Received an offer yesterday for a pre-release of the 2012 Chards. They also offered some remaining 6 packs of the 2010 Three Block Pinot.
I have not tried any of the wines, but joined the mailing list at some point. They have received some nice scores from AG.
Decided to grab a six pack as the price, SCM fruit and the review from AG seemed worth a chance.
Can anyone advise on the pinots, style wise.
I buy and enjoy Rhys, R-M, Rochioli, Kutch, Ceritas, W-S.
Thanks.
Though I cannot speak to the pinots or recent vintages, I happen to have just opened a 2002 Bee Block Chard and it was excellent - aging beautifully - a steal for the under $30 that I paid. Given the very solid reviews for years and the under $50 pricing, I think I have been remiss in not continuing to buy Varner after some 04s.
The Chards are always stellar. The Pinots are more variable, trending better. I think the biggest problem is clonal selection. The Hidden Block (115) is always lovely. The Upper and Lower Picnic Blocks are all 667 clone and tend to be quite heavy and not very giving. Time brings them around a bit. Blending helps. But I think they’d be better off grafting a lot of that 667 over to other clones. Their Pinots are good (but mostly not buy 6 good), so I’m talking about potential for the site. (It’s not all that far, up slope from Rhys’ family Farm and Home vyds.)
The Pinot Noir was planted in 1997, except for a Gewürztraminer which was budded over to Pinot Noir in 2006. They state the latter results in 25 year old vines. I prefer their Chardonnay.
Varner Bee Block & Holly’s are both very good !
Buy a mixed six pack with each of the three chards every year and enjoy them immensely.
Thanks to all.
Will have to pop one a few weeks after receiving. I think there are some Neely SVD here locally that I might give a try as well.
The wine arrived on Monday during our hottest weekend and Monday of the year. Bottles were warm to the touch, but no corks raised. So I figured I should give one a try to make sure there was no issues.
2010 Varner Three Block Pinot- Decanted for an hour and a half before first glass, a bit muted on the nose and first glass. After another hour it opened up more with strawberry, rhubarb, cherry, forest floor.
Saved the half the bottle for last night and it had gained more weight and was excellent. Will give the other 5 bottles a few more weeks of rest before I try another. At $39/bottle this was worth the 6 pack price and I will add more to the cellar with the next release.