I went to one of my regular wine stores this morning to buy and to see what was available. I found the 2000 Pine Ridge Dijon Clones Chardonnay, scvored an 88 by Perker and a 91 by The Wine Spectator. I usually don't buy 88 point wines, but since WS gave it a 91, I thought I'd give it a try, especially at the $19.83 price.

This wine is a real winner, regardless of price. It's not the heavily oaked typical California Chardonnay, which I can appreciate on its own terms. It's done more in a French style, though I'd never mistake it for a Chablis. The nose was a little closed, but the fruit and balance were exquisite, if a little understated. I don't see any reason to hold this wine, because I doubt it could possibly improve, but it will likely hold for a couple of years. At $19.83, I'm going back to pick up a half case mañana. I have no idea how Parker gave this wine only an 88.

Hi Board-O - I briefly reviewed this wine early and asked a similar question

http://web8.winespectator.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=002306

Definitely nice chard!

Thanks, Winetex. You and I seem to agree completely on the Pine Ridge. Quite a deal at $19.83, huh?

On another note, I was sorry to see what you had to say about the Neyers. I have two of them. Can you suggest a time at which you would open the first one, if you had the misfortune of having bought a pair?

The Pine Ridge is very good, I just can't get any more of it!

I would go ahead and drink those Neyers. They were OK but I did not get the impression they were going to improve.

Board-O,

Completely agree on the Pine Ridge Dijon Clones. I picked up a few bottles this spring from Costco and loved it so much I went back and got a case. Very lucious and well balanced wine that is not Cal like at all.

Ciao

Well, I know two people whose tasting notes I'm going to pay careful attention to.

So how does Parker only give this wine an 88. Does he only taste one bottle? If so, maybe he got an off-bottle.

I think one of the problems is that we think that an 88 point wine is a bad wine. I'm always amazed perceived difference between an 89 point wine and a 90 point wine. That one point is certainly perceived as a much larger difference than the difference between an 87 point wine and an 88 point wine or between a 93 and a 94.

Parker gave the Melville chards (estate and INOX) around 88 or 90 (can't remember the exact details). I bought the INOX based on Jones' recommendation and I thought that it was a good wine and the 90 point or so was about right. Jones and I tried the estate at the First Street wine shop and both agreed that the estate was showing very very well. In fact, I could see that Jones was regretting getting 11 or so cases of the INOX when the estate, which is less expensive, was showing so well. I think timing alone can affect one's perception a few points (even 3-4 points) either way.

Board-O- WA gave the Andrus Rsv 86 points. While I only thought it was an 88-89, I thought that was a bit rough too. And I thought it was at least 2 points better than the WS-94 Stags Leap. But then, $135 for an 89 point wine?

I've had several bottles of the Dijon Clones and am in total agreement. Clean and crisp, the way a well-done chardonnay should taste. And this is a well-done chardonnay that is deserving of a 90-plus points rating.

At just under $20 a bottle, I'm going to pick up a half case this week.

For what it's worth, I think the Parker rating was for a 2000 Melville INOX not the 2001 we've been drinking. Parker gave the 2000 Neyer's Carneros an 89 and WS was 92. I like the Neyer's (have had quite a few this year) to the tune of at least a 91 or 92.
Also, I recently brought a bottle of the Neyers into a local restaraunt for friends to drink. "rave reviews" plus one wait person who nabbed a taste insisted I tell her where to get some.

[ 08-24-2002, 04:47 PM: Message edited by: mountainman ]

Board- O

I totaly feel as you do about the chardonay. My wife and I really don't care for chardonay that much, when we tasted this last spring, we bought a case! We since have tried others, even the Ovation which parker gave 89pts, and we still prefer the Pine Ridge.

On another note, I don't see how in the H*** he thinks the 99 Shafer Cabernet is only a 90 pt wine. If it is truly a 90 pt wine I would die for a 95 pointer.

GATC:

How about the difference between a 94 and a 95? There's a surfeit of 94's, but a paucity of 95's.

Thank you for this great suggestion!
Like Vista, I am typically not a fan of most domestic Chard, however, based on your rec's I p/u'd 2 bottles and we thought it was excellent. I am going back today to purchase a few more.

The '99 Pine Ridge Dijon Clones is also worth seeking out.

I'm glad you liked it, PE. At $19.83, it's also a great buy.

Got it at Winex @17.99 per, I also picked up 2 '99's elsewhere for 21.99 per. As a non-chard drinker I will be interested in trying it and comparing with the '00.
PE

P E, et al
I would love to have someone post TN's/preferences for the '99 vs. the '00, as both are available here.
I've also really enjoyed the '00 but recently found some '99.

Better Red Than Not!

I just found the Pine Ridge DC Chard for $20. Yeah. The wine store was out for 3 months. Thanks all for reminding me to look for this.

I'm glad to see more wineries making chardonnays that aren't over oaked, although it does seem like the general public buys a lot of chardonnays that are.

Board-O

We like the Dijon Clones as well, largely based on QPR. Another good one from Pine Ridge is the Viognier-Chenin Blanc, I think it was $9-13.

Thanks, Corkage. I'll look for it. After the '00 DC, I'd like to try something else from PR.

Board-O - we like the Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc/Viognier as well. It's a good summer quaff and works well with food.