'06 Hamilton Russell Chardonnay

D

drssouth

Stephen South
Opened after a prematurely oxidized '02 V.Dauvissat Chablis Sechet was abandoned

2006 Hamilton Russell Vineyards Chardonnay, alc 13%..$28...nose is exotic and spice driven (? allspice)...rich and unctuous on the palate with peach, pear and apple with a hint of oak like tannins...I love the structure and texture...reminds me of a mid level Burgundy from the Southern half of the Cote d'Or....(? Chassagne-Montrachet or Meursault?)

Disclaimer: We drink very little Chardonnay..especially that not from Chablis and basically never from South Africa...this really exceeded my expectations....it really would blow away most "good" Calif chardonnay based wines in my experience
 
What vintage was the Dauvissat?

I keep on fearing I'm going to start hearing about/tasting premoxed bottles of late-vintage Chablis (and white Burg generally). Fearing, and expecting, because I agree with various other posters here that since we've no definite idea what causes the problem we almost certainly haven't solved it.
 
Hamilton Russell seems to get the most praise for their pinot noir, but I've found it unduly heavy most times I've tried it, and I'm not convinced that age will lend enough assistance. On the other hand, that chardonnay is a wine I admire. I'm curious to see what time will do to it. I can't say that it reminds me of any part of the Cte or its latitudinal extensions, though.

I'm also a fan of their Southern Right Pinotage (really) and Sauvignon Blanc. And their Ashbourne Pinotage is massive, but balanced in its hulkish idiom, and at least has a chance of convincing lovers of big wines but haters of pinotage that it's not a complete waste of a grape.
 
originally posted by Aaron:
What vintage was the Dauvissat?

I keep on fearing I'm going to start hearing about/tasting premoxed bottles of late-vintage Chablis (and white Burg generally). Fearing, and expecting, because I agree with various other posters here that since we've no definite idea what causes the problem we almost certainly haven't solved it.
Click to expand...

Sorry '02
 
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