2011 Aubert, Eastside Chardonnay, Russian River Valley, Bottle (750ml)

WS95 "Amazingly complex, with a rich array of fig, apricot, butterscotch, crème brûlée and roasted marshmallow notes, sailing along and gaining on the finish, where the flavors are deep and persistent" JL for WS Jun 2013 RP94 "The 2011 Chardonnay Eastside Vineyard is rich, fat and explosive. Butter, smoke, spices, apricots, orange blossoms, almonds, hazelnuts, and nectarines all burst from the glass. This is a decidedly extroverted, plush Chardonnay with tons of Russian River character. It has a bit more oiliness and fat than the Ritchie, and is also just as beautiful. A wine of pure richness and glycerin, the vinous, textured Eastside Vineyard will drink well right out of the gate. Vintage 2011 is the first release of the Eastside Vineyard, which previously went into the Russian River bottling. Vineyard guru Ulises Valdez planted this site with Montrachet clones. " AG for WA Apr 2013
"Mark Aubert has a brand new tasting room that is intimate and clubby. By the time I got to Aubert, I had tasted most of the Sonoma reference points. With that as a backdrop, these wines stood out for their sheer pedigrees. This is a world-class operation in every way. Because of the late, cool year, Aubert’s 2011 Chardonnays are a bit brighter and more focused than is the norm. In other words, the wines are deeply marked by the signatures of the year."