Robust, lightly toasty, almost creamy wine. It glides across the palate leaving a trail of whipped cream; it’s that smooth and flavorful. In a year that produced a number of stunningly good Washington Chardonnays, this belongs with the best.
— P.G.
(9/1/2011)
For the first time the fruit was sourced from Conner Lee vineyard old vines. It’s a glorious wine, a near-perfect mix of citrus and stone, kissed with honey and dust, lightly buttery. Fermented mostly with native yeast, this is one of the best Washington Chardonnays of a very good vintage.
— P.G.
(8/1/2009)
As before, this features fruit from Conner-Lee, here with some Lewis vineyard grapes added to bring in more minerality. The result is a well-crafted mix of grapes from these two premier vineyards, with a tight core of chalk-laden citrus fruits. Persistent and resonant, the fruit is edged with citrus skin and brings a pat of butter at the end.
— P.G.
(12/31/2010)
This wine kept improving in the glass over a period of hours, and as it did so, the score kept rising. Initial scents of Bourbon barrel gave way to rich blueberry and black cherry fruit, set in a roasted, potent mix of darker flavors. Smoke, coffee liqueur, a whiff of stem, a streak of vanilla, all tightly wound and elevated with scents of citrus peel.
— P.G.
(5/1/2012)
An elegant showcase for the Boushey fruit, this new JM Cellars release displays refined raspberry fruit, coated in silky cocoa and almond butter. Firmly acidic, sleek and racy, it gains complexity and texture through a lingering, tobacco-laden finish.
— P.G.
(5/1/2012)
All Milbrandt fruit has created a sappy, buttery and bright Washington Chardonnay. It bursts upon the palate with a beautiful mix of tropical fruits and caramel. Flavors are rich, persistent and lush. You want more long after the bottle has been drained.
— P.G.
(12/1/2008)
This is 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot and 18% Syrah, done in a very tight, tannic, somewhat reductive style. It has definitely got the structure to age, and you will taste a mix of rock and barrel toast underscoring the clean, crisp, tart berry and cassis fruit. It’s as good a Tre Fanciulli as JM Cellars has ever done.
— P.G.
(11/1/2008)
This top tier blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, and 14% Syrah has a vein of sweet blackberry fruit that is wonderfully compelling. It dives into striated layers of rock, pencil, earth, bark, smoke and herb––not yet comingled, but fascinating.
— P.G.
(9/1/2011)