2005 Chardonnay Lauren
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Tasting notes
Bright, lemon-gold colored with a faint green tinge at the rim, the 2005 Chardonnay Lauren Estate is just a little closed to begin, soon blossoming into a spectacular array of key lime pie, preserved mandarin peel and lemongrass notes followed by nuances of straw broom, toasted almonds and wet pebbles. The full-bodied palate is characteristically rich and seductive with loads of zesty sparks and a very long, savory finish. The lesson here is that a decant before serving could well help this cellar-worthy beauty emerge from its slumber. This wine was tasted from magnum, sourced directly from Aubert's library cellar.
Critic scores
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider
More reviews and scores
The 2005 Chardonnay Lauren Vineyard is just as breathtaking as it has always been. Still wonderfully fresh and nuanced, the 2005 has a level of precision and total finesse that is simply alluring. Lemon confit, apricot, mint and white flowers are all finely sketched, but it is the wine's overall balance and sense of harmony that are most alluring. Mark Aubert describes 2005 as a cool year with no heat spikes that produced a small crop. The 2005 Lauren remains one of my all-time favorite Mark Aubert wines.
Mark and Theresa Aubert's 2005 Chardonnay Lauren, tasted from magnum, is every bit as special as I remembered it. Time has softened the textures and added gorgeous nuance, yet the 2005 remains fresh, perfumed and extraordinarily beautiful. Hints of orange peel, mint and sweet spices lift from the glass, but it is the wine's balance that proves to be utterly captivating. Quite simply, this is one of the very finest California Chardonnays I have ever tasted. In magnum, the 2005 will drink well for at least another five years, while in standard bottle, the Lauren is naturally a touch more forward, although it should keep for another few years, perhaps longer. My own preference is to drink wines while the fruit retains at least some elements of freshness.
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.