Score: 96 Points
The full-bodied 2021 Chardonnay Larry Hyde & Sons features compelling scents of toasted hazelnut and pencil shavings, set against a backdrop of pear and pineapple. Like so many of Aubert’s Chardonnays, it juxtaposes layers of richness and freshness, generosity and crispness, finishing long and refreshing.
2021 Chardonnay Lauren Estate Vineyard Sonoma Coast
Score: 100 Points
Scents of crushed stone, white peaches, ripe pineapples and fresh lime all appear on the nose, while the full-bodied palate is plush and opulent, concentrated yet incredibly long, vibrant and mouthwatering on the finish. This is really special, a true “wow” wine that—at least for this taster—sets a new standard for how good California Chardonnay can be.
2021 Chardonnay Park Avenue Estate Vineyard Sonoma Coast
Score: 96 Points
The 2021 Chardonnay Park Avenue Estate kicks off with scents of crushed stone, lemon, black tea and some slightly richer notes of stone fruit. Medium to full-bodied, it’s quite liner and direct, with a long, mouthwatering finish.
2021 Chardonnay Powder House Estate Vineyard Sonoma Coast
Score: 97 Points
Aubert’s 2021 Chardonnay Powder House features prominent notes of toasted hazelnut and crushed stone atop a base of white peaches, lemon-lime notes and cooling herbs. It’s medium to full-bodied and generous enough on the mid-palate but with a spine of bright, vivacious acidity and a long, zesty finish.
2021 Chardonnay Sugar Shack Estate Vineyard Napa Valley
Score: 96 Points
The 2021 Chardonnay Sugar Shack is a full-bodied, rich, concentrated wine laden with notes of peach and melon. It’s opulent and lush but with great length and energy on the finish, plus some complex floral-herbal notes reminiscent of flower-shop greens.
2021 Chardonnay UV-SL Vineyard Sonoma Coast
Score: 96 Points
The 2021 Chardonnay UV-SL is slightly fresher and more perfumed than the 2022, with seductive floral notes joining hints of crushed stone in accenting orange and bergamot citrus aromas. Full-bodied and plush, it’s harmonious, charming and elegant from start to finish.
2022 Pinot Noir CIX Estate Vineyard Sonoma Coast
Score: 97 Points
Aubert’s 2022 Pinot Noir CIX Estate delivers complex, mouthwatering waves of black cherries, accented by notes of roses and black tea. Medium to full-bodied, concentrated and silky, the wine boasts awesome length and tremendous intensity without excess weight. Hints of tobacco, tea leaves and sous-bois bring additional complexity to the lingering finish. This is the real deal.
2022 Pinot Noir UV Vineyard Sonoma Coast
Score: 94 Points
The 2022 Pinot Noir UV Vineyard bursts with cherries and raspberries, plus a hint of pie spice. Full-bodied, warm, supple and spicy on the palate, this is soft and appealing on the long, plush finish.
2022 Pinot Noir UV-SL Vineyard Sonoma Coast
Score: 93+ Points
Aubert’s 2022 Pinot Noir UV-SL is a bit floral and herbal, with those pretty notes accenting cherries and cranberries on the nose. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, tight and focused, finishing crisp and silky.
-
Articles and Reviews
- Wine Spectator - November 2024
- Wine Spectator - September 2024 Issue
- Wine Spectator - July 2024 Issue
- The Wine Advocate - July 2024
- James Suckling, Weekly Tasting Report - June 2024
- Vinous - May 2024
- The Wine Independent - September 2023 - Location, Location, Location
- Wine Spectator - June 2023
- Vinous - January 2023
- The Wine Advocate - December 2022 - Spotlight on Aubert
- James Suckling, Purity and Zest from Napa and Sonoma - November 2022
- The Wine Independent - September 2022 - The Citrus Circus
- Vinous - May 2022 - 2011 Napa Valley at Age Ten
-
Press Archive
- Wine Spectator - Spring 2021 - Producer Spotlight
- The Wine Advocate - January 2021 - Spotlight on Aubert
- Vinous - January 2021
- James Suckling, Weekly Tasting Report - December 2020
- Wine Spectator - Spring 2020 - Producer Spotlight
- Vinous - January 2020 - 2017 & 2018 Napa Valley In Depth
- The Wine Advocate, Issue 245 End of October 2019
- Wine Spectator - July 31, 2019 - Annual Chardonnay Report
- Vinous - May 2019 - Exploring The Best New Releases from Sonoma and Beyond
- James Suckling, The Good and the Bad of Sonoma - November 2018
- The Wine Advocate, Mid-October 2018 New Releases
- Wine Spectator - July 31, 2018 - Annual Chardonnay Report
- June 2018 - Jeb Dunnuck
- Jan 2018 Vinous - Antonio Galloni
- The Wine Advocate Issue 233, October 2017
- May 2017 - James Suckling
- Jan 2017 Vinous - Antonio Galloni
- The Wine Advocate Issue 227, October 2016
- Jan 2016 Vinous - Antonio Galloni
- The Wine Advocate Issue 222, December 2015
- Jan 2015 Vinous - Antonio Galloni
- The Wine Advocate Issue 216, December 2014
- Wine Spectator Insider - July 30, 2014 Semi-Annual Report
- Jan 2014 Vinous - Antonio Galloni
- The Wine Advocate Issue 210, December 2013