The 2017 UnOaked Chardonnay is a pure expression of cool, foggy Green Valley. The wine is remarkably rich and elegant. With their bright acidity, UnOaked Chardonnays are worth holding onto as they age so beautifully if you can resist drinking them up. Sadly, production is very limited on this vintage.
By nose, a complex blend of stone fruit, green pear, and pineapple. By mouth, balanced acidity, grapefruit, Gravenstein apple, and minerality. Pairs beautifully with crab cakes, salmon tartar, bacon-wrapped scallops, prosciutto, whole-wheat pasta, and caper pesto. This is a great vegetable wineā¦especially heirloom tomatoes.
Winemaking/Vineyard Notes
All of our Chardonnay is handled one lot at a time. Only as the grapes arrive at the winery do we decide how to treat them. Sometimes it is straight to the press as whole clusters, while other times a cold soak might be necessary. All of the UnOaked Chardonnay had an overnight skin contact soaking before pressing to control acidity with a cold stainless steel fermentation (between 60f and 63f) to retain esters, i.e., brightness, minerality, and exotic fruit elements.
At Iron Horse āEstate Bottledā means that the winemaking begins in the vineyard. Our location in Green Valley represents the very best soil, climate, and aspects for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Our goal is to grow the best winegrapes - what we call āprecision farming.ā All pruning, canopy management, irrigation, and cover crop decisions are determined on a block-by-block (and sometimes even vine-by-vine) basis, considering both the vintage at hand and the long-term needs of the land.
Specs
Vintage: 2017
Appellation: Green Valley of Russian River Valley, Sonoma County
Blend: 88% Hyde Old Wente Clone, 12% Rued Clone Chardonnay
Alcohol: 13.7%
Acidity: .57 g/100ml
Residual Sugar: <0.27 g/100ml
pH: 3.27
Malolactic Fermentation: None
Barrels: None
Harvest Dates: September 3 - 6, 2017
Date Bottled: June 2018
Total Production: 1530 Cases
Included in the Box
4-bottles:
4x 2017 UnOaked Chardonnay, Green Valley of Russian River Valley, Sonoma County
Case:
12x 2017 UnOaked Chardonnay, Green Valley of Russian River Valley, Sonoma County
Iron Horse is one of Sonoma Countyās most prestigious, small, independent, estate, family-owned wineries located in cool, foggy Green Valley. Iron Horse Sparkling Wines have been served at the White House for five consecutive presidential administrations, beginning with the Reagan-Gorbachev Summit Meeting in Geneva on November 20, 1985, which led to the end of the Cold War. Wine & Spirits Magazine has named Iron Horse Sparkling Winery of the Year nine times. From the beginning, Robert Parker has said, āThese impressive Sparkling Winesā¦possess more texture and flavor than just about any sparkler I have tasted from California.ā
Iron Horse Vineyards UnOaked Chardonnay
4 bottles for $54.99 $13.75/bottle + $2/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $149.99 $12.50/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
I was very excited to receive the email I would be a Lab Rat again. When I opened the box a huge smile came across my face. Iron Horse UnOaked Chardonnay! This was one of my favorite whites purchased from the other site. I quickly logged in to see how long itās been since Iāve had this and my last purchase was on August 15, 2016. Itās been a long time indeed. Popped it into the fridge for later that evening.
Upon PnP I got green apple and pear and the wine was a very pale straw color. The first sip was crisp and refreshing, but the flavor seemed a bit muted. Way too cold! Let it sit for 15 minutes and tried again. As it warmed it became almost creamy and much softer. It was more aromatic and now Iām tasting pineapple also. Light to medium acidity, silky and very tasty. Enjoyed another glass and put it back in the fridge for the next night.
Day 2 and the flavor profile was pretty much the same, maybe a little less fruit coming through but still very enjoyable. Definitely a wine that you donāt want to serve right from the fridge but allow to warm a bit. I really donāt care for heavily oaked chardonnays that make you think youāre chewing on a coffee table and this is definitely not that. This will be a great summer sipper and Iām definitely in. Thanks WCC!
