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
More reviews and scores
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.
A wine that stood out for its complexity and intensity was the 2012 Chardonnay Cix Estate. Planted with the Reuling clone of Chardonnay, this vineyard is situated next to the vineyard from which Mark Aubert makes the Lauren Chardonnay. There are only 600 cases of this prodigious wine. The vines were planted in 2007, so this is only the fifth leaf, but, wow, what a Chardonnay. Copious notes of pineapple, mango and guava along with wet stone, caramelized citrus, tangerine and orange marmalade characteristics are followed by a wine with a full-bodied mouthfeel as well as remarkable purity, texture and intensity. One of the most individualistic and greatest Chardonnays I have ever tasted.
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.