Showing items 1
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Varner 2001 Bee Block Chardonnay (Santa Cruz Mountains)
- $32
Similar to Varner’s Amphitheater bottling but with added shades of interest and complexity. The peach and tropical fruit flavors are compounded with woody, oaky notes and a rich streak of dusty earth.
— S.H.
(5/1/2003)
Varner 2000 Spring Ridge Vineyard Bee Block Chardonnay (Santa Cruz County)
- $32
A vineyard selection that contains a little more concentration, with tropical fruit notes and oriental spices. Generous oak frames everything, but the fruit is big enough to stand up to it. Pulls off that elusive balancing act of tasting honeyed sweet but being basically dry. A fancy Chard, well made and opulent. —S.H.
— S.H.
(5/1/2002)
Varner 2001 Amphitheater Block Chardonnay (Santa Cruz Mountains)
- $30
Here’s a rich, round Chard that delivers with its ripe, mouth-filling flavors. White peach, papaya, spicy fig, smoke, buttered toast, vanilla are accompanied by crisp, clean acidity. The intense finish lasts for a long time.
— S.H.
(6/1/2003)
Varner 2001 Home Vineyard Chardonnay (Santa Cruz Mountains)
- $34
Oakier, leesier and riper than Varner’s two other Chards, but not superior, because the wine loses balance. Charry, smoky oak dominates the fruit from entry to finish.
— S.H.
(5/1/2003)
Varner 2000 Spring Ridge Vineyard Amphitheater Block Chardonnay (Santa Cruz County)
- $30
Aims for the fences with ripe fruit, and certainly with oak. In fact the barrels dominate, giving peppery, spicy, vanilla notes and that unmistakable oaky flavor. It’s a pretty wine, and a big one, but you wish they’d let the fruit speak for itself. Still, it will impress a lot of people. —S.H.
— S.H.
(5/1/2002)
Showing items 1
through 5 of
5
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What We're Tasting
2009 Chronicle Cerise Vineyard
One sip is all it takes to know this is a terrific Pinot Noir. It’s dry…
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