This is way to funny, pulled a cork on a bottle out of the cellar of this a couple of days ago, and consumed freely and without thought. Finishing it off this evening, and, what, now I have to actually think about what Iāve been drinking?!
Ok, Iāll work on itā¦
and append.
Now see, I only remember picking up the one case of it for you, and thatās the one I dropped off at RJQ Storage North LA (klez), and you posted you have (had) 8. Was there another case you shipped?
Because thatās the only case of IH Chardonnay I remember.
@klezman This really is tasty. I think I picked up my 8 at someplace around Santa Margarita, east of Sparky.
I could take a few additional.
@davirom@klezman
Klez, did you order yet? I thought I saw a comment you got four, but canāt find it. Looks like we may have three to do a 4-each split.
Ummm, never mind. Looks like itās a dry Sunday, unless @winedavid49 gets a reload.
@davirom@rjquillin
I did not order - molarchae decided much as we love the IH Chard, we have too much wine so she decided we should pass this time. I hope you both got in on a split with somebody!
@davirom@klezman
Since I already had 8, I passed, but would have taken a few more.
Wonder if @winedavid49 is arm-twisting for a refill to hold us over for the next 9 hours.
No, this is not a Lab Rat Report, I did not receive a Rat bottle, so donāt expect deep thoughtful insights on why you may or may not want to grab a case.
But itās IH, and Joy is a Joy and David knows what heās doing, so you really should just buy a case and be done with it, especially if you donāt like buttery chards. Ok, got that?
/autobuy
Iāve got a bunch of reds open and under Ar but yesterdays menu called for something else. SWMBOās Japanese stir fry wanted something else, and this was the first bottle I found that talked to me. I got eight of them from someplace up east of LA in MdS land and was curious; some Pedorncelli in the case as well, but I digress. Not at cellar temp, it spent a few minutes in the freezer just to take it a bit below room temp. Neither of us can remember exactly what was in the mix, just stuff from the fridge that ended up in a skillet, some beef tendon, cabbage, other veggies. Lighter fare and not an ideal match, but I wasnāt particular and it worked, even just slightly below RT.
Tonight was some pesto pasta with shrimp. I grated a bit of black winter truffle and cheese on top just to make things a bit more interesting; strange brew. Out of the fridge was ~way~ too cold. No nose to speak of and fairly crisp. I was thirsty.
Now, about an hour and a half later, itās warmed up and Iām sipping. It comes up as the offerā¦
Talk about getting caught off-guard!
Nose is for me undefined citrus, you can almost sense the acidity.
Entry is crisp, the acidity is there, but as itās now nearing RT itās also very round with a bit of viscosity.
Mid palate is fruit; pear, apple and that citrus. Nice balance, no malo, plenty of fruit, acid and not at all cloying and clearly fermented dry.
Finish is lengthy, 20~30 seconds at least.
There is enough complexity here to keep things interesting. I almost wonder how much stem inclusion there may have been, because there are hints, but not of cooperage.
This is a tasty bottle of Green Valley Chard, and itās now empty, so I canāt say much more, except if you like Chard, clean and crisp with a bit of added complexity, this should satisfy.
@rjquillin āā¦so you really should just buy a case and be done with itā¦ā
Thank you Ron for taking care of me. Between the complexity of FFCRA and the myriad provisions of the CARES Act, I am so brain fried right now, I needed that simple instruction. Iām in.
I absolutely LOVE this wine! Iāve gotten away from the buttery chards. In fact, unoaked chards are my preference. This is such a great price, too! And, itās Iron Horse! Hmmmmm, could this be the new house chard?
@bahwm@rjquillin Weāve been right here in WNY, not leaving the house much these days, but keeping an eye on casemates for the occasional irresistible deal (like this one). I donāt post much, because I canāt be bothered to look through every post again and again to see whatās new. I still keep trying to get used to it, but I still prefer the setup we used to have on the other site, with everything chronological. I know this sounds like whining, and I know itās not going to change, but I canāt help it that Iāve started spending more time elsewhere for entertainment and enlightenment. I do miss the banter amongst our old buddies on the forum, but itās no longer banter when itās scattered all over Hellās half acre. BTW, no matter how hard I look, I canāt find any sign of Kyle M. I figured out all the other new screen names early on, but is KM still around? Iāll try to put something up once in a while, just to keep you from worrying about us. Good friends like you are hard to come by.
