2009 Wind Gap Chardonnay Yuen James Berry & Brosseau Vineyards
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Tasting notes
(half of this fruit came from the James Berry vineyard and the other half from the Brosseau vineyard in Chalone; raised entirely in concrete eggs): Light gold. High-pitched aromas of lemon curd, green apple and anise, with a chalky mineral overtone. Dry and taut on the palate, offering fresh citrus fruit and floral flavors and a touch of iodine. Clings impressively on the finish, leaving a touch of anise behind.
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Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2009 Chardonnay Yuen is a blend of fruit from James Berry in Paso Robles and Brosseau, which is in Chalone. The wine boasts tremendous depth and richness in a structured, complex, multi-dimensional style that is undeniably appealing. An impolsive, mineral-drenched finish rounds things out. The 2009 was fermented in concrete and aged in 60% neutral oak and 40% stainless steel. I loved it.
The 2009 Chardonnay Yuen is a blend of fruit from James Berry in Paso Robles and Brosseau, which is in Chalone. The wine boasts tremendous depth and richness in a structured, complex, multi-dimensional style that is undeniably appealing. An implosive, mineral-drenched finish rounds things out. The 2009 was fermented in concrete and aged in 60% neutral oak and 40% stainless steel. I loved it. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2017. I was deeply impressed with many of the wines I tasted from Wind Gap and proprietors Pax and Pamela Mahle. The estate favors cooler, marginal sites. The wines are made with a very natural approach, which is to say the grapes are crushed by foot, aging is largely done in neutral oak and the wines are bottled without fining or filtration. Best of all, many of these wines sell for very reasonable prices. Readers should note that Mahle’s Agharta line-up is reviewed separately. Pax Mahle told me he plans to re-launch his Pax label in the near future. Tel. (707) 887-9100; www.windgapwines.com
(a 50/50 blend of fruit from the James Berry Vineyard in Paso Robles and the Brosseau vineyard in Chalone): Bright gold. Exotic, perfumed scents of orange rind, pear, white flowers and toasted grain. Mellow, round and velvety on entry, then tighter in the middle, offering juicy orchard fruit flavors and higher-pitched citrus and mineral qualities. Finishes on a silky note, with lingering sappiness and florality.