Linden Chardonnay Avenius

The color is a pale yellow; not a speck of browning at all. The nose is all lemon, apples, hazelnut, and baked pastry curst. Every bit of those aspects come through distinctly and well on the palate. The mouthfeel is medium and balanced with good length. A bit of mineral carries from the attack to the finish. Toast and hazelnut carry the front of the finish. With grilled pork chops over garlic and onions with lemon juice. 13.8% alc. A …

Probably past peak because it was a bit softer and subtle than should be for a VA 2010 wine, but I still really enjoyed this full fruit Chardonnay. Nose is really beautiful, subtle sweetness with butterscotch and slight citrus at end. Wine is very soft and light at beginning, but grows in intensity quickly with strong honey, key lime, honeysuckle, green apple and a light minerality. I was very impressed with this wine after almost 7 years.

Missing from the great computer crash of 2016 along with 10 months of backups.

This is a wine that is consistently good, reliable and food friendly with flavors of apple, lemon oil and pear with a fresh, mineral finish. From the mid-palate to the finish, toast and hazelnut wash across the mouth. A medium mouthfeel that reflects a mature roundness. With roasted pork tenderloin. 13.8% alc. Recommended.

missing

To pull one of these wines is both a blessing and a curse: a curse because it is one less one of these in the cellar; a blessing because they are so freaking good. A straw yellow color that may not be entirely clear but a beauty in the glass nonetheless. The notes are constant: “Cream, apple, lemon oil and pear continues on the nose which for some reason comes across as less than clean. All of those elements frame …

The color is straw yellow. Cream, apple, lemon oil and pear continues on the nose which for some reason comes across as less than clean. All of those elements frame the flavors with the added element of mineral. Despite the oddity on the nose, the palate is clean and fresh. Toast and hazelnut finish out the wine as it lingers on the palate with the minerality continuing a common thread from attack to finish. Always an excellent wine. With broiled …

Fruity nose. Effervescent Curtis on palate.

Much the same as it was at the first of the month. Forgot the food pairing, but we really liked this... again.

Four months ago this wine showed “A rich golden apple color lights up the glass. The nose is more pear than apple, however. A somewhat expansive that transports from pear to toast and hazelnut and mineral. The profile follows the nose. However, the palate is taut as if this wine is still too young. The finish is short, but minerally.” The first part still holds true, but the wine is not nearly as taut and the finish has lengthened nicely. …

First I thought the bottle was a bit off, but this passed after a few minutes. What was left was something that smelled quite nice, with notes of Apple and lemon, but really tasted like Apple taffy. Not bad, just not great either. Perhaps I have been spoiled by higher end Cali and French Chardonnay.

A rich golden apple color lights up the glass. The nose is more pear than apple, however. A somewhat expansive that transports from pear to toast and hazelnut and mineral. The profile follows the nose. However, the palate is taut as if this wine is still too young. The finish is short, but minerally. With eggs broiled over mashed potatoes (Opal’s “birdsnest” recipe. 12.8% alc. Recommended.

Was very interested to see how the cool Avenius site would fair in such a hot vintage. I found the 2010 Hardscrabble Chardonnay to be a bit ripe and flabby, lacking the characteristic Linden balance from that site. This, however, is singing and represents a wonderful combination of gorgeous fruit and acidity. Great nose of golden apples, fresh lemon, and sea spray. The palate is more richly textured, but so fresh and balanced, as crisp orchard fruit competes with slate …