2012 Chardonnay Ross Station Estate
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Tasting notes
The 2012 Chardonnay Ross Station Estate is another immediate, boisterous wine. There is plenty of depth and richness, but overall, the 2012 comes across as a bit rough around the edges and four-square relative to the other wines in the range. The 2012 has come together well since I tasted it last year, but it is clearly a step behind the rest of the offerings in the range.
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Robert Parker
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
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The 2012 Chardonnay Ross Station Estate (their first vintage of this cuvée) comes from the Mt. Eden clone planted in a cool area of the Green Valley section of Russian River, next to the Reuling Vineyard that Mark Aubert made famous. It offers up notes of lemon blossom, white peach, pineapple, honey and subtle oak. With great acidity, a full-bodied mouthfeel, and stunning length (it has a 40+-second finish), this profound Chardonnay should drink well for 7-10 years.
The 2012 Chardonnay Ross Station Estate lacks a little bit of depth in this vintage, at least today. All of the signatures are in the right place, but today the Ross Station comes across as not fully formed just yet. I am not sure if further aging is going to make a difference. My sense is that yields might have been a bit on the high side in 2012.
About the producer
Paul Hobbs is one of California wine’s biggest names. Twice named Wine Personality of the Year by Robert Parker, he joined Robert Mondavi in 1977, worked at Opus One and Simi before setting up his eponymous winery in 1991.