2002 Estate Chardonnay
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Tasting notes
The 2002 is fully mature yet still packs serious fruit and richness. Coming from a single vineyard on the Sonoma Coast, it has a rocking nose of buttered stone fruit, crème caramel, toasted bread, and white flowers with just a hint of oxidation. With full-bodied richness, beautiful balance, good acidity, and one serious finish, it’s a brilliant, mature Chardonnay I suspect is best enjoyed over the coming 4-5 years.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
A massive explosion of white flower, corn relish, orange rind, lemon butter and sea breeze-like characteristics jump from the glass of this light gold/greenish-hued 2002. Magnificent fruit, a full-bodied texture, and superb intensity as well as precision characterize this youthful, full-throttle Marcassin. It comes across like an exquisite Batard-Montrachet (although recent Batards I have tasted tend to be oxidized). The 2002 Marcassin has two decades of life remaining. Marcassin Winery, P.O. Box 302, Calistoga, CA 94515; tel. (707) 258-3608; fax (707) 942-5633
Pale yellow-green color. Subdued but pure nose hints at beeswax. Round, full and pristine, with impressively deep flavors of quince, ginger, spring flowers, wet stone and hazelnut. Today this seems much more accessible, with more obvious sweetness of fruit, than the 2001. Finishes very long and rich, with a honeyed ripeness. Aged in 100% new barrels, but has plenty of material to support the oak.