2012 Chardonnay Ritchie
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Tasting notes
(14.9% alcohol; 30% new oak): Bright yellow. Reduced on the nose in the way of a Burgundy, showing musky hints of flint, hazelnut and soft citrus fruits, plus some suggestions of tropical fruits. Wonderfully glyceral but with strong acidity and saline minerality giving the wine shape and grip. Not yet hugely complex--and quite tight in the early going--but fine-grained and savory, and very long on the aftertaste. This fruit was harvested on September 25, compared to September 3 and September 6 in 2013 and 2014, respectively.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2012 Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard is the most opulent and also the most nuanced of these wines. Almonds, matchstick, hazelnuts, tangerine peel, savory herbs and mint are all super-expressive in the glass. Hints of tropical fruit develop in the glass, adding to the wine's sense of exoticism as the flavors build to a finish imbued with a Chassagne-like oiliness and sense of viscosity.
The 2012 Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard (1,350 cases) exhibits more honeysuckle and green apple skin characteristics in a rich, exuberant, crisp, mineral style with a medium to full-bodied mouthfeel, a lovely texture and a long finish. Drink now-2018.