Wine Recommendation
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Wine Recommendation

Vine Cliff Winery 2004 Chardonnay Proprietor's Reserve  (Carneros)

Vine Cliff Winery

2004 Chardonnay Proprietor's Reserve
(Carneros ~ Los Carneros)



At $60 this is somewhat of a splurge, but well worth it. It is also very limited. Only 200 cases were produced, of which half were sold out at press time. The other half are available only through the winery. This reserve was produced from the winery’s top lots of Chardonnay from their estate vineyards in Los Carneros. As the wine was unfined and unfiltered, I would recommend decanting it in the event natural sediment has formed. Decanting it will also showcase its natural beauty.

Bright, rich golden yellow, and viscous with well-marked legs, this wine has intoxicating notes of butter, marzipan, violet, nilla wafer, peach, and apple pie. Decadently creamy and fluffy like an overstuffed down pillow, or freshly whipped cream, the wine has flavors of caramel apple, bananas foster, and toasty oak. While overall acidity is low, it does kick up on the finish, giving a sense of refreshing lightness and the desire to take another sip. This would be delicious with a bite of lobster or Dungeness crab dipped in drawn butter, seared wild King salmon with a beurre blanc sauce, or Michael Mina’s Phyllo-dusted Dover Sole with Dungeness crab brandade.

Reviewed July 10, 2007 by Catherine Fallis.

 

The Wine

Winery: Vine Cliff Winery
Vintage: 2004
Wine: Chardonnay Proprietor's Reserve
Appellation: Carneros ~ Los Carneros
Grape: Chardonnay
Price: 750ml $60.00

Review Date: 7/10/2007

The Reviewer

Catherine Fallis

Founder and President of Planet Grape LLC, a company committed to bringing the joy of wine, food, and good living into the lives of everyday people, Catherine is creator of the “grape goddess guides to good living,” a series of books, television presentations, seminars, and e-learning programs. The fifth woman in the world to become a Master Sommelier, grape goddess Catherine Fallis is still very much down-to-earth.