TN: 2012 Copain Chardonnay Brosseau Vineyard (USA, California, Central Coast, Chalone)

WINE TALK
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Opened this tonight to share with my pal, Steve Nordhoff. Pulled a variety of greens and citrus from the garden, added a little protein to it and made a cool salad while we watched the Ducks lose again–damn it. As to the wine, I continue to seek and enjoy chardonnay in this style. Is it Chablis? Well, after 4 vintages of Brosseau chardonnay from Wells, I am confident that this wine won’t ever show sea breeze, marine and really lasered in lemon peel and slate features, which is how I see traditional Chablis. However, Brosseau is unique in that it can reflect cooler chardonnay attributes, it continues to yield texture and more open-knitted qualities and remain well balanced. Isn’t that chardonnay worth supporting and pursuing? Thanks for reading.

  • 2012 Copain Chardonnay Brosseau Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Chalone (4/23/2014)
    These came last month so it’s a good time to test one out and I’ll go first. Listed alc is 13.4% FWIW. This drinks solid and very much to this site’s expression via Wells, showing light saline notes, alongside yellow apple, lime and a light note of citrus. At this stage, nothing is out of place and the wine is in good balance. Plenty of acidity in the finish but like the fruit, it’s relative to the wines medium weight. No wood, glycerine or tropical notes here, just a balanced chard that drinks pretty terrific right now with an hour of air…at 3 hours open, this is really delicious. The texture expands and the palate becomes broader, with orange rind, lime and some wet stone. This is really a balanced and spot on. Fault me for opening this wine so early but unless we get corks out of these chardonnays to create discussion and support producers that are removing the oak, butter and glycerine, then we’ll be stuck with those other wines being in focus. For me, the style like this Brosseau and others like it are where I am putting my chardonnay focus these days. Drink window? Hell, this can be enjoyed now but there is acid and balance that ought to allow this to age for some time.

Posted from CellarTracker

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Thanks for taking one down Frank. I haven’t tried one since the '10 a couple years ago. Funny story, had been getting a lot of seasonal wine deliveries and unfortunately I was not home to receive the many boxes of wine but mi sposa was. I get home on this night and she is not happy in fact she opened the Copain box and grabbed the 2010 version of this wine and put in fridge. Popped it as I stood there in horror. What could I do? The wine was stubborn for first hour then opened up and was delicious in fact very much like you describe last nights bottle of the '12.
I need an office outside of the house!!

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Hey T-bone, thanks for popping in and your story, too. As to your wife, what could you do? Tell her you love and enjoy that damn bottle, as you did!

As a follow on to my note from y/day, as I had some leftover from last night, poured another glass to go with some swiss chard I am about to sautee from the garden. This picks up a honeyed, pear quality that really makes it shine, to go with the mandarin orange. For those who take a liking to Meursault, I wonder this wine would fool a few people if served blind. Sure is delicious.