2012 Peay SC Chardonnay vs. 2012 Au Bon Climat Santa Barbara Cty Chardonnay

WINE TALK
#1
  • 2012 Peay Vineyards Chardonnay Sonoma Coast - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast (5/9/2014)
    Sort of a maturing gold color and open nose of vanila and citrus aromas. This is sort like drinking a $70 Kistler Chardonnay for $42. Highly concentrated and I mean packed with lip smacking citrus, orchard fruit and a sense of minerality. Not as much acid as I’d prefer but enough to keep this fresh and very identifiably, CA Chardonnay. I had just finished a glass of Roederer Mendicino Brut just prior to my first sip of the Peay and it came off a tad oaky at first compared to the likely almost unoaked Roederer Brut. After about 10 minutes of sipping I no longer noticed the oak in any measurable way. All in all, worth it but, I was hoping for a wine that is a little more light on it’s feet from Peay and the Sonoma coast. 13.4% Alc was good. For my palate and wallet I’m going back for the more sevelte, more complex $23 2012 Au Bon Climat Santa Barbara County Chardonnay I had earlier this week. (92 pts.#
  • 2012 Au Bon Climat Chardonnay Santa Barbara County - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County #5/7/2014#
    After about a year on Rochioli’s SV list I reallized I liked the chards more than the vaulted Rochioli SV PNs. Then I reallized that as much as I liked the SV Chards they were almost as overpriced as the PNs so I dropped off the list completely after waiting six years to make it. NO regrets. Rochioli makes some nice wines. Nice $40 wines that sell for $70 plus. Anyway, this Chard very much reminds me of a Rochioli SV Chard except, I only paid $22 for it. This is CA Chardonnay not white Burgundy but, it has terrific balance, focus,complexity and verb. 13.5% Alc, fascinating tropical fruit combined with refined citrus flavors makes this very satisfying. Nothing flabby or overtly oaky about this. #93 pts.)

Posted from CellarTracker

#2

Craig, if you post that SBC AVA wine TN in the virtual tasting thread Jane will donate $10 to charity.

#3

OK. Happened to be at the DABC In Park City getting Mother’s Day champagne and thought I’d take a gander at chards to see if it was there. YES !

We’ll have it tonight.

#4

Craig, you’re dead right. This is a very fine wine.

We had a guest from France tonight (Beaune) and, even though she usually drinks rouge, she was enamored with the ABC.

Good call. Thanks.

#5

Craig, It would never had occurred to me to compare a Peay SC to Kistler. I think, in general, they are much lighter and elegant. I think if you were to open one in a year or so, you’d find a much different wine. I opened on last weekend and below is my note. It needs more time or, at least, a good bit of air.

5/4/2014 - I WROTE: 91 points (Edit)
Either wait another year to open this or give it a good amount of air. This had some Chablis characteristics such as minerals, wet stones, stone fruit. Not saying it tastes like Chablis, just that there are some comparisons. I need to try to remember to lay off of these for a while. Light on the palate, floral notes on the nose, and the aforementioned Chablis-like notes.

#6

Mark, pickup the Au Bob Climat and give it a try soon.

#7

I will. I looked on winesearcher for Minnesota and F44 is the only one that carries it according to WS. Did you get it at South Lyndale?

#8

Yes, they have the PN too last time I was there. And, if they can get it, a retailer closer to you likely could too from thier wholesaler.