TN: 2009 Cameron Chardonnay Blanc Clos Electrique

  • 2009 Cameron Chardonnay Blanc Clos Electrique - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills (3/24/2012)
    My first Cameron CEB, and all I can say is I feeling sorry for the next domestic Chardonnay to cross my lips, because it doesn’t stand a chance in hell compared to this guy. I’ve never felt such balance in a domestic chard; it was rich sure, but descriptions such as ‘buttery, popcorn, marshmallow, caramel” were far, far away from this Champion. I had a hard time thinking of any individual flavors such as ripe pear etc., as I was just enamored as the experience as a whole, isn’t that what truly great wine does to us? “Electrique” was a very daft word, as for all the rich, hedonistic balance, there was a constant underlying tension of acidity, in the back ground yes, but always felt as a steady, electrical current. Long and expansive on the finish, I have nothing to compare this to in my wine experience, except a high ass score. (95 pts.)

Posted from CellarTracker

Great note Dale, and spot on! Blinded a few wine geek friends on the 08 and domestic was never even brought up as a guess. My fav Chard period. We still need to find time to sip together but this month has been crazy at work…but soon.

What day/days are you hanging for the Cayuse release?

Hey Darren - Wagner opened this for me the other night and i think we both were excited about this wine based upon your notes on past vintages on CT, so good looking out Sir!

As Avery is with her mommy for easter, I’m pretty much free to come and go as I please. I’ll send you an email or pm next week, maybe we can tour around the weekend together. Im not sure Jared’s scheduele yet.

Clos Electrique is the vineyard in front of the winery with the electric fence to keep the deer out.

Electric fence = Clos Electrique [highfive.gif]

this is my favorite domestic chardonnay too. great stuff, and the tension and acidity on the palate is killer.

Bring one next Saturday to compete with the 2008 Mount Eden. flirtysmile

The Clos is outstanding. I believe it is not labeled Chardonnay since there are some other white vines (Pinot Blanc?) in the vineyard. I can’t convey an eloquent reason why, but I am inclined to favor the Abbey Ridge bottling, both Pinot and Chard. Regardless, I’ll happily drink either! My avatar advertises my fondness of John Paul’s wines.

Wish I had one to bring…I am bringing this to compete against the Mt. Eden: 2007 Peay Vineyards Chardonnay Estate, USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast - CellarTracker

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Nice note, I went pretty hard on the 07s and 08s so I sat out 09. Looks like JP came through again. Don’t sell the AR Chards short either.

RT

Year in and year out my favorite domestic chard period. Tried one of these 09’s blind in December and it showed well. I am not sure how long these Can’t wait for the 10’s as I think it will a very good vintage from what I hear.

I will also add that the Abbey’s Ridge are not bottles to sleep on either, great chard with maybe a little less funk than the CE, plus I am pretty sure the vines are older.

was wondering when you were going to chime in brett. what are your thoughts on this wines aging potential?

say hi to Alyssa for me

The Abbey Ridge Chardonnay (planted mid-1970s) is definitely older than Clos Electrique (planted mid-1980s). The Abbey Ridge that goes into the named bottling is mostly, if not all, Draper clone chardonnay. The Clos Electrique is made up of several different clones.

I’ve been a buyer of John’s wines since 1986, and a good portion (120+ bottles) of my cellar is Cameron. I think these wines perform better with age. The 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001 vintages tasted great in 2007, 2008, and 2009. The 2004s tasted great last year. I’m still sitting on most of my 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009 vintages, although the 2006 tastes really good right now. While I’ve noticed brett in some of my poorly stored Cameron reds (long story), I’ve never noticed brett in the whites.

Hey matt, yeah I tend to agree with Rick, who has way more experience with the wines, that they can probably go a decade or so easily in typical vintages. I just had an 04 that was singing a month or so ago, it was an auction purchase so didn’t really want to chance cellaring it. I just got a couple of 00’s one each of the CE and AR so I’ll let you know how those show when we pop them later this year.

We’re actually heading out to OR and WA next week for a week or so, a much needed vacation.

Hope you are enjoying SD still, you got to make it back to the district for a visit in the near future and bring Summer along. Cheers.