1 | Wine | Page 362

"Mount Eden’s 2010 Chardonnay Wolff Vineyard wraps around the palate with hints of almonds, honey, fennel and dried pears. The Wolff Vineyard, from a site in Edna Valley, is made in a slightly more forward style than the rest of the Domaine/Mount Eden Chardonnays. Slightly burnished notes add complexity on the finish."

"This is a step up, with a level of glycerin that sets it apart from the pack, showing ripe, mouthfilling plum, fig and blackberry fruit laid over a nice graphite spine. Sweet tobacco and violet notes fill in on the lengthy finish."

"Heady aromas of raspberry, incense, potpourri and Asian spices; smells a lot like pinot. Lively red fruit flavors are complicated by cinnamon and anise, with tangy minerality adding lift and spine. Suave, precise wine with very good finishing vivacity and lingering sweetness."

"Sweet ginger spice on the nose. Ripe apple and spice flavors show good intensity and cut but are dulled by a faintly resiny character, no doubt from oak. Finishes with a touch of dryness. I wanted a bit more fruit." -Stephen Tanzer

"The nose here can only be described as frustratingly coy but very, very pretty. Core notes of warm blackberry and black cherry are joined by violets, black pepper, cloves, licorice and a touch of mocha. The palate promises at a wine of great purity, elegance and balance to come. Layer upon layer of dark fruit and spice flavours seamlessly wrap around crisp acidity and a wonderful texture of very fine, firm tannins. Very, very long finish."

"Light and fresh, with a flash of green plum dancing along, followed by peach and floral hints."