A few obviously new world wines...

winetarelliMember

We had future Mrs. Whiner's cousins over for dinner last night and enjoyed a few nice bottles of wine.

2001 Hartford Court "Laura" Chardonnay. Open, expansive lots of fruit and some well integrated oak. Very expressive. Far more Kistler-like than Aubert-like but in the same league as both. Long finish. 93.

2002 Martinelli 7 Mules Pinot Noir. Much better than the last time I had it. Deep red fruits, black cherry, black raspberry. Pine oil, deep forest scents, nearly over the top, but enough structure to keep it all together. 93.5

2002 Martinelli G&L Zin. Excellent wine, rich, full. Boysterous. Didn't quite show as well as I thought it would because it came after the 7 Mules which is actually the richer wine. 92.5

(2002 Martinelli Terra Felice Syrah was corked)

Great evening...

a

10/31/0411:52 PM

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highdesertwineMember

I celebrated Halloween tonight with a bottle of the 2001 Hartford Court Laura's.

It isn't as heavily oaked as many of the Kistlers I have had. To me, Kistlers have a smokier edge to the oak. A creamy, integrated wine on the palate. Drinking at the top of its game right now.
93 points

I'll have to revisit the two Martinellis you mention soon.

11/1/043:12 AM

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winetarelliMember

I agree, the Hartford Court Laura's doesn't have the smoke or vanillin of some of the Kistlers. I was taken by its similarity in openness and expressiveness.

Most amazing to me, though, was that I feel I can speak of this wine in the same sentance as PMs, Kistlers, Auberts, top Walter Hansels, etc. I was not expecting this to be as good as it is, but I am very happy that I was proved wrong. In fact, this was the first Hartford Court Chardonnay I'd ever had -- it was bought on a reccomendation from someone I hardly know!

making my peace with CA Chard

,
a

11/1/044:21 AM

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cometspiderMember

All the 2001 Hartford Court chardonnays are wonderful, and they are priced reasonably. Based on Parker scores, I was expecting the "Three Jacks" to be the best, but I fell in love with the "Stone Cote"- which is the most Aubert-like of the Hartford Court offerings. I'm hoping that the 2002s are in the same league!

11/1/049:03 AM

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board-oMember

Whiner, how much time did the 7 mules need?

11/1/0410:13 PM

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winetarelliMember

Board-O,

We weren't planning on drinking it -- only pulled it out as wine #2 after the Syrah that I had poured into a decanted earlier turned out to be corked -- so it only got about 30 minutes of air before we began drink. It improved over the hour that we were drinking it.

a

11/1/0411:44 PM

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