Kongsgaard Chardonnay Napa 2003

Yellow.

Creamy, vanilla, oak-dominated nose with some ripe pineapple underneath.

Very plush, oak-influenced flavors. Subtle lemon and pineapple notes also, with mineral chew providing nice framing structure. Very easy-going and delicious. Relatively long, refined oak finish.

This is tasty, but is it any wonder why Riesling sales were up 26% last year? Malvasia and Gruner Veltliner can't be far behind.

Day 2 - I should have realized this needed air time. Dried pineapple and lemon zest, petrol (ironically Riesling-like), sulfide/truffle nose. Still smells creamy. Mineral/sulfide structure is bracing and immediate, with lemon custard flavors a bit dis-jointed in mid-palate. Wild today, nothing easy-going here. I can't remember a wine changing this much in one day.

Day 4 - Petrol now dominates nose, round caramel-enhanced palate, with serious mineral chew in long caramel finish.


$75