TN: 2018 Beta Chardonnay Chuy Vineyard

WINE TALK
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  • 2018 Beta Chardonnay Chuy Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Moon Mountain District (7/1/2023)
    Very expressive nose that gives hints of what's to come: the Caribbean! Super-tropical on the palate, with a pretty heavy use of oak. Never taste butter on Chardonnay, but here I can almost do it. I'd heard the Chuy vineyard had a lot of phenolics, but wasn't tasting that necessarily, but there's def a salty note somehow (which I like) and a slight heft. Still elegant. Not really my style of Chardonnay, but well executed and enjoyable. (89 points)

Posted from CellarTracker

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Just opened one of these for tonight in Maui. Will have to report back.

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Opened one a few weeks ago and pretty well had the same take as you. I am more of a fan of his reds at this point but while still a nice and enjoyable chard to drink, it doesn’t really scratch the itch of what I’m looking for.

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I’m still finding it so interesting and confusing that Beta’s Chardonnay are built in this style.
(I didn’t wake up early enough to buy)

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Ive had a taste of his 21 chard. Forget which vineyard but i know it wasnt chuy. It was fantastic. Sounds like the 18 chuy is completey different.

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The chard tasted big to me. It was unlike fruitier chards and I should’ve taken notes because that was 24 hours ago. I liked it, although Chardonnay is under 8% of all my wine. Long finish. Will open another in the next 2 months.

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I basically agree with Adam’s take, but if it’s a surprise, it may be to the upside, both because this comes from CA after all and also because it reminds me of some of the bigger GC’s, especially Batard, which in warmer years often show a big tropical note–Leflaive, for example. That is to say, though doubtless big, and indeed some traces of oak are detectable–I did not get butter–it is still balanced and I think will show quite well in the future. Of the three I purchased, I am burying the two remaining ones.

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I wanted to love it, but on pop an pour when it seemed a bit more structured and refined, I got a bitter off taste in the finish that turned me off, and when it warmed a bit and aerated, the off flavor dissappeared and the wine improved, and I enjoyed it, but I didnt think it was anything special. I’m glad I tried it and I’m happy to support Ketan, but it’s not in the same league as the Cabs.

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From an earlier discussion on Vinous about the oak in this wine, it is all neutral oak.

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From that discussion, do you know how ‘neutral’ was defined? There are some winemakers who use ‘older oak’ and that means 1-3 year old oak, and some who use much older. The former barrels are still going to have quite a large impact on the wine aroma and flavor wise, whereas the latter group will really only add texture and ‘altering’ of aromatics due to microoxidation.

Cheers

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TLDR on this note, it is stylistically much improved on Day 2 for me. Day 1 was comparatively big and voluptuous and tropical. Day 2 showed a lot more restraint, lemon oil, citrus/mineral notes.

  • 2018 Beta Chardonnay Chuy Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Moon Mountain District (4/23/2025)
    Last had this a couple years ago and thought would be a good time to check in. PnP and aired for maybe 20 min, will follow through an evening.

    Early read: Nose has some real density and richness. Ripe lemon peel with tropical and mineral undertones. Palate has good acidity and a lot of texture. Medium-full bodied with a kiss of oak on the finish.

    Couple hours later: pretty consistent. This is a wine that emphasizes texture and mouthfeel over tension and verve. Riper in style than you'd expect from Beta. Not a bad thing, just what the wine is.

    Would happily recommend pulling a cork. Can age some more but in a good spot right now for a fuller expression.

    91

    Day2: half the bottle in the fridge overnight then brought back to cellar temp. Nose shows some reduction, graphite, deep pineapple. Palate has shed a ton of fat and shows gorgeous lemon peel, underripe peach, white florals, saline. Still has a nice mouthfeel but much more tame and tempered--not the voluptuous beast yesterday showed. Finish has a kiss of oak, citrus, lingering mineral finish.

    Stylistically this is more my wheelhouse on Day 2. Pour a glass, enjoy it, then save the rest overnight, or give this a serious decant. Clearly has the depth to go another 10-15 years.

    92 quality on day 2. (91 points)

Posted from CellarTracker

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