@bahwm@ddeuddeg @cortot Iād think should know more.
Kyle stated, iirc, heād not make the transition from W00t! to CM and it appears heās stuck to it. I too miss him as he introduced me to some good bottles and offers, and some nice local (way east of LA) dim sum where we did a bottle exchange years ago.
Iāve been wanting to try an unoaked chardonnayā¦neither wife nor I really like chardonnays because we donāt like that typical ābutteryā taste. So weāll try this with a partial case.
/giphy distracting-funny-porter
@ddeuddeg hope so! The wifeās palate is a bit differentā¦sheāll drink the cheapest cat-piss pinot grigio, but then very picky on sauv blanc and other whites.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
2017 Iron Horse Vineyards UnOaked Chardonnay - $15 = 9.08%
We are huge fans of Iron Horse, and timing on this is excellent. Weāre down to two bottles of Estate Chard, and have zero left of the unoaked. At this price, buy buy buy!!
We still need to get out to CA for a tractor tour and a visit with Joy, too.
@Mark_L I had to really hunt this time! I should have stuck with the second one that came up, but it didnāt come back up in the rotation. Marble rotation that is.
as you know, we (collective family) have not been a fan of Chardonnay. Until we tried the Poundstone. How does this compare? We LOVE all the Iron Horse bubbly, is it time to expand and try something else they make?
Thanks again to the CasematesĀ team for believing our palate!
2017 Iron Horse UnoakedĀ Chardonnay
My wife hates butter bombsĀ so she was very skeptical. I generallyĀ like oaky chard once in a while.Ā
The cork came out easilyĀ and clean with no stain. The wine isĀ crystal clear and veryĀ pale in color. ActuallyĀ very pretty.
On first sniff, we both got fresh green apple, tropical fruits, unripe pineapple, and with some mineral notes. Reminds me of a Napa Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon blend. We both really enjoyed the notes from the glass.Ā
On theĀ pallet, came a very dry wine with balancedĀ acid. I am not detecting any malolacticĀ fermentation whatsoever. We got lots of minerality and hints of citrus and medium roundness. Again, this is not a huge chardonnay but very delicious. As the wine warmed up a bit the wine started to show more complex fruit notes.
This is wine is perfect for a warm night on the patio or with dinner.Ā We both (even my chardĀ hater wife) very much enjoyed this wine. I would peg that at $20+ retail and hopping for $10-$12 from casemates. If so, we are 100% in for a case. No brainer.
I have not been buying much lately, and not normally big on whites, but opened the one 2015 Estate Chardonnay I had from last year with some linguine and garlic shrimp and was blown away. Definitely got better as it warmed up; I am hoping for a similar profile from this. In for a case! Thanks to the official and āunofficialā rats on this one
@davidd13
A word of noteā¦
The Unoaked and Estate (oaked) are two different animals; both quite good, but different styles.
This vintage of Unoaked, to me, isnāt quite as razor crisp as others have been, so it shouldnāt be shockingly different, but it will be different.
@rjquillin Hi, thanks for the input! No can of worms for me. I tried to determine if the Estate was oaked or unoaked but could not really tell from prior reviews. I know for sure I am not a fan of overly buttery Chardonnays (headaches), therefore my reluctance to purchase generally. The bottle I had tonight was not as much oaked as others I have had, and thus my interest in this offering, hoping for exactly the qualities as you stated. My wine journey really only began when I joined the kick starter program for Casemates and I have learned so much from this group, and the labrats, especially the ones that have been around as yourself, I have learned to trust. 69 years young and still learning; a retirement hobby letās say. In any event, I enjoy distributing my case purchases to friends and family, and from time to time find some vintners that have become auto buys for me; i.e. WineSmith, and others. I really enjoyed your faux review; thanks again!
I tried to determine if the Estate was oaked or unoaked but could not really tell from prior reviews.
here is a link to the '15 Estate tech sheet.
