St Jean Robert Young Vineyard Reserve Chardonnay, Alexander Valley, USA

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For some reason, the 2004 Chardonnay Robert Young Reserve didn’t perform as well as the regular cuvee. I don’t know if it was just the bottle or what, but it seemed lighter and more backward with honeysuckle, peach blossom, and a heavier overlay of wood that seemed to suppress the fruit and character of the wine. I suspect there is more here, because I can’t imagine the winemakers wouldn’t cull the best barrels for this cuvee, but this is the way it tasted on the day I sampled it. Tel. (707) 833-4134; Fax (707) 833-4200

At present, there are three cuvees of Chardonnay coming to the market. The 1995 Chardonnay Robert Young Reserve is a non-malolactic, barrel-fermented, intensely concentrated wine with loads of butterscotch and ripe fruit flavors. The wine's natural acidity gives delineation to this medium to full-bodied, intensely-flavored wine. As the wine sat in the glass, the unmistakable smell and taste of overripe pears emerged. This attractive wine should drink well for 2-3 years. This year I did not taste any Chardonnay offerings from the Belle Terre Vineyard, or a non-reserve Robert Young Chardonnay.Tel. (707) 833-4134; Fax (707) 833-4200

There are approximately 1000 cases of Reserve Robert Young Chardonnay. In the past, this wine has only been available in magnum format, but that will change starting with the 1995 vintage. The three vintages I tasted at the winery in August included a ripe, lemony, citrusy, young and unevolved, medium to full-bodied 1994, a backward, crisp, pure, attractive, full-bodied 1993, and a spicy, honeysuckle-scented, rich, creamy-textured, full-bodied, spicy 1992. These wines should all drink well for 2-4 years, but I do not expect a great deal of bottle bouquet or development.The Chardonnay offerings are led by Chateau St. Jean's flagship wine, the single vineyard Robert Young Chardonnay. The percentage of new oak casks is being increased to approximately 50%, and the utilization of new Chardonnay clones, such as Burgundy's well-known Dijon clone, will result in wines possessing more fruit extract. Since 1990 there have been two cuvees of Robert Young Chardonnay. Those barrels with extra ripeness and intensity are set aside for a reserve cuvee, and the others are blended together for the regular bottling.Tel. (707) 833-4134; Fax (707) 833-4200

There are approximately 1000 cases of Reserve Robert Young Chardonnay. In the past, this wine has only been available in magnum format, but that will change starting with the 1995 vintage. The three vintages I tasted at the winery in August included a ripe, lemony, citrusy, young and unevolved, medium to full-bodied 1994, a backward, crisp, pure, attractive, full-bodied 1993, and a spicy, honeysuckle-scented, rich, creamy-textured, full-bodied, spicy 1992. These wines should all drink well for 2-4 years, but I do not expect a great deal of bottle bouquet or development.The Chardonnay offerings are led by Chateau St. Jean's flagship wine, the single vineyard Robert Young Chardonnay. The percentage of new oak casks is being increased to approximately 50%, and the utilization of new Chardonnay clones, such as Burgundy's well-known Dijon clone, will result in wines possessing more fruit extract. Since 1990 there have been two cuvees of Robert Young Chardonnay. Those barrels with extra ripeness and intensity are set aside for a reserve cuvee, and the others are blended together for the regular bottling.Tel. (707) 833-4134; Fax (707) 833-4200