2012 CIX Estate Vineyard Chardonnay
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Tasting notes
The 2012 Chardonnay CIX is sublime. Silky and nuanced with tremendous class, the 2012 is one of the most complete wines in this range. Lemon confit, dried flowers, mint, tangerine oil and crushed rocks all build in this very pretty, super-expressive Chardonnay. As is so often the case, the CIX impresses with its sense of completeness more than anything else. It's a theme found in all the great vintages of this wine, and that includes the 2012.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
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No tasting note for this wine.
Subtle, with understated smoke, apricot, poached pear and honeysuckle notes. This is full-bodied, elegant and graceful, gliding along on the finish, where the flavors echo ripe fruit and toasty oak. 475 cases made.
The 2012 Chardonnay CIX Vineyard is one of the more focused wines in this range. There is plenty of Aubert richness in the glass, but the style is a bit more structured and broader on the palate, with a phenolic sense reminiscent of a red wine. I would prefer to give the 2012 another year or two in bottle to settle down. Today, the minerality is intense and imposing. CIX sits next to the vineyard that informs Aubert's Lauren Chardonnay.
About the producer
The Aubert wines, particularly the Chardonnay, have a cult following – beloved for their rich, hedonistic style. Created by Mark and Theresa Aubert in 1999, the property makes some of California’s most sought-after Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, all from single vineyards across Sonoma.