2003 Chardonnay Lauren
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Tasting notes
Expressive tropical notes, hazelnuts, honey, butter and orange blossoms meld together in the 2003 Chardonnay Lauren Vineyard. Layered and nuanced to the core, the 2003 has aged very well. It is perhaps just a touch less exciting than the 2005 tasted alongside it, but not by much. The 2003 is peaking, so I wouldn't push my luck too much further, although I seriously doubt there are too many bottles of this sublime Chardonnay resting in cellars at this stage.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The stunning 2003 Chardonnay Lauren Vineyard reveals a rocky minerality to its citrus oil, orange blossom, leesy, white currant, honeysuckle, and nectarine-filled personality. Tel. (707) 942-5611; Fax (707) 942-1573
(five-year-old vines) Cool, subdued aromas of green apple, lime skin, aromatic oils and iodine; distinctly Burgundian. Then large-scaled, fat and sweet but fresh; offers great richness without undue weight. Finishes with real palate-staining persistence. These five-year old vines include clones from Hyde, Hudson Mt. Eden and Calera. Like the Rueling Vineyard wine, the finish here is amazingly long considering the youth of the vines. But then crop levels in both of these vineyards were just over one ton per acre in 2003.
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.