TN: 2007 Diatom - Chardonnay - Clos Pepe Vineyard

WINE TALK
1

NOSE: gorgeous nose – tropical fruits and pear, hints of grass and smoke; bouquet was typical for a Chardonnay.

BODY: pale golden yellow color; medium to medium-full bodied.

TASTE: rich and intense flavor … very nice; the 16.5% alc. (that is not a typo) comes through only a little bit on the palate and also a bit on the long finish (50 sec.); palate is full. A solid Chard. This was ordered at a restaurant, and when the waiter came to present the bottle, he off-handedly mentioned the 16.5% alc., at which time I stopped him and told him I’d make another selection – he assured me this was a fine wine, so I took his word for it - he was right. This is a fine Chardonnay, but I do wish the alcohol were toned-down. A Greg Brewer production.

B: 50, 5, 13, 16, 7 = (91 pts.)

Posted from CellarTracker

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Brian - interesting post, since I have had this wine on several occasions…does the “glycerin” dominate to you? I ask b/c to me it does and renders this wine hot and undrinkable.

THanks

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I did not get that impression … it was a bit hot, but I would have guessed low-to-mid 14’s on the alcohol. I don’t think the thought of “glycerin” ever entered my mind while drinking … then again, this was consumed rather quickly with excellent company at an excellent restaurant, so it didn’t get quite the shake most wines I consume do. (wow … horrible grammar there, but I’m too lazy to figure out how to say that properly [foilhat.gif] )

EDIT: let me add, I actually do not like most CA Chards, so take that into consideration as well.

4

Thought this would make sense to add here:

2007 Clos Pepe Estate Chardonnay - Lemon oil, papaya and pears on a very clean precise nose. Nice balance of sweet pear fruit, limestone and bracing acidity on the palate. Excellent with a chicken ceasar salad on a warm spring night!

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Brian, thanks for the note. I like the Diatom wines and I did buy the 2009s, as I have each vintage since 2005. I last drank the 2007 Clos Pepe a year ago and it reminded me of slate and lemon peel with a nice cut of crispness. I drank the 2005 the same night as the 2007 and it was terrific. Here is a link to the stainless chard event we did last year, where a # of the Diatom wines got sampled.

OC Fratello Offline--Stainless Chards And Petite Sirahs - CellarTracker" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The alcs are big on these wines but Greg Brewer has his style, his vision and this is what he does.

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I like this project. The wines get no malo and no oak, so you end up with a lot of crisp orchard fruit and a very angular style, despite the ripeness and high (but hard to notice) alcohol.

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Flavor development is obviously the rationale for letting the alcohol get that high, but I cannot help but think it is a Faustian bargain in doing so.