2022 CIX Estate Vineyard Chardonnay
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Tasting notes
Always one of the last sites Aubert picks, the 2022 Chardonnay CIX Estate matured in close to 75% new French oak. 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.
Critic scores
Average Score
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, The Wine Independent
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Aromas of candied lemons, apples, crushed stone and hints of lemon leaves follow through to a full body of pretty fruit with lemon flowers and hints of gunpowder. It’s solid and all there. Needs a year or two to come together. Best after 2026.
The 2022 Chardonnay CIX Estate is rich, ample and explosive. A classic Mark Aubert wine, the CIX is off the charts. Soaring aromatics and deep, layered fruit take hold of the senses and never let up. White orchard fruit, jasmine, lemon confit, white pepper and spice lend nuance to a Chardonnay built on textural resonance. The 2022 is arrestingly beautiful from the first taste. Montrachet clone here really sings.
The 2022 CIX Estate Chardonnay was tasted as a barrel sample. It comes bounding out of the glass with notes of freshly squeezed lemons, Granny Smith apples, freshly shaved ginger, and chalk dust, leading to wafts of coriander seed and white pepper. The full-bodied palate is tight-knit and racy with a chalky undercurrent to the citrus flavors, finishing long and minerally. CIX stands for 109, as this vineyard was called “parcel 109” when Aubert bought it. Planted in 2008 to the Montrachet clone, the berries accumulate flavor very slowly here.
About the producer
The Aubert wines, particularly the Chardonnay, have a cult following – beloved for their rich, hedonistic style. Created by Mark and Theresa Aubert in 1999, the property makes some of California’s most sought-after Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, all from single vineyards across Sonoma.