2012 Aubert, Sugar Shack, Sonoma County, Magnum (1.5L)

RP99 "From a 5-acre Rutherford vineyard planted with the Montrachet clone, the prodigious 2012 Chardonnay Sugar Shack Estate (400 cases) exhibits notes of liquid stones, tangerine oil, peach blossom and a hint of pineapples with staggering minerality. Full-bodied with sensational purity, texture and richness, it was hard to spit this one out. It will age effortlessly for 10+ years." RP Dec 2013

Robert Parker writes, "Mark Aubert is one of the contenders for California’s finest practitioner of Burgundian-styled, yet classic, California Chardonnays. His offerings are all made like grand cru Burgundies with full malolactic, the use of French oak and lees stirring, but the purity of fruit, the textural dimensions, and the stunning singularity of these Chardonnays can only be matched by a handful of other Chardonnay producers in the world. He’s that good. Aubert’s 2012s, which I have enjoyed multiple times out of bottle since I purchased most of them, merit the scores I gave them last year.
I have seen the brilliance of Mark Aubert from many different perspectives from his time as chief winemaker at Peter Michael, then at Colgin and Futo, and now at his own estate on the Silverado trail south of Calistoga. He is clearly at the pinnacle of his profession. Kudos!" Published: Dec 29, 2014