Ferren, Silver Eagle Vineyard Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast

This would have merited a better score had I opened this a year ago. I feel the Silver Eagle Chardonnay in most vintages should be the first SV Chardonnay consumed. It’s more approachable early IMO.

Oh to be able to try this next to a 2016 Marcassin chard....

Given the two most recent reviews my expectations were the lowest of low on this. But given my experience I'm wondering if there is significant bottle variation with this vintage...or, it's just emerging from an awkward phase. Probably because of my low expectations this was surprisingly, no, shockingly great. Haven't been drinking much Chardonnay lately because of the trend towards more oak and butter at the expense of finesse and fruit (I know the F&F Chards are out there, just …

This was disappointing and my first Ferren wine that was just not enjoyable. Too much buttered popcorn and oak. The fruit was very muted and there was little acid zing on the backend.

So, the seamlessness I was looking for this wine to develop since my last sample a year and a half ago not only didn’t happen, it totally tanked in the opposite direction. This is all about movie theater popcorn. Sluggish and globular, slathered in so much vanilla and butter that even the ripe yellow fruit struggles to exhibit any sense of purity beyond the caked-on s’mores wood treatment. No acid or focus, and even more discombobulated than before. Gummy and …

Beautiful Chardonnay. Smooth creamy feel to this wine. Apple and pears on the nose.

Yet another great bottle. Definitely in the class of Aubert and Kongsgaard. And in the perfect drinking zone!

Same note as before. Approachable and easy to drink now. Candied pears, apricots, vanilla bean, toasted oak and lemon rind. Structured with moderate acidity. Drink over the next 5 years.

Aromas of lemon meringue, nut, papaya, mango and nutmeg. Flavors of papaya, marshmallow, mango, banana and spice. Ends with a 35-40 second finish with spice and nutmeg. Really great Chardonnay.

A lot of winery influence here, plenty of oak, but still balanced. Big full style of Chardonnay, tasty.

Fresh squeezed lemon juice, yellow pear skin, vanilla, and some glycol-alcohol on the finish. More powerful and a bit more abrasive than the Frei Chardonnay at this stage. Good flavors, but rattles over the mid-palate in a somewhat noisy fashion. Purity of fruit seems solid, as does the weight (though the distribution is kinda clunky right now). It's just delivering the flavors the way a screaming little kid holds a full glass of grape juice as he's wobbling down a …

Just awesome and easily the best of the Ferren Chardonnay lineup. Heavy and extracted but still enough acidity to keep it afloat. An bounty of candied pears, apricots, vanilla bean, and toasted oak resonate and longer throughout. A bitter green note and citrus zip run through the midsection. Big, balanced and in no way slutty. Needs a few years for a touch of heat to mellow but otherwise ready.