2011 Aubert Chardonnay Napa Valley

The 2011 Chardonnay Napa Valley bristles on the palate with gorgeous energy and vibrancy. Crushed rocks, lemon peel and white flowers are all very much alive in the glass. This is another of the truly intriguing wines in the range. The Napa is made from a parcel owned by Aubert that David Abreu planted six years ago with a Montrachet selection. The vines are naturally quite young, but the results are already striking. With time in the glass, the 2011 opens up beautifully, finishing with gorgeous richness and pure texture. This is a dazzling wine by any measure. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2018. Mark Aubert has a brand new tasting room that is intimate and clubby. By the time I got to Aubert, I had tasted most of the Sonoma reference points. With that as a backdrop, these wines stood out for their sheer pedigrees. This is a world-class operation in every way. Because of the late, cool year, Aubert’s 2011 Chardonnays are a bit brighter and more focused than is the norm. In other words, the wines are deeply marked by the signatures of the year. Interestingly, that is not the case with the Pinots, which are pretty much in line with the juicy, generous style Aubert fans have become accustomed to. In contrast to the Chardonnay harvest, in 2011, there were no declassified Pinot lots. One of the developments at Aubert over the last few years is an increased focus on estate vineyards. As part of that trend, readers will see several additions to the range, while Aubert has decided to discontinue his Reuling Chardonnay. Tel. (707) 963-4569