The line you are interested in reads
āBarrels: 100% Water bent French oakā
Missing is barrel age and duration, but there is a hint with
ā(a result of extensive batonnage)ā
@davidd13@rjquillin
Batonnage = stirring of the lees IIRC and gives their Estate Chard that creamy texture, which I really enjoy. I find the IH unoaked Chards just as enjoyable despite the very different flavor profile and mouthfeel.
This is of course an rpmAUTOBUY to the limit of your credit card (and storage, maybe). I love good Chardonnay, but itās not always so easy to come buy at reasonable prices. Weāve gone through multiple cases of unoaked Iron Horse Chardonnay over the years and it is one of our favorites with a wide variety of seafood or just sipping. Weāve had excellent experience with it aging gracefully (when weāve accidentally forgotten a bottle and found a few years later). Donāt miss this!
And now when I go to order itās sold out!!! More, please, David and Joy! Help me out here!
Well this is a first. UPS says they delivered it to my loading dock, my loading dock claims they delivered to my lab, but itās no where to be seen. So in a space with minimal workers it walked?
Tasting Notes
Winemaking/Vineyard Notes
Specs
Included in the Box
Price Comparison
$296.86 for 2018 Vintage at Iron Horse Vineyards
About The Winery
Winery:Iron Horse Vineyards
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Friday, May 1st - Tuesday, May 5th
Iron Horse Vineyards UnOaked Chardonnay
4 bottles for $54.99 $13.75/bottle + $2/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $149.99 $12.50/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
2017 Iron Horse Vineyards UnOaked Chardonnay
I was very excited to receive the email I would be a Lab Rat again. When I opened the box a huge smile came across my face. Iron Horse UnOaked Chardonnay! This was one of my favorite whites purchased from the other site. I quickly logged in to see how long itās been since Iāve had this and my last purchase was on August 15, 2016. Itās been a long time indeed. Popped it into the fridge for later that evening.
Upon PnP I got green apple and pear and the wine was a very pale straw color. The first sip was crisp and refreshing, but the flavor seemed a bit muted. Way too cold! Let it sit for 15 minutes and tried again. As it warmed it became almost creamy and much softer. It was more aromatic and now Iām tasting pineapple also. Light to medium acidity, silky and very tasty. Enjoyed another glass and put it back in the fridge for the next night.
Day 2 and the flavor profile was pretty much the same, maybe a little less fruit coming through but still very enjoyable. Definitely a wine that you donāt want to serve right from the fridge but allow to warm a bit. I really donāt care for heavily oaked chardonnays that make you think youāre chewing on a coffee table and this is definitely not that. This will be a great summer sipper and Iām definitely in. Thanks WCC!
of the faux variety
This is way to funny, pulled a cork on a bottle out of the cellar of this a couple of days ago, and consumed freely and without thought. Finishing it off this evening, and, what, now I have to actually think about what Iāve been drinking?!
Ok, Iāll work on itā¦
and append.
Yum. Great price. Always a great wine. Splits?
@klezman This really is tasty. I think I picked up my 8 at someplace around Santa Margarita, east of Sparky.
I could take a few additional.
Webwine
$18 each
@winedavid49 stomps it again.
@klezman Iām down to split
@klezman. Heck no! Iām keeping my case for myself!
/giphy loosely-dysfunctional-wrench
@klezman @MarkDaSpark
Now, if only youād find that other case of IH chard buried in the locker warren.
@klezman @rjquillin
Now see, I only remember picking up the one case of it for you, and thatās the one I dropped off at RJQ Storage North LA (klez), and you posted you have (had) 8. Was there another case you shipped?
Because thatās the only case of IH Chardonnay I remember.
@klezman @MarkDaSpark
Yup, different purchase.
This was for the '17 and some Ped,
not a case+ of the '13.
@swizzel Actually looking at the case vs 4 bottle price, I think weāll just get a 4 pack with the $10 coupon.
@klezman @rjquillin. Hmmm, I looked and didnāt see an email about it from you.
@klezman @swizzel $10 coupon?
@wnance shrug idk, I didnāt have a coupon but some anyway
@klezman If you still have any available I would take 2 - 4.
