TN: '05 Aubert Ritchie Chard.

• 2005 Aubert Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast (5/29/2007)
  Another winner from Aubert. Neither overblown nor overoaked, this chardonnay exhibits delicate notes of unripe tropical fruits, lemon curd, butterscotch toffee, honey and lightly toasted oak. Restrained and even more delicious as it reached room temperature. Perfect with lobster. (93 pts.)

Had this again. Very nice wine. Same notes as above...93 pts.

2005 Aubert Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast (9/14/2007)
WIML92

Tasted September 14, 2007. Opened and served immediately. Light yellow color in the glass, slight cloudy looking throughout. Subdued nose of crème, vanilla, pineapple and yellow apple. Big tangy flavors of pineapple, yellow apple and pear. Medium acidity and body. Hold. Needs more time in bottle. (92 pts.)

• 2005 Aubert Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast (1/12/2008)
  I feel this bottle was not quite up to the level of my previous one. Upon opening, the wine exhibited some very conventional new world Chardonnay notes, some simple pineapple flavors and a good dose of oak, which is not very encouraging for a producer of this pedigree. But after sitting in our glasses for about 30-45 minutes, and as the wine warmed back up to cellar temp, only then did it really display its true potential (which is strange because the Lauren is really great chilled). Along with the pineapple came more layers of tropical fruits (something I always seem to find in the Ritchie), some fig, butterscotch, honey, and baked apples. At its peak, the wine was outstanding, but as is too often the case, the bottle was also nearly empty. In my previous note, I wrote "even more delicious as it reached room temperature." Note to self: read your own damn notes before trying a wine again! (92 pts.)