2008 Chardonnay Lauren
Estimated value
Buying options
Tasting notes
In this mini-vertical, the 2008 Chardonnay Lauren Vineyard comes across as a cross between the 2005 and the 2007, with the layered feel and more mid-weight structure of the former, and a tropically-leaning flavor profile that resembles the latter. I don't get the impression the 2008 is going to be one of Aubert's more long-lived Chardonnays. For that reason, I would prefer to drink it sooner rather than later. Even so, at nearly ten years of age, the 2008 has developed very nicely. Today, it is super-expressive and a real joy to taste. It is one of my favorite wines in this vertical, second only to the 2005.
Critic scores
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
When I am tasting with Mark Aubert, it always seems to be that his personal favorite is the Lauren Vineyard. The 2008 Chardonnay Lauren Vineyard is a big, dense wine that tastes like concentrated lemon and citrus oils intermixed with quince, honeysuckle and white flowers. Drop in a few pebbles and gravel and you have a full-bodied, beautifully textured, dense, powerful Chardonnay that admirably matches finesse with a larger than life size. This 2008 should drink well for a decade. Mark Aubert’s brilliant Chardonnays continue to place this winery in California’s top Chardonnay hierarchy, sharing the same rarified air as Marcassin, Kongsgaard, Peter Michael, Luc Morlet, Kistler, Hartford Court and DuMol. These cool climate, usually hillside sites on the Sonoma Coast are cropped low, the wines are fermented in new French oak and bottled without fining or filtration. I am on Aubert’s mailing list, and while I never seem to have enough wines to age very long, a recent tasting of his 2004s revealed them to still be in splendid condition. With a few noteworthy exceptions, aging California Chardonnay beyond a decade is a fool’s game, but certain older Marcassin and Mt. Eden Chardonnays have impressively stood the test of time. I am sure Aubert’s would also, but who can defer their gratification that long? Tel. (707) 963-4569; Fax (707) 963-4322
(15.8% alcohol) Bright yellow. More leesy complexity on the nose than the Hyde & Sons is showing today, along with aromas of stone and citrus fruits, baking spices and green tea. A step up in richness and depth, but with captivating lemony lift to the glyceral flavors of beeswax and pear. Finishes long and suave, with firm acids giving the wine excellent grip and lift.
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.