@davirom @klezman
Klez, did you order yet? I thought I saw a comment you got four, but canāt find it. Looks like we may have three to do a 4-each split.
Ummm, never mind. Looks like itās a dry Sunday, unless @winedavid49 gets a reload.
@davirom @rjquillin
I did not order - molarchae decided much as we love the IH Chard, we have too much wine so she decided we should pass this time. I hope you both got in on a split with somebody!
@davirom @klezman
Since I already had 8, I passed, but would have taken a few more.
Wonder if @winedavid49 is arm-twisting for a refill to hold us over for the next 9 hours.
Iām low on whites and have never tried the IH unoaked. In for a set.
/giphy rad-acrid-manatee
No, this is not a Lab Rat Report, I did not receive a Rat bottle, so donāt expect deep thoughtful insights on why you may or may not want to grab a case.
But itās IH, and Joy is a Joy and David knows what heās doing, so you really should just buy a case and be done with it, especially if you donāt like buttery chards. Ok, got that?
/autobuy
Iāve got a bunch of reds open and under Ar but yesterdays menu called for something else. SWMBOās Japanese stir fry wanted something else, and this was the first bottle I found that talked to me. I got eight of them from someplace up east of LA in MdS land and was curious; some Pedorncelli in the case as well, but I digress. Not at cellar temp, it spent a few minutes in the freezer just to take it a bit below room temp. Neither of us can remember exactly what was in the mix, just stuff from the fridge that ended up in a skillet, some beef tendon, cabbage, other veggies. Lighter fare and not an ideal match, but I wasnāt particular and it worked, even just slightly below RT.
Tonight was some pesto pasta with shrimp. I grated a bit of black winter truffle and cheese on top just to make things a bit more interesting; strange brew. Out of the fridge was ~way~ too cold. No nose to speak of and fairly crisp. I was thirsty.
Now, about an hour and a half later, itās warmed up and Iām sipping. It comes up as the offerā¦
Talk about getting caught off-guard!
Nose is for me undefined citrus, you can almost sense the acidity.
Entry is crisp, the acidity is there, but as itās now nearing RT itās also very round with a bit of viscosity.
Mid palate is fruit; pear, apple and that citrus. Nice balance, no malo, plenty of fruit, acid and not at all cloying and clearly fermented dry.
Finish is lengthy, 20~30 seconds at least.
There is enough complexity here to keep things interesting. I almost wonder how much stem inclusion there may have been, because there are hints, but not of cooperage.
This is a tasty bottle of Green Valley Chard, and itās now empty, so I canāt say much more, except if you like Chard, clean and crisp with a bit of added complexity, this should satisfy.
@rjquillin āā¦so you really should just buy a case and be done with itā¦ā
Thank you Ron for taking care of me. Between the complexity of FFCRA and the myriad provisions of the CARES Act, I am so brain fried right now, I needed that simple instruction. Iām in.
/giphy jittery-enduring-oilā
I absolutely LOVE this wine! Iāve gotten away from the buttery chards. In fact, unoaked chards are my preference. This is such a great price, too! And, itās Iron Horse! Hmmmmm, could this be the new house chard?
@bahwm Where have you and Don been!?
@bahwm @rjquillin Weāve been right here in WNY, not leaving the house much these days, but keeping an eye on casemates for the occasional irresistible deal (like this one). I donāt post much, because I canāt be bothered to look through every post again and again to see whatās new. I still keep trying to get used to it, but I still prefer the setup we used to have on the other site, with everything chronological. I know this sounds like whining, and I know itās not going to change, but I canāt help it that Iāve started spending more time elsewhere for entertainment and enlightenment. I do miss the banter amongst our old buddies on the forum, but itās no longer banter when itās scattered all over Hellās half acre. BTW, no matter how hard I look, I canāt find any sign of Kyle M. I figured out all the other new screen names early on, but is KM still around? Iāll try to put something up once in a while, just to keep you from worrying about us. Good friends like you are hard to come by.
@bahwm @ddeuddeg @rjquillin great to hear from you!
@bahwm @ddeuddeg
@cortot Iād think should know more.
