2005 Matanzas Creek Winery Chardonnay

I picked this wine up at my local grocer for five bucks!!!! Amazing because this wine usually retails for about $25. When I saw it on the shelf being closed out I quickly purchased three bottles. To my excitement when I got home I google the wine and found that Robert Parker had scored it 90 points. It's amazing the kind of wines you'll be able to find on sale these days in the present economy.

Matanzas Creek Winery is a well known Sonoma Country winery and I have reviewed a Sauvignon Blanc and Merlot from them in previous posts. In fact I used to sell this wine wholesale when I worked for a local wine distributor who sold this brand. Matanzas Creek is owned by ol' uncle Jess Jackson and his wine empire Artisans & Estates.

The wine is 100% Chardonnay sourced from both the Carneros AVA (60%) and the Bennett Valley AVA (40%) in Sonoma. It was barrel aged eight months in French oak (1/3 new, 1/3 1-year old, 1/3 2-year old).

On the nose I get really intense aromas of citrus blossom, acacia, mineral, lemon curd, white peach, and hints of butter and toast. This is one of the most expressive bouquet I have smelt in at least a few months. On the palate this wine is equally impressive showing beautiful flavors of baked apple, citrus, honey suckle, white pepper, melon, honey, peach, butter, toast, and mineral. There is also hints of smoke and soil which are amazingly complex and add the "it" factor to this wine.

I'm not sure I've ever tasted a California Chardonnay that has rivaled the best from Burgundy, but this wine definitely comes close. The intensity of this wine is amazing and the finish is forever long. It has the perfect balance of fruit, mineral, oak, acid, and alcohol. This wine is drinking in it's complete prime if you ask me and if you can pick up a bottle (even at regular retail price) do it now!! 95+ points

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