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The February 2022 Auction: Part 2
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1 / 2Lot 431
Estimate: $600
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Collection name
Reviews
100WA
"The 2017 Chardonnay The Judge prances out of the glass with flamboyant notes of baked pineapple, green mango, apricot preserves and nutmeg with underlying nuances of sea spray, lime blossoms, yuzu, almond croissant and crushed rocks plus a waft of beeswax. Full-bodied, the palate is charged with amazing energy, featuring loads of tightly knit layers and a scintillating backbone of freshness, finishing with decadent creaminess and with that lingering âThe Judgeâ mineral signature coming through at the very tail end. âThere is a trade-off,â Alex Kongsgaard told me when I asked he and his father, John, about the benefits of their extended barrel age regime for the Chardonnays. âWith more time in barrel, the wine gains more complexity. But if you go too far, then you overwhelm the terroir. The place becomes less transparent. For us, thereâs a sweet spot. We like to have the fruit at the background. Our wine has enough inherent structure that it thrives on that. The terroir gives it the structure so that it can take more and more in terms of natural fermentation, long elevage, etc.â Robert Parker once called Kongsgaardâs technique âThe Death & The Resurrection.â Clearly, it worksâthese classically forged Chardonnays are consistently jaw-droppingly incredible. The 2017s and 2018s couldnât get more different in terms of styles, but The Judge vineyardâs signature clearly, impactfully, beautifully shines through. I canât recommend these wines highly enough."
Region
White
Country
Score
"The 2017 Chardonnay The Judge prances out of the glass with flamboyant notes of baked pineapple, green mango, apricot preserves and nutmeg with underlying nuances of sea spray, lime blossoms, yuzu, almond croissant and crushed rocks plus a waft of beeswax. Full-bodied, the palate is charged with amazing energy, featuring loads of tightly knit layers and a scintillating backbone of freshness, finishing with decadent creaminess and with that lingering âThe Judgeâ mineral signature coming through at the very tail end. âThere is a trade-off,â Alex Kongsgaard told me when I asked he and his father, John, about the benefits of their extended barrel age regime for the Chardonnays. âWith more time in barrel, the wine gains more complexity. But if you go too far, then you overwhelm the terroir. The place becomes less transparent. For us, thereâs a sweet spot. We like to have the fruit at the background. Our wine has enough inherent structure that it thrives on that. The terroir gives it the structure so that it can take more and more in terms of natural fermentation, long elevage, etc.â Robert Parker once called Kongsgaardâs technique âThe Death & The Resurrection.â Clearly, it worksâthese classically forged Chardonnays are consistently jaw-droppingly incredible. The 2017s and 2018s couldnât get more different in terms of styles, but The Judge vineyardâs signature clearly, impactfully, beautifully shines through. I canât recommend these wines highly enough."
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The fourth-largest wine producer in the world, led by California. American fine wine is defined by ripe, expressive fruit and a spirit of innovation, with Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon among the most sought-after wines globally.
The world's most versatile white grape, producing everything from steely Chablis to rich, oaked whites. Its neutrality makes it a mirror of terroir and winemaking, and the foundation of white Burgundy and Champagne.