Kyle stated, iirc, heād not make the transition from W00t! to CM and it appears heās stuck to it. I too miss him as he introduced me to some good bottles and offers, and some nice local (way east of LA) dim sum where we did a bottle exchange years ago.
If only CM would hold casesā¦ it also doesnāt look like Iām going to Cali this yearā¦ sorry for the two folks I have wine on hold for.
Iāve been wanting to try an unoaked chardonnayā¦neither wife nor I really like chardonnays because we donāt like that typical ābutteryā taste. So weāll try this with a partial case.
/giphy distracting-funny-porter
@TimW You wonāt be disappointed, except that youāll wish youād ordered more.
@ddeuddeg hope so! The wifeās palate is a bit differentā¦sheāll drink the cheapest cat-piss pinot grigio, but then very picky on sauv blanc and other whites.
Got in on this right away after missing yesterdayās ('cause I was lame and waited to think about it).
/giphy whimsical-jolliest-coil
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
2017 Iron Horse Vineyards UnOaked Chardonnay - $15 = 9.08%
If anyone from NE OH is buying, I am good for 3-6 bottles.
@chipgreen Iāll get it. We can figure bottles out later. Maybe there will be someone else too.
@chipgreen @marikar Iāll jump in for 3 or so.
@chipgreen @marikar @pjmartin I just bought a case, but itāll probably get split w/ the kids. They love Iron Horse, especially when itās free!
@marikar
Thank you!
Iron Horse + no worries about being home for the UPS delivery = AutoBuy!
/giphy guiltless-trained-pudding
@sndg
Thatās an interesting giphy, but Iām wondering how that is āpuddingā.
@pseudogourmet98 giphy gonna gif what it wants to gif? At least thereās a train in it!
@pseudogourmet98 @sndg
well, that does appear to be an āiron horseā
so it is kinda fitting. Pudding? not so much.
Missed the rosĆ© yesterday, but this is a great āconsolationā!!
/giphy phenomenal-gasping-coriander
Sounds like a great offer!
/giphy tawny-frivolous-lettuce
Used yesterdayās Meh code for my 4-bottle order (bringing cost to $11.25 per).
/giphy grizzly-fussy-cod
We are huge fans of Iron Horse, and timing on this is excellent. Weāre down to two bottles of Estate Chard, and have zero left of the unoaked. At this price, buy buy buy!!
We still need to get out to CA for a tractor tour and a visit with Joy, too.
/giphy original-swanky-marble
@benguin986 Finally found a giphy that you liked? (I often go through some edits to get something that is at least acceptable.)
@Mark_L I had to really hunt this time!
I should have stuck with the second one that came up, but it didnāt come back up in the rotation. Marble rotation that is.
Buy it. After I get my order in, or course
/giphy pure-aboard-chili
I donāt drink Chardonnay but when I do it is IH Unoaked.
@losthighwayz Did you get enough to share? I would take 2 - 4. I have a coupon if you havenāt ordered yet.
@davirom @losthighwayz
Coupon? Please, do tell.
@davirom only bought a 4 pack. Otherwise I would!
@pseudogourmet98 Coupon.
Why not. Iāll split with any CT folks.
/giphy woolen-noiseless-stick
/giphy wounded-runny-reindeer
as you know, we (collective family) have not been a fan of Chardonnay. Until we tried the Poundstone. How does this compare? We LOVE all the Iron Horse bubbly, is it time to expand and try something else they make?
@mommadeb
Yes, yes it is.
Really light on white right now and who can say no to Iron Horse? Cheers!
Also ordered a 4-pack for my 91-year-old mother in Oregon. Appropriate order name kind-of describes her well:
/image endearing-thundering-island
A steal
/giphy gawky-untalented-toucan
Autobuy! In for 2 cases.
Thanks again to the CasematesĀ team for believing our palate!
2017 Iron Horse UnoakedĀ Chardonnay
My wife hates butter bombsĀ so she was very skeptical. I generallyĀ like oaky chard once in a while.Ā
The cork came out easilyĀ and clean with no stain. The wine isĀ crystal clear and veryĀ pale in color. ActuallyĀ very pretty.
