I admit this time I
go too far with my adventurism. Gallo! Chardonnay! Close to 20 years
old! I guess I really don't know what I am doing here! Should I do
something like that? Probably not ... anyway, at least it is not a
regular standard Gallo Chardonnay from the Central Valley or
wherever. In today's “Happening Now Tasting” I would like to give
a 1994 single vineyard Chardonnay from Northern Sonoma AVA, perhaps from
the Laguna Ranch Vineyards (couldn't find proper input about this
oldie) a chance. I always wanted to try out some prime stuff from
California’s biggest wine tycoon. So far I never had the chance to
do so. Now the time has come …
6:37
pm CET (just opened)
Colour:
slight hue of light orange, very clear, viscosity seems fine;
magnificent cork quality
Nose:
scents of bakehouse action, super ripe apricots, traces of
smoked bacon, rather mute vanilla, an hardly any negative aromas of
old age oak influences
Taste:
surprisingly fresh on my palate, plenty of not over aged fruit
flavours – mainly apricots, tangerines and a few lemons paired with
traces of more tropical seeming aromas, still slightly buttery but
not over influenced by vanilla flavours, a bit of semi sweet pastry,
relatively sound acid proportion; certainly clear indication of its
age, however no repellent or predominant ones; nice length so far,
definitely not too mineral driven or equipped with a super complex
structure; so far really enjoyable and ALIVE!
7:47
pm
Nose:
the prior impressions are largely holding up, right now a few
whiskey'ish fragrances are evolving including tart caramel and a few
traces of honey, fruit is degrading (a bit)
Taste:
not so much of a change, a little bit less fruit predominance and a
little bit more dirty'ish earthy seeming flavours; so far no real
evidence for the nasal whiskey path, I am afraid it won't keep up for
long
8:41
pm
Nose:
whiskey character is gaining ground, is getting less appealing and
evidently loosing vitality
Taste:
the fruitful juicy character is more and more degrading (not vanished
yet), compared to the fading nose still mostly enjoyable, surely no
improvement quality-wise, the seniority strikes back
10:11
pm
Only
barrel aromas and whiskey like flavours left – I think Chardy has
left the building
In
conclusion: a juicy, fruitful, still rather sappy and short-lived
Californian Chardonnay without tons of intellectual demand and
sublimity; finish it off within one to two hours and it will be a
mostly decent **** and pretty typical Chardonnay
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