@tercerowines That information does not seem to be published anywhere. If I had to guess, I’d say some, but very limited new oak. Or maybe chips as an alternative to barrels. I really don’t know. I don’t know the world of private label winemaking at all. I worked for a printing company in the 1990s that got its name on the label for some Cabernet Sauvignon (produced at Windsor Vineyards). Handed them out to customers.

@tercerowines Larry I’ll toss this observation to you…the back label states this is Estate Grown, yet the label also states vinted and bottled by and they state sourcing is Barnwell and Martinelli…Estate Grown doesn’t jibe with any of that does it?

@baldwino0 Excellent research and now I have a reason to visit South Dakota. (other than Wall drug and the Corn Palace – already did those.) Extra credit for the Sinclair Dino pic!

@pmarin We had a Sinclair in my home town. Unfortunately can’t find a photo with Dino (we definitely had a Dino). Kids loved to go sit on him!!

@baldwino0 When I drive on I-80 through Wyoming, which I do sometimes, the town of Sinclair is the original site of a refinery and still operating. It’s few miles East of Rawlins, WY. (Then like another 100mi to Laramie, and over the hill to Cheyenne).
Always wanted to some day just pull off and explore the old town of Sinclair a bit – to see the history.

Also, haven’t confirmed for sure, but I think that this Sinclair is not related to the right-wing media mogul that controls a lot of local TV stations. You may not know it, but if you watch broadcast TV, chances are one of your 3 or 4 local stations is controlled by Sinclair, but I think it’s a different Sinclair. They are not overtly political unlike Faux News, but when they go to “National Desk” or cover some stories they clearly take a right-wing path.

@baldwino0 UPDATE to post above (was too late to edit). Didn’t want to make this political at all; I know we like to keep this site free from that. Just the Sinclair thing (maybe not related) reminded me that it’s important to be aware of what you get your info from, even if it’s local TV news people you may have watched for years. The influences are subtle and easily missed. Even if the stories are not inaccurate, sometimes I ask “why are they telling it this way” or why did they emphasize that? Then I remember what channel it is on, and tell myself it makes sense now. Not lies, not fakes, maybe not that bad. But it is there.

@baldwino0 Back to the wine, the main point here. (and Dinosaurs). any additional observations a day or two later? The clear pale straw color was encouraging to me. Especially on a chardonnay this age, if it has the deep yellow or amber color, I would be a bit concerned it might have a bit too much “malo” in it (to quote Camila Cabello), but this seems to be nicely balanced still and not in too much “danger” yet.

We are on the same page, @pmarin !

@pmarin The google says the two Sinclairs are unrelated. The parent company these days is HF Sinclair (NYSE:DINO) The HF stands for HollyFrontier, a diversified energy company.

@pmarin Yeah, that was my sense on Day 2, when we finished the bottle. Malo, but no perceivable degradation from it at this point. Also of interest to me, was that 2018 appears to be the only year they made a Chardonnay, unlike the Rutherford Cab, which has seen several vintages. The restaurant group may have overestimated demand and overbought, so the 2018 is what has been in the restaurants for several years. Presumably (hopefully) the excess inventory has been in temperature-controlled storage during that time, which would partly explain the good, pale color it still shows.

@pmarin I also noticed, in my research, that the bottles of this that are available in retail stores are almost all in Minnesota and the Dakotas. So the local distributors are working the region. I don’t know for a fact, but would assume that like most states, a three-tier system in those states. Although now that I think about it, Minnesota may allow some direct import. Stores like Surdyk’s in Minneapolis have incredibly low prices compared to Michigan where I now live. Surdyk’s compares well to the best values you can get in Chicago.

@baldwino0
all i can say, I tip my hat to you.

@baldwino0 @pmarin
People believe what they want to believe and generally watch news stations that echo those beliefs.

@baldwino0 @chipgreen Yeah and I’d hope that people who watch whatever major service is aware that things will have a certain angle one way or the other. But when you watch your local news people from a studio in town for your “traffic and weather together every 10 minutes!” you might not be aware that incorporated into that will be subtly-tilted one way, in this case to the right: Things about “non-white people doing crime. Allegedly wasteful spending for social services and health care. All EVs are dangerous. There was nothing wrong with big gas cars. Solar power was a failure. etc.”

@kaolis Having tasted it over two days (rattage above), I feel like an 86 is pretty stingy. Especially the Day 2 richness I perceived. 88-89 would be fair (maybe even 90). I do appreciate the restraint from score inflation though. Luca Maroni would give this a 97. And the good folks at Last Bottle would have many exclamation points!!! (I kid them, they are good people.)

@kaolis LB did offer Sling & Spear Rutherford Cab in the past, that was def a premium wine (list $125, LB price $39 I think?). So that confirms for me that this was intended to be a premium but accessible label (and accomplished that). The Chard is just $30 suggested retail ($45/btl $13.50/glass in Morrie’s).