1996 Marcassin Chardonnay Marcassin Vineyard
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Tasting notes
The 1996 comes across like a mature yet great Coche-Dury Corton-Charlemagne. The first vintage bottled from their original plantings of ten acres, this was the finest showing yet of the 1996. A potent nose of white corn, citrus butter and crushed rocks is followed by a full-bodied, powerful wine displaying wonderful delineation, fresh acidity, hints of orange and tangerine rind as well as wet gravel, and a stony, citrusy, buttery component. Remarkably, the wine still possesses a surprisingly light gold color with a greenish hue. This magnificent Chardonnay is one of the most profound efforts ever made from this varietal in California. Even more shocking, it should have 10-20 more years of life remaining if kept in a cold cellar. Marcassin Winery, P.O. Box 302, Calistoga, CA 94515; tel. (707) 258-3608; fax (707) 942-5633
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Fine, classical nose of mature white burgundy with some real guts to it. Fat and rich on the palate but (just) enough acidity to stop it toppling over. This was the first vintage from Helen Turley's trailblazing vineyard here of which quantities were extremely limited. I tasted this blind alongside a J M Boillot Bâtard Montrachet 1992 (a clever juxtaposition) and it made the burgundy seem distinctly over the top and stereotypically old Californian Chardonnay-like. (JR)
Knockout nose combines brisk lemon, pineapple and mineral notes with leesy spice and coconut cream richness. Succulent and fleshy in the mouth; at once broad and filled in. Extremely suave wine, not at all forced or phenolic. Finishes with extraordinary length and exhilarating soil tones. A great young California chardonnay.