On first sniff, we both got fresh green apple, tropical fruits, unripe pineapple, and with some mineral notes. Reminds me of a Napa Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon blend. We both really enjoyed the notes from the glass.Ā
On theĀ pallet, came a very dry wine with balancedĀ acid. I am not detecting any malolacticĀ fermentation whatsoever. We got lots of minerality and hints of citrus and medium roundness. Again, this is not a huge chardonnay but very delicious. As the wine warmed up a bit the wine started to show more complex fruit notes.
This is wine is perfect for a warm night on the patio or with dinner.Ā We both (even my chardĀ hater wife) very much enjoyed this wine. I would peg that at $20+ retail and hopping for $10-$12 from casemates. If so, we are 100% in for a case. No brainer.
/giphy melted-thorny-branch
@cobrent want to split? Anyone else from Denver ordering?
@knlprez I could take some, but echoing the common refrain around here: āmy cellar is full, where would this go?!?ā
I have not been buying much lately, and not normally big on whites, but opened the one 2015 Estate Chardonnay I had from last year with some linguine and garlic shrimp and was blown away. Definitely got better as it warmed up; I am hoping for a similar profile from this. In for a case! Thanks to the official and āunofficialā rats on this one
@davidd13
A word of noteā¦
The Unoaked and Estate (oaked) are two different animals; both quite good, but different styles.
This vintage of Unoaked, to me, isnāt quite as razor crisp as others have been, so it shouldnāt be shockingly different, but it will be different.
Likely now Iāve totally opened a can of worms.
@rjquillin Hi, thanks for the input! No can of worms for me. I tried to determine if the Estate was oaked or unoaked but could not really tell from prior reviews. I know for sure I am not a fan of overly buttery Chardonnays (headaches), therefore my reluctance to purchase generally. The bottle I had tonight was not as much oaked as others I have had, and thus my interest in this offering, hoping for exactly the qualities as you stated. My wine journey really only began when I joined the kick starter program for Casemates and I have learned so much from this group, and the labrats, especially the ones that have been around as yourself, I have learned to trust. 69 years young and still learning; a retirement hobby letās say. In any event, I enjoy distributing my case purchases to friends and family, and from time to time find some vintners that have become auto buys for me; i.e. WineSmith, and others. I really enjoyed your faux review; thanks again!
@davidd13
here is a link to the '15 Estate tech sheet.
The line you are interested in reads
āBarrels: 100% Water bent French oakā
Missing is barrel age and duration, but there is a hint with
ā(a result of extensive batonnage)ā
@davidd13 @rjquillin
Batonnage = stirring of the lees IIRC and gives their Estate Chard that creamy texture, which I really enjoy. I find the IH unoaked Chards just as enjoyable despite the very different flavor profile and mouthfeel.
@chipgreen @davidd13
And the estate also undergoes malo.
Love the IH. In for a 4 spot.
/giphy statuesque-colorful-seed
This is of course an rpmAUTOBUY to the limit of your credit card (and storage, maybe). I love good Chardonnay, but itās not always so easy to come buy at reasonable prices. Weāve gone through multiple cases of unoaked Iron Horse Chardonnay over the years and it is one of our favorites with a wide variety of seafood or just sipping. Weāve had excellent experience with it aging gracefully (when weāve accidentally forgotten a bottle and found a few years later). Donāt miss this!
And now when I go to order itās sold out!!!
More, please, David and Joy! Help me out here!
@rpm Since weāre Casemates family, if you find yourself anywhere near central Illinois, we can part with few bottles.
@benguin986 Very much appreciate the offer, but not sure when Iāll be in Illinois anytime soonā¦
Wow, is this the first back-to-back sellout?
@hscottk
Nope.
Feb 23/24, and July 18/19 of last year.
but if you also count Meh, it is the first triple.
Well, I forgot to order yesterdayā¦
one of these days I will learn. Congratulations on selling out!
unfortunately, no mas chardonnay. wish we had more!
Well this is a first. UPS says they delivered it to my loading dock, my loading dock claims they delivered to my lab, but itās no where to be seen. So in a space with minimal workers it walked?