2012 Horseshoe Vineyard Chardonnay
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Tasting notes
Rich, oily and viscous on the palate, the 2014 Chardonnay Horseshoe Vineyard is all about texture. Orange blossoms, mint, honey, apricot jam, butter and spices meld into the racy, voluptuous finish as the 2012 shows off its class and exuberant personality. A slight element of Burgundian-inflected reduction lingers on the close. (AG)
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
More lean and racy than the Apline Vineyard, the 2012 Chardonnay Horseshoe Vineyard has thrilling Chablis-like minerality and green citrus to go with lots of lemon curd, mint and hints of sappy flowers. Not quite as broad shouldered as the Alpine Vineyard, yet just as pure, precise and layered, this is another thrilling Chardonnay from this team that will have 10-15 years (or more) of longevity.
On Monterey shale – fine clay. Very devigorated vines. Fabulous tension. Very tight and a little smoky. Stony finish. Long and fine. (JR)
The 2012 Chardonnay Horseshoe Vineyard is often a bit slow out of the gate, as it is once again today. Pear, almond, spice and savory herbs notes meld together in a soft, inviting Chardonnay that emphasizes texture above all else. Hints of Burgundian-like reduction linger on the bouquet, so the 2012 needs a lot of air to unwind if opened young. Ideally, the wine is best left alone in the cellar for at least another year or two. Proprietor Kevin Harvey adds that the Chardonnay fermentations were the longest ever in 2012, which partly explains the wine's reticence.