2008 ALEXANDER VALLEY
ESTATE CHARDONNAY
This is a big Chardonnay
with a fruit market of aromas and flavors you can smell
from across the room and taste seemingly forever. Ripe
pineapple, Golden Delicious apple, honeydew and crane
melon, peach, and pear. Plenty of toasty, nutty oak with
vanilla, caramel, and char from French oak barrels. This
wine reminds us of our highly regarded Barrel Select
Chardonnay of which we only produce five or six barrels
each year.
The conditions of the vintage were big
factors in producing the character of the 2008
Chardonnay. We experienced below normal winter rainfall,
a super frosty spring (thirty nights watching the
thermometer drop below 32 degrees Fahrenheit), erratic
temperatures and high winds during bloom. These weather
events upset the development of the grape crop and
knocked flowers off the vines in Robert Young Vineyards.
Clusters in 2008 ended up much lighter in weight than
normal. Berries were small. Flavors in the fruit were
concentrated. In the fall, it took patience to wait on
those flavors, but they eventually came around in spades
in late September before the California rains began.
“The 2008 Robert Young Estate Chardonnay is a rich,
full-bodied wine with flavors of sweet pineapple, Golden
Delicious apple, honeydew and crane melon, peach, and
pear. Each sip treats you to a medley of toast, vanilla,
caramel, and roasted nut characteristics delivered by
hand crafted French oak barrels that were carefully
selected by Kevin Warren, RYEW winemaker. Before
bottling, the wine was lightly filtered to preserve its
bright straw color, extraordinary character, and silky,
luxurious body.” ---Kevin Warren, Winemaker
REVIEWS & AWARDS FOR ALEXANDER VALLEY CHARDONNAY
2007 Alexander Valley
Estate Chardonnay
Wine Spectator Insider, March 21, 2010 93:
Robert Young Estate Winery Chardonnay Alexander Valley
2007. $40 Retail.
"Rich and opulent, with layers of fig, melon and
honeysuckle flavors that are full-bodied, silk-textured,
long and persistent, unveiling the vineyard's purity of
flavor. Drink now through 2010." ---James Laube
2006 Alexander Valley Estate Chardonnay
90 Points, Wine Spectator
2006 Alexander Valley Estate Chardonnay
92 Points, Cellar Selection Wine Enthusiast Magazine
July, 2009 issue
2004 Alexander Valley Chardonnay
Wine Spectator, April 30, 2005, Rating: 92 points.
“92, Robert Young Chardonnay Alexander Valley 2004 $37.
Ripe, with sweet fig, tangerine and melon flavors that
are elegant and creamy. Neatly tapered, long and smooth
on the finish, ending with a dash of hazelnut.
Delicious. Drink now through 2010. 2,704 cases made.”
–JL. Wine Spectator Magazine, April 30th, 2007
2003 Alexander Valley Chardonnay
93 points, 2 “puffs,” Connoisseurs’ Guide, October 2005
Leading with rich aromas of sweet cream, vanilla and
optimally ripened apples, this impressively filled
offering fans out on the palate with luscious flavors
that build on the richness and very deep fruit of the
nose. Although it is moderately full-bodied and
wonderfully smooth in texture, it is also quite lively
and keenly balanced throughout its considerable length.
2002 Alexander Valley Chardonnay
Wine Spectator, April 30, 2005, Rating: 92 points.
‘Rich and creamy, with tiers of buttery pear, hazelnut,
marshmallow, anise and smoke, it shows off the ripeness
of the fruit and pretty oak.
Drink now through 2008. 1,240 cases made.’ James Laube”
2002 Alexander Valley Chardonnay
Wine Advocate #157, February 2005.
Robert Young Estate Winery 2002 Chardonnay, Rating: 92
points.
“A beautiful nose of white currants, peaches, and pears
is followed by a medium to full-bodied Chardonnay
revealing loads of flavor, a beautiful texture, and a
honeyed complexity.” –Robert Parker
2001 Alexander Valley Chardonnay
Wine Spectator ~ October 2003
93 Points A delicious Chardonnay the mixes ripe,
vibrant, creamy pear, fig, honeysuckle and nectarine
flavors with a light dash of toasty oak that adds a
touch of hazelnut.
2000 Alexander Valley Chardonnay
Wine Enthusiast ~ Best of 2001
Editors Choice & Best White Wine Of The Year
96 Points The long anticipated wine from longtime
grower-turned vintner swings for the fences. Begins with
fascinating, complex aromas - highlighted by lees,
pineapple, cinnamon, smoke and white chocolate - and
dazzles with its sheer opulence. Everything come
together in pinpointing harmony, right down to the
mind-bogglingly beautiful finish.
Wine Country This Week - November 2002
94 Points A marvelous balanced wine with ripe apple and
pear fruit on the opening, leading to a creamy center
and a long refreshing finish. One of the best California
Chardonnays I've tasted in a while - Larry Walker
Wine Spectator ~ June 2002
89 Points A bold, rich and complex wine, with tiers of
ripe pear, spice, fig and a touch of bubble gum flavor.
Light oak adds a subtle flavor dimension of complexity -
J.L.
Sante Magazine ~ June 2003
Medium bodied and clean with vibrant fruit, ripe peach
unsalted butter, orange creme brulee, sandlewood, and
notes of roasted coffee bean; long tart finish
1999 Alexander Valley Chardonnay
Wine Spectator ~ March 2001
92 Points Ultraripe, rich and creamy, with exotic
tropical fruit flavors of fig, guava, pineapple and pear
accented by smoky, toasted oak flavors that linger, -
J.L.
Robert Young Estate Winery phone: 707 431-4811 fax: 707 431-4812 email:
info@ryew.com |
